The Preeminence of Christ

"Thus it is written, the first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life" (1 Corinthians 15:45 AMP). Adam was born again! Since Christ Jesus, the last Adam died and rose again from the dead to life, He brought total restoration to the Adam image that was created in the image of the Father. Jesus told Mary, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17).

When we were first born in the flesh as a baby, our spirit, soul, and body came into this world through a Tabernacle, open heaven encounter from eternity into time. We were more familiar with the connection of our identity as spirit that we did not have any concept of time, sorrow, punishment, or death. All we understood was LIFE, JOY, and PEACE. Everything was good filled with LIFE, and everything was alive. Death was not an existence to our understanding. We came out of a life realm and all we knew was LIFE. It wasn't until we learned the boundaries that time placed within our realm that we began to learn the opposites of good and evil. Our dog dies; we lose our favorite blanket; our favorite toy is broken or stops working, etc. that we are exposed to learn that there is another tree called Knowledge in the midst of our garden where we have been surrounded by LIFE.

As we grew and developed in our soul, we began to take on more understanding of our surroundings in time versus the LIFE of our identity as a spirit being of God. We developed pressures and anxieties that were not born with us, but are drawing us to search out our purpose of why we have been born which leads us to God. We come to an "age of accountability," according to many theologians, which is a Passover experience, to relearn who we are in Christ, yet we are now being taught with the legalism of the understanding of the church or the body of Christ versus the mind of Christ (Spirit) that has been filtered through heaven and hell concepts or the Tree of Knowledge. We come to know Jesus Christ as our Passover Lamb who died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead three days later, then approximately nine months later we celebrate the adult Son of God who is seated with the Father only to come back to earth again as a baby. This becomes the extent of most believers in Christ.

The body can only help carry you through time until death occurs allowing the LIFE of Christ in Spirit and Truth to rule and reign you.

Gal. 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (AMP)

God provides us with His faith and His Word, Jesus Christ, that counter balances the things we learn of this world that begin to bring us back into our true identity as spirit. We are now coming to the Father, not as a child, but one that is grown up in His LOVE and identity recognizing the family we belong to while in this world through faith. A child like faith is innocents (ignorance), but the faith of a son, as Paul shares in Gal. 2:20, is the awakening into the faith of Holiness. Once there is a point of making choices by experiences, we choose whether or not to come into our Father's Kingdom based on the faith of Holiness, not innocence. This is the call of a son ready to do the Father's business for the Father to be glorified only; not for the reward of the son.

We are NOW able to make "Holy Choices" that align with our original state as being a "son of God" (Gal. 3:26) in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23) with the image, likeness, character, and nature (Gen. 1:27) of our Heavenly Father with the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) that declares that As HE IS, SO AM I in this world today (1 John 4:17). This becomes our personal Pentecost experience.

After you have suffered a little while...

1 Peter 5:10-11 (AMP), "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."

God has always searched through the crowds in every generation to apprehend a firstfruits remnant people that will be of His kind, His resemblance. These are not your common people preaching and sharing God's word declaring themselves Christians. The simple minded Christian considers every believer to be equal, but the truth is that God has not called equality for His sovereign purpose, but has designed a destiny in each of us for His divine will to be manifested. Our purpose has been formed in God. He has chosen and not chosen to carry through His purpose.

Example: God chose Jacob, a schemer, not the firstborn twin Esau for His purpose to carry through His divine plan (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph (Jesus). God did not love Jacob more than Esau, but God had a purpose, a destiny of choice that Esau had no say so about.

When God gives us a map in the Old Testament of the lay out of His temple specifying that there are three courts (outer (elementary), middle (wisdom), and inner (transformation)), He is showing us a pattern design of His purpose. In every tabernacle or temple that God has built, the outer court is wide to include much, but when you come into the middle court of wisdom it is smaller and different than the outer court. Then there is a remnant whom God has chosen that qualifies to enter into the Holy of Holies or the inner court; it is very small with very strict standards required for entry or else death comes upon you. There is entrance into the Holy of Holies while in the natural body, but there must be death of your identity which takes place first in the other two courts allowing the MIND of CHRIST to rule and reign.

Luke 1: 35 AMP, "Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God."

