Living Hope Now

We have been justified and we will be glorified but what
about the 'meantime' as we live on earth? Perhaps we have
an hour yet to live before the Lord comes. And what of
that hour? The Christian isn't left untempted; He is a
shining mark for Satan: is there no hope, has grace no mes-
sage for this time, right now between then and now?

Yes! Thank God that there is! There is just as much hope
for this middle time as for the ending and as the beginning;
and it is just as truly God's grace. In Romans 5:10 we read
"For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to
God by the death of his Son, much more, being recon-
ciled, we shall be saved by his life." We were saved by his
death, now' in the meantime, in this present time, if we but
believe, we shall be kept safe (from the power of sin) in
His life. And that means His resurrection life. This is the
whole message of Romans 6, walking in the newness of
life, moment by moment, while we are waiting for our
resurrection bodies, having the joy of the resurrection life.
"For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; 
much more they which receive abundance of grace and 
of the gift of righteousness (not the work of righteous-
ness. It is an outright gift) shall reign in life (now and
here) by one,Jesus Christ."

And then that wonderful verse in Romans 6:14!
I don't know if there is a more blessed verse anywhere!
"Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are...
under grace." 
You are not under law, which says, "Do," but under grace
which says, "Done;" for grace excludes works from having
anything to do with this freedom from the dominion of sin.

Reader, there is still more in this chapter. What Trumbull
is saying is so huge. So difficult to grasp. I know it is truth,
but it is so opposite from what I have been taught on the
'work' of sanctification.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones!