GOD HAS FREED US - PART 6

WEDNESDAY 07 JUNE 2023

Having died on the cross and defeated the devil and His cohorts, God raised Jesus up from the dead on the third day, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him (See Acts 2:23-24). So Christ Jesus didn't just defeat the devil and sin, He also overcame spiritual and physical death, which denotes all-round triumph. Hallelujah!

Reference: Colossians 1:13-14 New Century Version (NCV) "God has freed us from the power of darkness, and He brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son. The Son paid for our sins, and in Him we have forgiveness."

Since Christ has died for all, if you have received Him as Saviour and Lord, the Bible says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1-4 NET). I believe this is self-explanatory but let me add depth to it. More below!

Remember that Jesus dealt with sin and condemned it in the flesh, just as I noted in part 5, which is the main purpose of His arrival and appearance in the flesh.

To that effect, Colossians 2:13-15 reads, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (NIV).

Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; Jesus took it away and nailed it to the cross. For this reason, there is therefore now no condemnation for "ONLY" those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ has set them free from the law of sin and death. Got it?

Now understand that the born again Christian's relationship to the Holy Spirit is of paramount importance. Why? The Bible says, "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through His Spirit who lives in you" (Romans 8:9-11 NET).

In other words, the Spirit will enable you to present your mortal body as a living sacrifice to God, instead of living according to the flesh. Got it? I will repeat it in another words, such that it will sink in! If your relationship with the Holy Spirit is rich and healthy, you'll not keep fulfilling the desires of the flesh because your body is now dead to sin. So apostle Paul says, "If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness." That is, acknowledge your body as dead to sin and then, fully present it to God because of all Christ has done for you. Let it be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable because this is truly the way to worship Him (See Romans 12:1 NLT).

How do you present your body alive to God? By walking in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16 ESV). As you do this, He will continually guide you into all truth, build you up on the firm Foundation, Christ, which can never be moved, and present you holy to God, thereby positioning you to take possession of the inheritance of the saints in light. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 13:28-33; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 4:24; Hebrews 13:20; Galatians 1:1.

Guided Prayer: Precious Father in heaven, I praise you today because Christ Jesus manifested His victory over the enemy of my soul, with triumphant brightness, which has led to the redemption of His body, representing those you've called and chosen. The power of darkness and bondage of sin have come to an end in my life, because I'm now a new creation, having been delivered from the domain of darkness and corruption and transferred into Christ's supreme Kingdom, a palace of glorious liberty of the saints in the light. By living according to your Word, I'm constantly transformed into the likeness of Christ and of your glory, in Jesus' Name, Amen!