From Captivity Captive to Sonship

So we go from mindset of a prisoner of the Lord, to a servant, until He has reformed us into the image of His Son….  Renewed in the Mind of Christ Jesus, the Obedient Son Revealed… Born of God.

There are those that are still in the mindset of the servant. Then those that consider themselves a Friend of God.  God is using them and telling them things, but they are not hearing that calling yet to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus… to be a Son with The Son. We are Co-Heirs of Eternal Life…. His Life. 

Philippians 3:12-15

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:17-18

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; 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.

Ephesians 4: ALL 

Paul begins telling us that he is the ‘prisoner’ of the Lord in verse one and then encourages the Ephesus church to continue to walk worthy of the calling (vocation). 

In verse 7 he says every one of us are given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And then makes that statement…

v8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Why from captivity to captivity?  Why wasn’t it expressed as “he led the captivity free” instead back in to “captivity”? 

Romans 6:18 ‘Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.’ So, we were prisoners of the dark side (sin & death), but now, having been apprehended by Jesus Christ, we have become prisoners, servants, or we can say that we are HIS PURCHASED POSSESSIONS, and now HE is – has - will clean us up in spirit, soul, and body so that all that we are, are transformed, changed, metaphorised (or whatever word you want to use) into the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  One Body. One Spirit. One Mind.  Oh Hallelujah!!  Harmony at last!!!!!

So God gives to us all, and gave us grace according to the measure of the gift of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:7). Each member has a part and place in God’s Operation.  Christ Jesus was God’s Firstfruit of the Spirit, then each of us to come forth, in God’s appointed divine order to be birthed by the Spirit of the Son (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).  Jesus Christ the head, then each of us joined to Him as He apprehends and delivers us from the grave and captivity.  Then, after He has washed and cleansed us from the effects of sin & removes all smell and garments of death, He sets us in His Body, the church, which already exists (Hebrews 12:1, 22-29; Ephesians 3:21). 

Jesus Christ went into the lower depths of the earth to release those that were a prisoner of sin and death and the grave, and to take a hold of them (apprehend), and raise them up with Him into His heavenly places of liberty; but at first, we seem to be His prisoners or rather SERVANTS unto Him for HIS PURPOSE…. BOUGHT out of slavery of sin, to BE HIS SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Romans 6:13-14, 18)  But then, we find that it isn’t to be a prisoner or servant at all, but that He wants to Keep Us Protected from more Harm.  We will see destruction no more….   He wants to protect us, and clean us up, and produce His Son IN and THROUGH us, being One with Him.  John 1:12-14 … gives us power to become sons of God. 

So being made captive is not a captivity of harm, but the very opposite… a captive of LOVE….  He captures our Heart by Love.  Sounds like Marriage – the Lamb’s marriage to His Wife!  We are made to be His, exchanged (sold out) by the price of a woman (30 pieces of Silver, price of the field), but purchased by the Price of the Lamb (male, the man, 50 number for Jubilee)... He is our Saviour! Our Hero!  Now to declare & establish our Liberty, our JUBILEE and new beginning of LIFE for all SOULS.

The old man – the law of sin & death that God’s elect were married to have died, now they and we Gentiles are free to marry the Second Man, the Lord from Heaven, and take on His Name and benefits!!  Even more… we BECOME His Flesh & Bone and Spirit & Soul as it is spoken in Ephesians 5:29-30.  Heaven & Earth brought together in One.  What a revelation of Jesus Christ & the church!  Thank you Father.  (Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:20)

Ephesians 1:10-11
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth ; even in him:  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Colossians 1:20

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Even though the dispensation of the fullness of times came, and His Kingdom is established, yet from age to age since then, the Good News of Jesus Christ & His Kingdom is still preached, and still each soul, in God’s appointed time, are being awakened unto His Righteousness and are being changed and reconciled unto the Father through the Son Jesus Christ… still by that Word of God preached by His Holy Spirit.

Philippians 3:18  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As the deliverance, cleaning and healing of sin, its affects it has had on us & death are accomplished, each person is set in their appointed place that the Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for them.  They are given His Garments of Royalty and Priesthood, and allowed to walk in the new life of the Son, in this world and heaven with Him, as Him…His help mate… His Body… His expression of Glory revealed.

Amen.

RPJ