1230. From Limitation to Liberation
From Limitation to Liberation
"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" (Luk_12:50).
1. Christ in His ascension passed from the limitation that circumscribed His earth life to fullness of liberty in action and deed. Our Lord Jesus in His earth life was limited. Speaking of His incarnation, and anticipated death, He said, "How am I straitened till it be accomplished!"
Our Lord Jesus, during His earth life was subject to His parents, and subject to the Law; in this He was "straitened."
Our Lord Jesus, in His earth life dwelt in a human body; in this He was circumscribed both in His manifestation and in His service. The Lord in the body could not be in but one place at one time. He could not reach out from sea to sea and from land to land as He now reaches out.
The ship tied to the wharf pictures limitation and restraint. The ship with the cables cut and the anchor lifted, sailing the mighty deep is in its full sweep of glory, is a picture of liberation.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was tied and cabled by His flesh. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, and ascending to the Father's right hand has entered into the fullness of that sweep of service which He so greatly desired.
There are those who discount the literal, corporeal, visible, and personal coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to sit upon David's throne because they claim that He would once again become limited. However, let it be said that our Lord Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father to-day with the same body that will be His when He sits on David's throne. Our glorified Lord on the earth will have no more limitations to His operations than our Lord in Heaven.
2. The believer in union with Christ in His ascension, is released from an old servitude to sin, and is set free in the glorious liberty which marks the children of God. Those who once were under the whip of Egyptian taskmasters, are led out into the liberties of Canaan victory and freedom.
Those who once were subjected to the law under condemnation, are liberated by grace and brought into fellowship with God.
Those who once were in bondage serving divers lusts, are led out into the freedom of that victory which belongs to sainthood.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal_5:1).
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, "Why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?" (Col_2:20). Then he urged, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above" (Col_3:1).
The believer has been saved from bondage to sin, and from servitude to satan. The prison doors have been opened and the captives set free. In ascension with Christ we are dwelling in the fullness of the freedom of our Risen Lord.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR