Faith
Wednesday February 17, 2010
Hartsville News Journal
Page 2C
FAITH COMMENTARY
"Understanding God’s Elect "

Understanding God’s Elect requires a thorough understanding of your two bodies and your soul that resides in them. This article is going to require two writings, this one about Two Bodies published in 2007 and a follow up one that will conclude Understanding God’s Elect. Without further ado here is:

TWO BODIES REVISITED

Differing views exist about what happens to your soul when you die. Some of you even ask about where you were before you were born. Both the Old and New Testament gives valuable input on this subject as 2 Cor. 5:8 KJV introduces you to your two bodies:

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Prior to birth in the flesh, you were with God. In heaven, you were in your celestial (heavenly) body, and when you take your last breath, you return there. 1 Cor. 15:40 KJV talks about both your bodies:

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

Glory is different in your two bodies and a better understanding of your celestial body is all it takes to see the glory of your terrestrial (earthly) body.

Romans 9:11-13 KJV addresses a time that Jacob and Esau were in their celestial bodies with God. The experience God had with them caused Him to talk to Rebecca about them, before placing them in her womb:

[11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

[12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

God’s feeling towards Jacob and Esau is based on what they did with Him before they were conceived.

Searching for a second witness takes you to the Old Testament. There, before Jeremiah entered his mother’s womb, you see that he had already proven himself. Jeremiah 1:4-5 KJV talks about the headway made by Jeremiah in his spiritual body:

[4] Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Raised in a spiritual body,

 

 

 


 

Jeremiah pleased God as 1 Cor. 15:44 KJV references the origin of your soul.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Your spiritual (celestial) body is raised in God and when absent from the Lord, you serve Him in the flesh. It gives further opportunity for you to prove yourself. 2 Cor. 5:6 KJV introduces you to this timeframe:

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

You have two bodies but there is only one you; you have only one soul.

As God recognized Jeremiah’s accomplishments from before, Romans 9:20-21 KJV shows that He recognizes yours too:

[20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Jeremiah’s good qualities showed up before he entered his mother’s womb and God tracks yours too. With power over the clay, He knows which lump, flesh body, is right for you.

Whether serving in a handicapped or fit body, it matters not; your flesh body serves His Need…and yours!

You can see that your Two Bodies give you a double opportunity to impress God as you ask yourself: When did I last thank Him for my opportunity to serve Him in the flesh?

With a better understanding of your soul and your Two Bodies, you are now ready to absorb the follow up article; it will conclude Understanding God’s Elect and your association with them.

 

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Pastor Billy Johnson can be reached by email at billy@lakeshorebible.info or viewed online at www.lakeshorebible.com