2 Corinthians 5 speaks of the heavenly house that awaits us, it is eternal in the heavens; and while we wait for mortality being swallowed up of life, God has given us the earnest of the Spirit, that we might even now foretaste our portion in the coming day in heaven. Should we become unclothed, it would be to be present with the Lord. Then there is the judgment seat of Christ, where we shall receive the things done in the body; where our whole course down here will be, as it were, handed back to us with the mind of Christ in relation to it all. Being in Christ, we are in an entirely new order of things, where nothing of the old order is to affect us: and so it should be as touching anything belonging to Christ. All things in this new order have their origin in the God who has brought us back into right relations with Himself: this is reconciliation: and the word of reconciliation goes out now in the Gospel. But all this began when Christ came into the world. Coming in grace. He did not impute to men their trespasses, but presented God in love. The world refused the overtures of God in grace in the Person of His Son, casting Him out by way of the cross. In wondrous mercy and wisdom God has taken the very means of man's dishonour and rejection of His Son to procure in redemption a righteous basis for man's blessing. On the cross God made Christ to be sin for us, He Who knew no sin, that we might become God's righteousness in Him. In Christ we are God's righteousness, as the prodigal was in the best robe before the Father's face, and as the wedding guests were in the wedding garment before the King; this is our present portion; but we shall be displayed as God's righteousness in Christ in the glory of the coming ages.
The Knowledge of God's Love.
Our God and Father has brought us into the closest possible relationship with Himself: we are His sons; and He has given us to enjoy the nearest possible place, accepted in the Beloved; and this, that we might know the deep love of His heart, and the wonderful counsels of His grace. He would have us understand what He has been doing, what He is now doing in grace, and what He shall yet accomplish for the glory of His Son and the satisfaction of His own heart. With this knowledge we shall be able to order our course down here for His pleasure and glory.