A reference point is the standard, criterion, or basis used for measuring, comparing, evaluating, assessing, or judging a person or a matter.
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)
In the first coming of Christ, He came for salvation with reference to sin; for sin reigned in men, and He had to make reference to this sin when He came to redeem men from sin, destroy the works of sin in men, and empower men to live lives that are free from sin.
However, in His second coming, He will no longer come for salvation with reference to sin or redemption from sin, as sin and the power of sin have been invalidated in Him, and sin would have been put to death in the flesh of His saints who live godly lives, just like how He lived in the days of His flesh. Thus, in the second coming of Christ, He will come for salvation with reference to His model image in the days of His flesh.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;” (Romans 8:29)
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Therefore, the reference point on the Day of the Lord is more than just redemption from sin through His blood; the reference point on His second coming will be: “Like Father, like Son; like Son, like sons”.
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
So, if we do await eagerly for His second coming, we will purify ourselves with reference to the image and likeness of Christ the firstborn, until we are transformed into the same glorious image that is in accordance to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. If we bear the image of Christ when we look at the mirror, we shall look like Him when He appears, because we will see Him just as He is, whether in the mirror of the Spirit or in person when He comes.
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2)
If we have fixated our eyes on this hope of glory, let us press on to maturity and perfection in our being, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. With the Cross behind us, and the glorious image of Christ before us, let us wash and purify ourselves, just as He is pure. Let us not dwell on the memorial of our salvation from sin; rather, let us move on to our destiny in conformance to the perfect stature and glorious image of Christ.
The reference point of our salvation on the day of the Lord will determine the required attainment of our lives and our ministries to the body of Christ. Thus, as ministers of God, let us build up of the body of Christ, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Indeed, this is the design and workmanship of the author and perfecter of faith to those who eagerly await Him.
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