Col. 1:27 AMP, "To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory."

Luke 1:37 AMP, "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." The shepherds in the field (earth bound) were seeking a savior for themselves Luke 2:8-9, "And in that vicinity there were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord (sons of God) flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened." Luke 2:15, "When the angels (messengers/sons of God) went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing (saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

The wise men (heaven bound) from the east brought gifts as they sought for a KING for the kings/lords.

Matt. 2:2, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him)." These are the outer court and middle court people in the temple of God.

This remnant of people that God has chosen to enter into His high calling takes place through Christ Jesus. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). This does not mean they are "better" or "holier than thou," but that God has placed a unique anointing on their life that separates them from those that dwell in the outer and middle court. There is something about them that is different and out of the ordinary from those that dwell in the realm of salvation or gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 11: 1-8 KJV:

"I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal (image of confusion, the image of ignorance).Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work .What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day."

Romans 11:2-5 AMP:

"No, God has not rejected and disowned His people [whose destiny] He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets; they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life. But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal! So too at the present time, there is a remnant (a small believing minority), selected (chosen) by grace (by God's unmerited favor and graciousness)."

Ephesians 1: 4-12 AMP:

"Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will because it pleased Him and was His kind intent] [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!"

Ephesians 2:10 AMP, "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]."

Hebrews 3:14, "For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end."

God has an obligation to Himself within His own heart that those He foreknew; those that He has predestinated, those that He ordained according to the ELECTION OF GRACE (Romans 5:11); He must conform to the image of His Son that they must show forth the praises of Him who called them out of darkness or obscurity into His LIGHT, HIS LIFE, HIS LOVE.

Romans 8:29 AMP, "For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren."

1 Peter 2:9 AMP, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

It is God's responsibility to finish what He has started in those that He has chosen. We did not chose Him first, He chose us first. John 15:16 AMP, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you."

2 Timothy 1:9 AMP:

"[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel. For [the proclaiming of] this [Gospel] I was appointed a herald (preacher) and an apostle (special messenger) and a teacher of the Gentiles."

"Many are called, but few are chosen," (Matt. 22:14). There is a process, a journey for those that have been chosen by God before the foundations of the world that is not for those that were not chosen. An example in the Old Testament is there were twelve tribes known as the children of God, but only one tribe (Levi) was ordained by God as the priesthood, and only one linage of that tribe was chosen by God to qualify for the responsibility and position of going into the Holy of Holies. The reason that God chooses is not to say that some have more special privilege than others or that they are more special to God, but that what God has given much wisdom/responsibility to, He requires much from.

Many of us are going through things that we cannot understand because we don't fit into the conformities of what the church requires. God not only created you in His image, but designed you to incorporate every detail to be transformed with His perfection that only He would be glorified while you were in your natural body on His earth bringing heaven and earth together in you, in the body of Christ Jesus.

God is not fair. He is sovereign; He is ALL in ALL. His ways are not a 50/50 plan. Look around you to see that not all of creations are the same created. Even the elements on the basic level of protons, neutrons, and electrons are not all of the same form and consistence of the same element. Yet, only God can bring ALL into His image as ALL. We can choose whether we want our eggs scrambled, boiled, or sunny-side up, but we will still be eating eggs. We can choose the journey or the limitations of what God has permitted, but the finished work is GOD ALL in ALL. We cannot even choose not to choose, but must choose within the realm of God's permitted choice for each of us.

You did not have any say in when you were born, who you would be when you were born (male or female), what time period or culture you would be born into, who your parents would be, your skin color, hair, height, or eye color. The problem we have developed is that we think since we started with no choice, we now have a choice of who our Heavenly Father is. The church has taught us that we think we can choose whether or not to carry His DNA within us (Luke 3:38). We might be able to change our hair color, but we cannot choose to change our DNA any more than we can change our blood type. (Ironically, even in changing our hair color, the real color will keep coming out at the roots.)

Did God ask you if you wanted to be chosen before the foundation of the world? Did He ask you if you wanted to be sent to the earth so that He could work hell out of you and put you in situations causing doubt and insecurity wondering if you would make it back to heaven? Would we not have said, No thank you God? I choose to stay right where I'm at in spirit with the guarantee of being in heaven instead of the anxiety of wondering if I made the right choice in the flesh of making my way back.

