THE BELIEVER’S LIFE IN CHRIST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE BELIEVER’S LIFE IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (First Corinthians 1 vs 30.)

READ: Galatians 2 vs 20; Colossians 2 vs 9 - 10:

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Colossians 2:9: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

2:10: and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 

INTIMATION:

In the new birth, we have become one with Christ, and His experiences are ours. Christian life began when, in unity with Christ, we died to our old life (See Romans 6 vs 5 - 11). And yet the focus of Christianity is not on dying but on living. Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have also been raised with Him (Romans 6 vs 5). Legally, we have been reconciled with God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 19) and are free to grow in Christ’s likeness (Romans 8 vs 29). And in our daily life, we have Christ’s resurrection power as we continue to fight sin (Ephesians 1 vs 19 - 20). We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us—He is our power for living and our hope for the future (Colossians 1 vs 27).

Christ is the strength of the believer’s life. He is the fount of our resources as believers and the reason for our personal and living relationship with God. Our union and identification with Christ results in our having God's wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2 vs 3), possessing right standing with God (righteousness, Second Corinthians 5 vs 21), being sanctified (First Thessalonians 3 vs 3 -7), and having the penalty of our sins paid by Jesus (redemption, Mark 10 vs 45).

God is our ability. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are partakers of His divine nature. His wisdom is given to us in Christ without measure, so we can safely say He is our ability. Jesus told His disciples, to wait in the city of Jerusalem they are endued with power from on high (Luke 24 vs 49). The word "power" comes from the Greek word "dunamis." Some translations call it "ability." They were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the ability of God.

Christ has come into the believer in His fullness; with all His completeness. The limitless One has come into the believer to take over. He gave His ability, His completeness. Now, we can understand John 1 vs 16 that says, "Of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." All that the believer requires is to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Consequently, we will walk worthily of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit unto every good work and continually increasing in this exact, and perfect knowledge of God, and strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power. (See Colossians 1 vs 9 - 13).

This new light has given the believer a new responsibility in the prayer life. You can understand now why He said, "Come boldly unto the Throne of Grace" into the Throne Room (Hebrews 4 vs 16), where He and the Father are seated together. You are not to come as a servant or a slave, but as a lover, a son. Now, prayer of course, is not going to be what it was before you knew who you are in Christ, and what your privileges are. Prayer is now coming boldly in the Throne Room, in fellowship with your Father and the Son—the first born among many brethren, and putting Him into remembrance of His promises—His Word, contending together with Him, and stating your case clearly to obtain His promises (Isaiah 43 vs 26).

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the privilege of sonship granted me. My eyes of understanding are continually enlightened with the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of You. Now, I know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in me, in Jesus’ Name I have given thanks, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!