GOD MADE US ALIVE IN CHRIST - PART 1

FRIDAY 02 DECEMBER 2022

It's a terrible thing to believe that you're physically and happily alive, yet God sees you as dead. And sure enough, it is true, as long as you are not born again. No matter your personality, beauty, age, status, connection, tribe, race, family, culture or tradition, and even influence and level of affluence, if you have not received Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord, you are dead because of sinful nature. And as long as you live in bondage to sin, you are at enmity with God. The question is: For how long will you continue to live and walk as the dead, since Christ has made the ultimate atoning sacrifice for your sin?

Reference: Ephesians 2:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT) "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."

God is so rich in mercy and He loved us so much. Did you know what that means? For God, to be rich in mercy, means that He has an enduring attitude and so, He's deliberately patient with the ungodly. Who is the ungodly? People who are extremely wicked in their way of life and constantly sin against the Lord without fear, remorse and repentance.

Beloved, but God loved us so much that He had to do something about it by sending Christ to die for our sins. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (NIV). To believe in Christ means, to accept Him as Saviour and Lord, but in this, many deceive themselves and while away their lifetime indulging in all the worldly enjoyments without a hearty consideration of where they'll spend eternity. They make the glorious gospel a thing of joke and refuse to consider the necessity of God's grace and mercy, let alone partaking of the free salvation in Christ.

How stupid are their thoughts to ignore the Almighty who has shown them mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ! To spend a whole lifetime without considering and obtaining the mercy and love of God is an abomination, because God's mercy is described as "so rich", meaning that it is luxurious, superabundant and inexhaustible. When you're so rich in something, it indicates that its actually overflowing. Romans 2:4-5 says, "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." (NLT).

If you are reading this, understand that there is nothing that so patiently works any man's repentance, like the mercy and love of God. Therefore, if you are not yet born again, do not continue to abuse the free grace of God that offers salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Titus 2:11 says, "For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people" (NLT). Remarkably, the revealed grace did not bring salvation for few people, but for all people. No one is exempt or ruled out from receiving the salvation in Christ, as long as the earth remains; absolutely, no one! Therefore, if you're moved to open your heart to be saved by grace, then quickly say the prayer of salvation below with all your heart, and you'll be counted among those who have obtained God's mercy, and not only that, you must begin to walk as His child. Stay tuned for part 2. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 1:12-13; Romans 1:6; John 3:3-6; Romans 6:23; John 14:6.

Guided Prayer: I acknowledge today that God demonstrated His unconditional love for me in this: While living without Christ, He sent Him ahead of time to die for me. Therefore I renounce the nature of sin and I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I believe and confess with all my heart that Jesus is the Son of the true living God, who died for me and was raised from the dead on the third day by God. I affirm that Jesus is risen and He's alive forever. I accept Him into my heart and I declare His Lordship over my life forever. I'm now born again as a new creation. I have eternal life: my present-moment reality. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me and taking full charge of my life, as my Lord. GLORY TO GOD!