We are Waiting for Redemption

"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)

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead:

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)

He was appointed to the firstborn since the beginning:

"And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89: 27)

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:

"Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" (1 Timothy 6: 15)

and then

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19: 16)

Jesus introduces Himself to John in Revelation as follows, too:

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," (Revelation 1: 5)

As the firstborn, He is king. The two cannot be separated.

When we understand the redemption that we have in Christ, we must realize that He did not just die for our sins, for all our sins, but He granted to us kinship and kingship in Himself:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)

and then

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)

Indeed, we are awaiting the redemption of our bodies:

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15: 50-54)

While we wait for the redemption of our bodies, we can know that our inner man is growing (2 Corinthians 4: 16), and we keep receiving the grace of God and the gifts of righteousness in Christ Jesus today (Romans 5: 17).