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| A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver |
The Earnest Looks Forward to the Fullness. Everything we now experience in Christ will be improved and increased upon the redemption of the purchased possession. Our experience in Heaven will not be entirely different than our experience here, but it will be better. What I am saying is that the earnest is in accord with the fullness. Because our fellowship with the Lord will be more intimate and unhindered our experience of salvation will be more potent and abundant. This vile body, this present evil world, the frailty of our minds and partial nature of our knowledge all hinder us from greater fellowship with the Lord. But when this mortal shall have put on immortality and when we know as we have been fully known, then our fellowship with Deity will be enhanced. Our hearts will be given a greater capacity to be enlarged. Again, this is similar to our experience now but without the limitations accompanying the "now".
Our Inheritance is a Purchased Possession. The inheritance and possession for which we long is not something that we are working towards but something that we are waiting for. It is not "for sale." Christ has already purchased our inheritance and it is reserved in heaven for us. We are awaiting the redemption of the purchased possession.
The great price for the redemption of a man’s soul is briefly expressed through the psalmist in the following words:
“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever, that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.” (Psalm 49:5-9)
How can man the soul of man be redeemed? How? By what means? Through what payment? Who could pay such a steep cost? The gospel reveals that God has purchased His church with His own blood. It declares that He who was rich became poor that through His poverty we might be made rich! Our hope of salvation and blessing rests on the purchasing power of the Savior and His currency. Can He do it? Does He have the means? Will His payment be accepted? “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:18-19).
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