Let me just keep playing in heaven and hanging out with the heavenly host singing angelic songs. And whatever you do Father, keep me away from those double minded religious people that call themselves the church that bring death into heaven with their logic and reason.

Why would we want to "choose" to come out of eternity into time only to spend our LIFE in CHRIST with the devil? And then on top of all this "choice," according to the church, you might even spend your Christ Life eternally with satan. NO THANK YOU GOD, just let me stay in heaven as you foreknew me and created me before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

If we truly have total choice, would we not choose things to bless us? If LIGHT, LIFE, and LOVE really is the fullness of what we search for, and yet, we already have before we were conceived in our mother's womb, why would we choose to leave heaven? Jeremiah 1:5 AMP, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations)."

If God had shown us in advance while we were still in spirit in heaven before the foundation of the world what our life would be like choosing to be born in time, we would have said, NO THANK YOU! But we didn't get that choice, God chose us. We must stop playing church saying we have a "choice," and start aligning ourselves within what He chose in us to bring heaven into time filling the earth with His glory as sons of God through Christ Jesus ruling and reigning with HIM in heavenly places.

God created ALL the elements of matter. Each element has the basic parts of protons, neutrons, and electrons. However, God did not create all of them the same element. Yet, each element has a unique/divine place and position in the periodic table. The elements that He used to create the fish and the plants have many of the same chemical form that He used to create man, but the way they function together has produced a permanent creation of "kind" making it impossible for a cat to become a tree, or a dog to become a man. God created man in His image and likeness.

Genesis 1:25-27 AMP:

"And God made the [wild] beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and domestic animals according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it. God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."

God answers our prayers according to His will and according to His purpose. What He has already accomplished He does not need to do again. Jesus Christ died once and for all taking the government of sin and death upon Him to do away with it. Now, it is up to us to align ourselves with who He is, WORD, while in our natural body transforming our soul and body into HIM (Christ in us/word) instead of warring against our own thoughts and imagination. If we were to try to jump out of a plane, and fly like an eagle without a parachute, we will die. Then if we were to ask God why He didn't save us from death, He would answer that He already did through Christ Jesus as a son of God, not as a bird or eagle, and that you created your own death acting as a "strange" Christian.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (The Message) "But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die-but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes-it's over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we'll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three-sin, guilt, death-are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!"

Do you see where "death" began? As a "word" or thought that became flesh and was feed "in-form-ation" from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which allowed God's image (word/form) of LIFE the "form" of death.

In - within

Form - manifest, take on a definite shape/character/personality/identity

a-tion - individual who responds with the soul/emotions that reflects into their body (form).

The soul/emotions respond to our thoughts. Without first having our thoughts create within our mind, there is no "feeling." The cells of the body react to the thought that creates the emotion that is manifested by the body.

This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2: 7-16:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Luke 9:57-59 AMP: "And it occurred that as they were going along the road, a man said to Him, Lord, I will follow you wherever you go. And Jesus told him, Foxes have lurking holes and the birds of the air have roosts and nests, but the Son of Man have no place to lay His head. And He said to another, Become My disciple, side with my party, and accompanies me! But he replied, Lord, permit me first to go and bury (await the death of) my father (my natural identity/death to my carnal body)."

Luke 9: 60-62 AMP: "But Jesus said to him, allow the dead (those that are spiritually in the outer or middle court) to bury their own (your thoughts determine you) dead; but as for you, go and publish abroad throughout all regions the kingdom of God. Another also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become your disciple and side with your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home. Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God (Entering into the throne room of God/the Holy of Holies)."

History reveals that God has always had a selected few that He has placed in certain times throughout the ages and caused them to walk a course of life that is different than the norm of their era. Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14), and those that are chosen will have a sense of destiny, a divine calling, that drives them to see it fulfilled that others will not understand, and possibly consider them very strange, even questioning if they are of a cult.

