Union With Christ ~ 20210117 ~ Marcus Bratton ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

01/17 Union With Christ; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20210117_marcus-bratton.mp3

 IN CHRIST 

GOOD MORNING CHURCH! PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. AMEN. PASTOR RODDINE HAS SPENT THE LAST MONTH REMINDING US OF JESUS IN HIS OWN WORDS

1. THE UNEXPECTED KING 

2. WHY HE CAME 

3. HIM COMING AGAIN 

4. AND WHILE WE WAIT

I WAS LISTENING TO THE SERMON WHILE WE WAIT ON YOUTUBE WHILE I WAS WAITING TO GET PICK UP AT THE AIRPORT IN SLC  THIS LAST SATURDAY. AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO START SELF EVALUATEUNING. UNLIMITED ACCESS FROM TO BEGINNING TO END. WITH HIS WORD TO GUIDE US WE ARE TO ABIDE IN THE KING, AND HIS WORD, TRUST HIM AND WALK IN OBEDIENCE. I WAS ONCE AGAIN REMINDED, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SUCCEED IN THOSE THINGS. THE WAY I THINK I SHOULD.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW, WE FAIL AT THAT, EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IT IS EASY TO TRUST OTHER THINGS, TO ABIDE IN OTHER THINGS THEN BECAUSE OF THAT THEN BASE OUR POSITION BEFORE GOD, ON HOW MANY RULES WE DON’T BREAK, HOW MUCH BAD WE DO OR HOW MUCH GOOD WE DON’T DO. HOW WELL WE TRUST, HOW WELL WE ABIDE. IT IS EASY FOR US TO BECOME DISCOURAGED WHEN WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR. WE LOOK BACK ON OUR DAY, OUR, WEEK OR EVEN YEARS. AND ASK OURSELVES HOW COULD GOD ACCEPT SOMEONE LIKE ME. HOW COULD GOD BE PLEASED WITH ME, HOW COULD GOD LOOK AT MY LIFE AND ALLOW ME TO DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE, AFTER VIOLATION AND VIOLATION OF HIS HOLY AND PERFECT STANDARD. AFTER SOME TIME DWELLING ON THOSE THOUGHTS I REALIZED JUST HOW  SELFISH I WAS BEING. SO FOCUSED ON MYSELF. SO FOCUSED ON MY ACTIONS. CONDEMNING MYSELF.  FORGETTING IN A MOMENT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL TRUTHS IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT SHOULD PREVENT ME FROM EVER  THINKING LIKE THAT.    

HOW DARE WE DO THAT. WHY IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE DO?

I AM CONVINCED THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY  REASONS.

1. WE HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO THE REALITY AND IMPLICATIONS OF BEING IN CHRIST, UNITED WITH HIM. 

2. OR, WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IT, AND HAVE ALLOWED THE WONDERFUL TRUTH, AND IMPLICATIONS OF BEING IN CHRIST TO SLIP SLOWLY TO THE BACK OF OUR MIND WHERE IT NO LONGER IS  ABLE TO IMPACT HOW WE LIVE AND WHY WE LIVE. WHERE IT IS NO LONGER ABLE TO GIVE US PEACE. HOPE AND JOY. WHERE WE CAN REST AND STOP FOCUSING ON OURSELVES AND OUR  PERFORMANCE.

TO BE HONEST UNION WITH CHRIST IS DESCRIBED OFTEN AS A NEGLECTED TRUTH, A NOT WELL KNOW DOCTRINE, A NOT OFTEN TAUGHT DOCTRINE.

SO, I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME THIS MORNING TO FOCUS ON IT A BIT. I WANT THIS TIME TOGETHER TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO US.  LET THIS TIME PLACE US WEAR WE OUGHT TO BE. ON OUR FACE IN WORSHIP AND THANKFULNESS BEFORE OUR WONDERFULLY GRACIOUS GOD AND CONFIDENT IN OUR STANDING BEFORE HIM, BECAUSE HE AND HE ALONE HAS PLACED US THERE, AND HE AND HE ALONE WILL KEEP US THERE.

 IT IS FINISHED, YOU ARE IN CHRIST.

THIS MORNING ALL I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS BEING IN CHRIST UNITED WITH HIM . IT HAS BEEN SO DEAR TO ME THESE LAST 6 MONTHS. IT HAS HELPED ME IN UNDERSTANDING SO MUCH. CLARIFYING GODS INTENTIONAL LOVE, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY, AND CONFIRMING FOR ME THE COMPLETION OF CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS, AND ALL THE BLESSING THAT COMES WITH.

 

CHRIST IN YOU,THE HOPE OF GLORY.

