Christ has been charged by the Father with laying the foundations of the earth. Working with Him and sharing in His inheritance will be those who, through His grace, were able to conquer the world, Satan, and their own lusts and self-will.

The work of salvation has not been accomplished in us when our sins are forgiven. The work of salvation has not been completed in us until we have been redeemed totally from the authority, power, and effects of sin and have been brought into the image of Christ and into perfect union with God through Christ.

"Salvation" is synonymous with deliverance. To "save" is to deliver from Satan and to bring into union with God.

Once we truly have been "saved," in this complete sense, we are ready to return in glory with Christ and to lay the foundations of the earth upon the Person, Life, and truth of Christ.

The Lord Jesus came to save us "from" our sins (Matthew 1:21). As soon as we have been saved from our sins we will be ready to be raised from the dead and to participate in the new world of righteous, holy, and obedient behavior.

Saying to Zion, "You Are My People"

"Zion" is Israel, the elect of God—particularly the stronger among the elect; although it appears the term often is enlarged to embrace all the Lord's people. Zion includes God's kings and priests, His holy nation—those whom He has called out of the world, as He did Abraham, on the basis of foreknowledge and predestination.

Zion consists primarily of those who are Jewish by race but also the elect Gentiles. However, the national, political aspect of Zion always is of the Jews, never of any Gentile nation no matter how devout.

One day Jerusalem will rule the nations of the earth. During the new heaven and earth reign of Christ, which is an eternal rulership, the new Jerusalem will govern the nations of the saved peoples of the earth.

Before Abraham, mankind was without any light from God except for the revelation that may be found in God's created works. God loves the nations of peoples whom He has created and has devised a plan whereby the nations may be able to draw near to God and to learn of His Person, will, and ways. God desires to bless people and to teach them, not to condemn them to the fires of torment.

God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham's calling was by God's own choice, His foreknowledge and election. God did not speak of Abraham's righteous behavior, as He did of Noah's, nor did God refer to any wickedness on the part of the people of Ur.

The gifts and callings of God proceed from His own choices. Each of us is required to respond diligently and faithfully to God's unique calling on his own life. If we do not we are chastised more severely than are those who are not called with the same calling.

Abraham met all of God's requirements. God then spoke of blessing the nations of the earth through Abraham's Seed (Genesis 22:18).

To be continued.