A Morsel of Future Glory

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, … to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph 1:7, 10b). The purpose of Christ redeeming us was to fulfill God’s plan to unite all things in Christ. Our redemption and being transformed into new creatures is just one part of God’s plan for the world. The ultimate plan is to unite all things, “things in heaven and things upon the earth” in Christ. The phrase “things in heaven and things upon the earth” is Paul's way of saying the whole universe. The angels and beings in heaven, all mankind, all the animals, and all the plants, the whole of creation is to be united in Christ under His Lordship (Rom 8:18-23).

This uniting all things in Christ will not occur until His ultimate glorification at his second coming and the initiation of the new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1). However, we get a foretaste of this future fulfillment here in our union with Christ individually and in our fellowship with believers in our local church. The unity and fellowship we enjoy in our corporate worship and studying the word is just a foretaste of the glory we will enjoy when all things are united in him. So until we can feast at the table in the new heaven and earth, the one with all things united in him, enjoy and drink deep from the sampling you have for you at the weekly assembling of the saints.