Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” Yesterday we looked at 1 John 4:16,17 and 2 Cor 5:14-17. Let’s go back to these passages today.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The Apostle Paul said:
The love of Christ controls us, because we know that one person died for everyone. So all have died. He died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him.
From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him.
(2 Cor 5:14-17 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. When we are IN CHRIST, Jesus’ death becomes our death.
a) Our text says, “One person died for everyone. So all have died.” That one person was Jesus. All of us who are IN HIM, get to participate in His death.
b) Paul said, “When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death” (Rom 6:4).
c) When we went down in the water, in baptism, it was an outward symbol of the inward change that took place when we were Born-Again. We died to self and we are alive for Christ.
d) Since Jesus died our death, and His death is a true substitution for our own, we are to now live without a fear of death.
e) When you fully embrace Jesus’ death as your own, you are delivered from the bondage of the fear of death (Heb 2:15).
2. When we are IN CHRIST, Jesus’ resurrection becomes our resurrection.
a) Our text says, “He died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him.”
b) Paul said, “In Adam all of us die. And in the same way, in Christ all of us are made alive again.” (1 Cor 15:22).
c) Jesus was raised from the dead into the newness of eternal life. Jesus will never die again. When we are IN CHRIST, we are raised with Jesus. We are raised from death to eternal life. We have passed from death to life (John 5:24). We have done all the dying we are going to do . We now get to live in the newness of the life Christ died to give us.
3. When we are IN CHRIST, Jesus’ life becomes our life.
a) Jesus was not just an example FOR us. He was an example OF us. If we are IN CHRIST, then His death was our death; His resurrection was our resurrection. This also means that His life now our life.
b) When you are IN CHRIST everything changes. You are just like Jesus. When God looks at you, He sees you the same as He sees His own Son. He loves you no less than He loves Jesus. He expects of you, NO LESS, than He expected of Jesus — and that is to complete your earthly assignment before you die. The only way to do this is to SEE yourself AS JESUS IS.
c) All that Jesus IS, is what you ARE, when you are IN HIM and He is IN YOU!
I will stop here for today.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I don’t say this based on my merit. I say this based on all that Jesus. I am in Jesus and Jesus is in me. His death was my death. So I have no fear of dying. His resurrection was my resurrection. So I walk in the newness of life. His life is my life. I live down here, as Jesus IS up there. Jesus took my place on the cross. I now take His place in the earth. As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
