BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 6.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 05, 2022.

SUBJECT: BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 6.

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: First Corinthians 1 vs 2; 15 vs 22; Second Corinthians 5 vs 17 - 21:

First Corinthians 1:2: To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 

15:22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Second Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

5:18: Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

5:19: that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

5:20: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

INTIMATION:

We have seen in our series that God chose us in Jesus Christ way back before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish in His presence, and out of His love for us, He foreordained us into the position of sons and daughters to Himself through Jesus Christ.

In creation, God created us in His own image and after His likeness. His major reason being that, in all He created, He can only have fellowship with humans who are like Him, hence His visit to Adam and Eve every evening in the Garden. Humans could have fellowship with Him at that time because they were created in righteousness and holiness. But after the fall of man, the relationship and fellowship were broken. 

However, out of His love for us, He restores us to our former position in Christ Jesus, through His substitutionary work, in restoring our righteousness, and sanctification, to continue in our relationship and fellowship with Him. Our sins are forgiven, and He remembers them no more according to His Word— His promise (Jeremiah 31 vs 33 - 34).

God, in His infinite wisdom, did all out of His love for us, and personally invites us to be partakers of the deep things of God. A personal invitation makes a person feel wanted and welcome. He “called to be saints”—holy and righteous, and to be citizens of His eternal kingdom. All these He wrought through Jesus Christ, His Son, and He is the only One who can bring us into this glorious kingdom because He is the only One who removes our sins. 

Remember that Satan and his cohorts—the fallen angels (the demons), were chased out of heaven in a war (Revelation 12 vs 7 - 9). Consequently, they are not there when God planned the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. When He came, they were expecting that He came to continue the physical war with them, for the world is a tremendous battleground, where forces under Satan’s power and those under God’s authority are exercising their power and authority. Hence they thought that killing Him they had defeated Him and had achieved their aim of dominating the world. 

They had no part in the spiritual wisdom and revelation of His substitutionary work, in coming to rescue the world from their dominion through the legal payment of the wages of sin (Ezekiel 18 vs 4 & 20; Romans 6 vs 23), for God set Him forth as a propitiation for our sins. If they knew, they wouldn’t have killed Him.

We are made righteous, and sanctified, which means that we are chosen or set apart by Christ for His service. We accept God’s invitation haven accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, and trusting in the work He did on the cross to forgive our sins. God Himself, is the source of, and reason for our personal and living relationship with Christ. 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), being holy (First Thessalonians 4 vs 3 - 7), and having the penalty for our sins paid by Jesus in redeeming us (Mark 10 vs 45).

Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. They are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated—they are re-created (new creation), living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2 vs 6-7). At conversion they are not merely turning over a new leaf, they are beginning a new life under a new Master.

When we trust in Christ, we make an exchange—our sin for His righteousness. Our sin was poured into Christ at His crucifixion. His righteousness is poured into us at our conversion. This is what Christians mean by Christ’s atonement for sin. But God offers to trade His righteousness for our sin; something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless. How grateful we should be for His kindness to us.

In restoring our fellowship, He made us ambassadors in His kingdom. An ambassador is an official representative on behalf of one country to another. As believers we are Christ’s ambassadors sent with His message of reconciliation to the world. Because we are reconciled to God, we have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and have been given the ministry of reconciliation. An ambassador of reconciliation has an important responsibility. We dare not take this responsibility lightly.

Prayer: Abba Father, there is none like You. Even before the foundation of the earth You planned my adoption as Your son. I am exceedingly grateful to You for Your kindness, and ever enduring mercy. You restored my fellowship with You, and elevated me to be Your ambassador and has given me the ministry of reconciliation. Give me the grace to serve You aright in this assignment, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!