Except Your Righteousness Shall Exceed . . . 23

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

To redeem the mortal body is to deliver it from sin and death. Paul, whose goal was to attain righteousness so he might have fellowship with God, groaned for the adoption of his body.

The point is, if we hope for the final removal of sin in the Day of the Lord we must begin to follow the Spirit now in putting to death the deeds of the body. If we are faithful in the portion of righteousness given to us now, then in the day of redemption we will be given a greater portion of righteousness.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

If we hope to be like the Lord when He appears we must purify ourselves as He is pure.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (I John 3:3)

Before the Lord returns His Bride will be cleansed from sin.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)

Notice how the promise of the baptism with Divine fire (refiner's fire above) is carried forward in the New Testament:

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:10-12)

Compare:

When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. (Isaiah 4:4)

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)

The day of the baptism with fire has commenced. We have experienced the baptism with the Spirit of God. In our day the emphasis is on the baptism with fire. Are you looking to the Lord for this?

To be continued. Except Your Righteousness Shall Exceed . . . 24