The
Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior,
Is Able To Subdue All Things Unto Himself.
"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."
-- Philippians
3:21
In this passage
of Scripture, Paul is urging us to perseverance in faith. The basis of his
appeal is the fact that, as the sons of God, "Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body.”
We are citizens of heaven. Our lives shall be complete and find fulfilment only when we have reached our eternal home. We must not become ensnared by the things of this world, but ever must look for our Savior's glorious advent. And when he comes, we have the promise that he will change our vile, corruptible, mortal body of flesh, and make it like unto his glorified body.
It is the hope
of our resurrection and ultimate glorification, being perfectly conformed to
the likeness of Christ, that inspires our hearts to persevere in the faith,
pressing on toward the mark "for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” And we have a sure
foundation upon which to rest our hope: -- Our Savior's omnipotent ability! Our
resurrection shall be accomplished "according
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
1. Christ, the risen Savior, is able to subdue
all his elect, redeemed people by his grace (John 17:2). By the power of
his irresistible grace, Christ will seek, find, and save all his sheep. "He shall not fail.”
2. Christ is able to subdue our flesh. We cannot subdue the passions of the flesh, or overcome the power of indwelling sin. But Christ dwelling in us by the power of his Spirit has and shall yet cause us to prevail and overcome the flesh by his grace (Rom. 6:14, 22; 8:37).
3. And Christ is able to subdue all his enemies and ours unto himself. As he has conquered Satan and defeated death, by his death and resurrection, he shall soon defeat the grave for us by the power of his glorious appearing (1 Thess. 4:17).
Our
ultimate victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, over sin, death, and
hell, no more depends upon us than our resurrection from the dead spiritually
in the new birth or physically in the resurrection of the body. Let us continue
looking to Christ, “Being confident of
this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day f Jesus Christ.” . “Faithful
is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”