The Redemption of the Body

The Redemption of the Body

“And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” V. 23. Jesus consecrated the new and living way through the veil, that is, His flesh, into the Holiest. Heb. 10:19-20.

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Rom. 8:3-4. Here we see that God condemned sin in the flesh and that Jesus offered Himself through the eternal Spirit and served the living God. Heb. 9:14. Then sin did not come out of the flesh. It was put to death in the flesh, so that the flesh did not become sinful. Thus He redeemed the body from sin. He is our forerunner toward perfection. Heb. 6:1. We have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Heb. 6:19-20, 7:18-19. This hope is the redemption of our body from sin. “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. . . . This is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself.” 1 John 5:5-10.

There were many people who came to John the Baptist, and when they had confessed their sins, he baptized them in the river Jordan. He prepared the way for Jesus. However, the sins that the people confessed returned. Therefore John said to them: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matt. 3:11. Jesus said that none from among those born of women is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matt. 11:11-12.

Now we understand that Jesus came not only with the testimony of water, but with the testimony of the blood and of the Spirit. This is the testimony that God witnessed concerning His Son. When the dying of Jesus is working in our body, then the Spirit will witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Then we are also heirs and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. That is the redemption of the body. Then we also belong among those who have the firstfruits. Rom. 8:15-23. Jesus is the firstfruit. He comes to fetch those who belong to Him. They will experience the resurrection. 1 Cor. 15:22-23. The glory we obtain together with Jesus will be relative to the degree to which the dying of Jesus has worked in our body. Vs. 40-49.

Read Philippians 3:8-14 and 2 Corinthians 4:6-11. When we read 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, we see that Paul’s body was redeemed from all conscious sin. All his sufferings resulted in only virtue.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 we see how Paul labored with the Corinthians for the redemption of their bodies from all the sins to which they were still subject. Also in Colossians 3 we see how he labored to lead them to the redemption of the body from all the sin that dwells in the flesh.

If we are Jesus’ disciples, we have the gospel, and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Then the Spirit will witness with our spirit that we are children of God as well as heirs. Phil. 2:12-15.