Category: Spiritual Theology

The theology of spiritual growth & sanctification

rewards

Our Future Reward Of Developing God’s Creation – Rewards Part 2

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Our last post on individual rewards leads to the question of how God will reward believers. Since he is going to reward us what will the rewards be? Scripture gives few details, but we have at least one clue from Jesus’ parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11-27) that Jesus told when some thought the appearance of the kingdom was imminent. A ruler gave some money (a mina) to some of his servants and instructed them to put the money to work while he was gone. When he returned he heard the report: “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

We Will Be Beautiful – Our Future Christformation Part 3

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We have been looking at our future Christformation into New Adams after Jesus returns. In the past couple of weeks we have looked at how God will give us Christlike bodies and give us his goodness. As New Adams we will also be beautiful. In Revelation 19–21 there are five phrases referring to the beautiful appearance of the saints, the bride of Christ (19:8; 21:2, 11 (twice); 21:18-21.) In that section God appears to be showing off his bride’s beauty and John seems dazzled in 21:11 when he observes that she has the “glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel.” Surprisingly, in the last four chapters of the Bible, the bride’s beauty is extolled more than God’s! This demonstrates his humility and love as well as his desire to establish a community of people that radiate his beauty. Thus, in Revelation 19-21 God is not predominantly interested Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

We Will Finally Be Good – Our Future Christformation Part 2

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We may get frustrated with our lack of godliness but there is coming a day when our frustration will end. After Jesus returns all our effort to “press on to take hold” (Phil. 3:10, NIV) will come to an end. God will make us fully Christlike. Our complete Christformation is promised many times in the New Testament. For example: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). 1 Corinthians 15:49 states: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (ESV). One of the implications of this Christformation is that we will be thoroughly good. Goodness describes God. Jesus said “no one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19, ESV). Thus, God is the source of good (James 1:17) and he constantly directs us Continue Reading →

heavenly body, shining

The Joy Of Our Future Christlike Bodies – Our Future Christformation Part 1

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After Jesus returns all our striving for Christformation will be over and we will finally enter our time of rest (Hebrews 4 and Rev. 14:13). Our internal struggle against sin will be complete and we will experience the overwhelming bliss of perfect peace. No possession on this present earth can come close to the value of our future Christformation. This is why God instructs us to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, ESV).  Christformation is promised many times in the New Testament. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). 1 Corinthians 15:49 states: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (ESV). Philippians 3:20-21 promises: “But Continue Reading →

judgement

Why Will God Destroy Unbelievers?

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The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that God will punish and destroy those who have not followed him (for example, see Matt. 7:13-14; 7:19; 13:40-42; 25:30; 25:46; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:46; 13:28; 16:22-24; 20:47; Rom. 2:5-10; 2 Thess. 1:6-9; Heb. 6:8; 10:26-27, 39; James 5:20; Jude 1:13; Rev. 11:18; 20:15.) This may be the more difficult to accept than any other teaching in Scripture. Why would God issue a sentence of destruction on billions of people? Consider the fact that they lived their whole lives without ever pursuing the opportunities they had to find God in Christ. To begin with, God created humans in such a way that they are responsible to seek him. Acts 17:26-27 explains: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they Continue Reading →