Last month we considered our identification with Jesus Christ and its current significance.
By Identification we mean that God identified us with Christ in His redemptive work (death, burial, and resurrection). Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary says to identify means to make identical, to consider or treat as the same. God considered us to have died with Christ, to have been buried and then raised with Him. This identification of us with Christ is based on two very important facts:
1) Jesus was our substitute, acting in our place so that we were accredited with what He did.
2) Jesus became exactly what we were in spirit, so that God viewed Him as being us.
Last month we established three important facts about our identification with Christ: 1) We were crucified with Christ; 2) We died with Christ; and 3) We were bured with Christ.
Now we want to understand the last FOUR important FACTS about our identification clearly outlined in the New Testament .
4) We were made alive with Christ.
- Col 2:13 - And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses...
- At the moment that God declared Jesus alive, as noted in the book of Hebrews, we were made alive in spirit together with Him.
- We were made alive in spirit before the body of Jesus was raised from the grave.
5) We conquered with Christ.
- Col 2:15 - Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
- This scripture indicates that we have already achieved victory and are an occupying force, having won the battle.
- We are no longer seeking victory; it has been given to us at the time Jesus conquered.
6) We were raised with Christ.
- Col 3:1 - If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
- This fact clarifies that our bodies are to glorify God, just as Jesus’ resurrection brought brilliance to God’s plan for humanity.
- God created an earthly vessel capable of containing His Glory, as first demonstrated in Jesus and subsequently in all believers.
7) We are seated with Christ.
- Eph. 2:6 - ...and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,..
- This is the position of all believers in Christ. We are above the circumstances, not victims of them.
- We need to receive our victory rather than attempting to achieve it.
These profound truths are not only for us but for all of God’s children to enjoy. As we reflect on these realities, we recognize the incredible things God has done for us through His son. This keeps us focused on the great commission to share this wonderful news. We are called to be those remarkable Relationship Builders.
As with every month, say the following with great confidence in our God...“I’m believing to be at the Right Place, at the Right Time saying the Right Thing and the right thing to say is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”