The Bible reveals that Jesus has offered Himself as the perfect
sacrifice for the redemption of humanity (Revelation 1:5-6). He suffered
and died as mans substitute (Acts 2:29-36), paid for man’s crimes by
satisfying justice (Romans 3:21-26), was made alive and justified in
spirit (1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 3:18), raised from the dead (Acts
13:33-34) and has taken His blood to heaven and sat down at the right
hand of the Majesty on High making mans redemption both available and
eternal (Hebrew 1:3, 9:11-12, 10:10-14).
Although redemption has been made available for all humanity through
Jesus Christ, it only becomes a reality to those who confess the
Lordship of Christ and receive Him as Savior. (Romans 10:9-10) With that
said, I have found that there are few in the church today who really
know, possesses and enjoy their God given rights and privileges that
redemption has made possible. To fully understand and embrace what the
Father has worked through Christ for believers takes revelation faith. In other words, we can read the Bible continuously, but until one "receives with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your soul,"
(James 1:21) it becomes a vague proposition at best. It becomes
difficult to believe that we truly are what and who God says we are in
Christ. God's Word must become a part of our very being in the same way
that a child within the womb is a part of a woman's body.
The Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans
10:17) Although our faith increases through God's Word, our faith is
measured by our knowledge of our place and our rights as God’s children
as well as our ability to stand in the presences of God without guilt,
condemnation, shame or inferiority. When we truly know these things we
will no longer deal with fear, doubt or unbelief and we will know that
through faith in
Christ we have as good a standing before the Father as Jesus had in His
earth walk. This also means that the struggle of trying to acquire more
faith is settled and we will live on this earth in the same manner that
Jesus did. If we know who we are in Christ, then in a sense, there is
no struggle for faith because we do not need faith for that which we
know.
I have a covered patio that is attached to the rear of my house. A
recent storm with damaging winds damaged a portion of the roof. I do not
need faith to believe the patio is mine. I can see it and touch it. It
is on my property and it is attached to my house. However, I may need to
exercise faith for
the finances to replace the roof So you see, believers do not need to
exercise faith for the things that they know to be true. How about if
you went to a store and bought a television. You paid cash for it and
have the receipt as proof of purchase. Who owns the television, you or
the store? Of course you do. You paid the price required which met the
conditions to make a legal business transaction thereby taking ownership
of the television. Not only that, but because the television is yours,
you can say or do whatever you want concerning the television. Now, what
if the CEO of the company that manufactured the television came to your
house and demand ownership of the TV. Who is the rightful owner? Of
course you are. What if the CEO took you to court and his attorney
pleaded a case of ownership to a judge. You hire an attorney and your
attorney shows the judge the receipt, the proof of purchase. Who will
the judge say is the owner of the television? Of course you are.
In the same manner the believer belongs to Christ! He owns us! We are
His! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This also means that we are who and what He
says we are! The following are a few things to meditate on concerning
who and what we are in the mind of the God our Father...
- We have peace with God (Romans 5:1)
- We have God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)
- We are one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17)
- We are New Creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- We are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- We have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3)
- We have been made alive in Christ and sit with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-10)
- We have God working in us to do His will (Philippians 2:13)
- We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
- We are holy and blameless in His sight (Colossians 1:22)
- We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
- We enjoy rest in Christ (Hebrews 4:3)
- We are His own special people (1 Peter 2:9)
- We are partakers of exceeding great and precious promises and the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)
- We have eternal life (1 John 2:25)
- We are kings and priests (Revelation 1:4-6)
"So Christ has made us free. Now make sure that you stay free" (Galatians 5:1)….
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