GOD MADE US ALIVE IN CHRIST - PART 3
MONDAY 05 DECEMBER 2022
There is no small part when it comes to the excellent work God did for us in Christ. Think about it this way: By the blood of the Lamb, all people that existed from the beginning of time until this present age and even beyond, were pardoned, and by His righteousness all were justified; by His grace all were saved. In other words, Christ's ultimate sacrifice covers everybody in the history of mankind that God ever created. If you rewind the time, it is the blood of Jesus; in the present moment, it is the same blood; if you fast-forward time, it is still the blood. When we consider both the ancient and modern transactions between God and humanity, the blood of the Lamb is always the answer. Once set in motion on the cross, it has never ceased from accomplishing the freedom and salvation of mankind, no matter the age or generation. I like the way 1 Peter 3:18 put it: "For the Messiah himself died for sins, once and for all..." (CJB). It's a one-off! Got it?
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."
Satan is the ruler of the darkness of this world but the problem is that His kingdom is a kingdom of darkness which is insignificant, when compared to the Kingdom of God (light). The Bible says, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. and he blinds the minds of them that believe not, keeps them in darkness" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). That's why many are dead because of sin. Yet many more are being delivered from his weak domain and are being made righteous because of Christ's atoning sacrifice.
For all of us who have received God's mercy and love which are in Christ Jesus, we were once dead because of our sins, but God gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. Indeed God properly made us His choice, and interestingly, we are not a temporary choice, but God's eternal choice. Personally, that's how I think about what God did for me in Christ. What if He omitted me? But His grace refused to! Hallelujah!
The grace of God 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 didn't raise us from spiritual death and then, left us alone. He did something terrific, and that is, He seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms. Why? Because we are united with Christ, which is fraternal union. Now pay attention to who we are united with: His name is Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (Revelation 1:5 NLT).
Firstborn from the dead? Yes; it means that He is the first to rise from spiritual death and we all followed. Then what is next in the Scripture? He is the ruler of the kings of the earth and that is now the position we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms.
Many a Christian still rejoices at the level of being saved by grace. I wonder what will happen, when we spend time to meditate on Scriptures like this and thereby realise the greatness or immensity of our spiritual existence in Christ. Did you know what it means to be seated or established with Christ in the heavenly realms because we are united with Him? To clear any doubts, Colossians 2:10 (NLT) says, "So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." Through our close-knit fraternity with Supreme being or Divinity, who is the head over every ruler and authority that ever exists, we are made complete. Once you develop this sense of fraternity, it will control your spiritual life and keep you in perpetual dominion. Stay tuned for part 4. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:3-11; 2 Timothy 2:11; Galatians 2:20.
Exuberant Declaration: I am seated together with Christ in the heavenly realms of glory. By the influence of the Holy Spirit, I am eagerly focused on the Kingdom and zealous for God and His righteous cause. I live by the truths and ordinances of the Scriptures and to the glory of God, I'm active in exercising my dominion over world and its evil influence. Hallelujah!