The warfare these people battle within themselves is because they were chosen. This battle is the identity of Heaven brought into time; the Kingdom of God being manifested in this world. Their greatest enemy is not the non-believers, but those that "think" they are "good Christians" and feel threatened within their identity because they do not comprehend the same understanding of those that have been chosen. It is many times a challenge of the soul because those that are closest to a "chosen one" are creating the greatest battle out of jealousy and envy. Being "chosen" IS NOT a position of being greater than others or being more special to God than others. It is a position of humbleness and perseverance that requires denying one's self for the greater cause of bringing forth the sons of God in others.

There must be a beginning and the beginning must be like God. The birth of the "sons of God" must come through a pregnancy that climaxes with travail. "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembered no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world" (John 16:21). Paul tells us, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 4:19).

If the beginning is God and the end is God, He is all in ALL (1 Cor. 15:28), then there must be an identity of God manifested in every age to bring unity of the ALL. "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worked all in all" (1 Cor. 12:6). Therefore, if the beginning is God, then it is finished before it is started. If God is going to create the perfect offspring, He has already created the perfect seed. For God to be righteous, just, and truly sovereign having His way at the end, the beginning must be ALL God that the end has no other conclusion.

Since God begins with sovereignty and operates in ways that are foolish to our carnal understanding, we must accept by faith that within His sovereignty contains the perfect seed of God that is His Divine plan which is the very thing that God has destined. Since the finished work of God has to be God, the end must be the fullness of the beginning which is God. Within His sovereignty is the journey of creation of the perfect seed being manifested in a process that concludes that "Christ is all, and in all" (Col. 3:11) which was planted from the beginning.

"For it is God which worked in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). When we say "yes" to God, it is only because He has already said "yes" to us. "And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God" (Haggai 1:14).

Those whom God has chosen will not fit in the normal environment of the church world. They will be frustrated and restless sitting in church services that are on time limitations and rituals. They will constantly be seeking an in-depth relationship with God that goes so far beyond what others desire that many times they will find their journey independently in order to bring into the corporate body a greater awakening "to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).

God calls this predestined. "The election of grace." "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:5). We learn that those things that we are going through do include choice and consequences, but there is also a persistent predetermined destiny that draws us with a desire that goes beyond who we are, and for the sake of Christ, we make righteous choices that transform the body of Christ into His image.

This transformation of the body of Christ must become experiential. This is not something we read in a book and claim it as ours, a word of faith we accept, or a sinner's prayer where we receive Jesus into our heart. It is through the trials and tribulations that we are able to put aside our carnal way and seek "the joy of the Lord as our strength" out of our inner most realm, our thoughts are transformed into His peace that surpasses ALL of our understanding and LIFE is birthed.

This is an in working out of the Spirit of God within us according to His good pleasure. "He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, from his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water" (John 7:38 AMP).

Taking another look at 1 Peter 5:10-11 (AMP), "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."

Suf - sub or under

Fer - to bare

Suffer = to bare under, to be subjected to a certain trial. However, despite the trial or suffering, God's election of grace is equal to bring us through that trial and greater to raise us up and beyond the trial allowing us to KNOW the POWER of HIS RESURRECTED LIFE IN OUR LIVES.

Philippians 3:9-11 (AMP):

"And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope].That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]."

The election of grace tells us that regardless of what we go through, His grace is sufficient. Many Christians claim Romans 8:14-17a which says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." However, as much as we desire to be known as a "King's kid," very few want to go through the rest of what Paul wrote to truly obtain the inheritance that is ours.

Romans 8: 17b-30:

"If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travailed in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Take note that as we suffer with Him, the glorification He received we receive also. However, this is not a "someday when we get to heaven" glorification. If we re-read what Paul wrote in Romans 8:18 AMP, "[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us," that the glory of God is revealed "to us, in us, for us, and on us" NOW.

We may each be unique individuals, but we all have only one Father. It is He who is working according to His good pleasure in you (Philippians 2:13), having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself (Eph. 1:5), and having made known in us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He already purposed in Himself (Eph. 1:9). No other power can bring into fulfillment what God predestined in you before the foundation of the world except God. It is His love that will draw us to His predestined finished work that was completed before it began that Christ is ALL in ALL.

Psalm 91:14, "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."

Isaiah 63:9, "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old."

Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Romans 5:8, "But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Galatians 6:14, "But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!"

Philippians 1:11, "May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [ that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]."

Hebrews 1:9, "You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and you have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed you with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond your companions."