Col 1:27 "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

THE WONDERFUL MYSTERY THAT IS NOW READILY AVAILABLE FOR US AND WAS HIDDEN FOR AGES PAST: IS CHRIST IN YOU, 

AS BELIEVERS WE CAN BE CONFIDENT OF ETERNITY WITH CHRIST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHEN WE KNOW CHRIST IS ALREADY IN US, AND WE ARE IN HIM. 

AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION THE HOPE OF GLORY IS ACTUALIZED. AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION YOU ARE CREATED IN CHRIST 

• 2 COR 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

• EPH 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

IT IS INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT CHRIST’S ROLE IN CREATION, HE CREATED ALL THINGS. JOHN 1 SAY THAT COL 1 SAYS THAT. BUT A BELIEVER IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN CREATED AGAIN. 

GOD TAKES THIS CORRUPT MASS THAT IS OUR FLESH AND MIND, AND RECRATES IT. RENEWS IT MOLDS IT AND SHAPES IT INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS BELOVED SON JESUS CHRIST. 

WE OURSELVES TRY TO DO THIS. NEW YEAR NEW ME, YEAR AFTER YEAR  I'M GOING TO CHANGE, I'M GOING TO IMPROVE. WE TRY A BUNCH OF FLESHLY METHODS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS ALREADY DONE BY THE WORK OF GOD. YOU ARE A NEW CREATION.

AND THERE IS SO MUCH THAT COMES  WITH BEING A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. 

• EPH 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

THOSE IN CHRIST,  AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION HAVE EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING FROM GOD.

THERE IS NO LACK.

EVERY SPIRITUAL NEED IS OURS.

PAUL CONTINUES ON IN EPHESIANS FOR 1O VS EXPOUNDING ON THE WORK OF GOD IN CHRIST. PRAISING HIM FOR THE WAYS HE BLESSES HIS SAINTS.

• EPH 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

• EPH 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

• EPH 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

IN HIM, 

GOD’S MASTER PLAN FOR SALVATION. PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

ALL GOD, AND ALL OF IT IN CHRIST. 

GOD MADE US HIS CHILDREN, GOD JUSTIFIED US REDEEMED US, GOD FORGAVE US, GOD MADE US HEIRS TO AN INHERITANCE, AND GOD SEALS US WITH HIS SPIRIT, AS A GUARANTEE, WITH THAT WE ARE GUARANTEED TO NEVER TO NOT BE UNITED WITH CHRIST. BUT TO ALWAYS BE UNITED WITH CHRIST.

WE ARE HIS AND THERE WILL NEVER BE A THING DONE BY THOSE IN CHRIST TO THEN SEAVER OUR UNION WITH CHRIST. THERE IS NO THING PERFORMED BY A SAINT THAT WOULD THEN CAUSE GOD TO REMOVE HIS PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT.  AND UN UNIFY US WITH CHRIST. THAT WOULD MAKE CHRIST A FAILURE IN SAVING THOSE THE FATHER HAS GIVEN. 

FOR JESUS HIMSELF SAYS 

• JOHN 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

• JOHN 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 

• JOHN 8:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

NOW THIS IS NOT BEING SAID IN ANY WAY TO JUSTIFY OR MOTIVATE US TO PURSUE SIN. THIS TRUTH IS NOT INTENDED TO LIGHTEN THE GUILT WE FEEL FOR REBELLING AGAINST GOD IN OUR THOUGHTS AND DEEDS. IT’S NOT SAID FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOD’S UNFAILING FAITHFULNESS TO POUR OUT GRACE ON US. IT IS NOT BEING SAID TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CHOICES. THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR.

• ROMANS 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

UNITED WITH HIM, WE DIED WITH HIM. BUT NOT SO THAT WE CAN PURSUE SIN. 

BUT WHAT ABOUT RULES WHAT ABOUT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS DON'T WE HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THOSE TO STAY UNITED WITH CHRIST. DON'T WE HAVE TO BE GOOD PEOPLE TO PLEASE GOD. DON’T WE HAVE TO EARN HIS FAVOR, AND THEN HAVE TO PERFORM TO KEEP HIS FAVOR. 

NO, ITS IS FINISHED YOU ARE IN CHRIST.

WE DID NOT PERFORM TO EARN HIS FAVOR. AND WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PERFORM TO KEEP HIS FAVOR. WE ARE JUSTIFIED IN CHRIST. 

 

GAL 1:16 yet we know that a person is not justified  by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

JUSTIFIED - COUNTED AS JUST, RIGHT. COUNTED AS  RIGHTEOUS 

THE WORLD LOOKS AT THIS WAY DIFFERENTLY. WE SEE THE WORLD AROUND US. WE SEE THE SECULAR WORLD AND THE WORLD OF OTHER RELIGIONS BASING ONE'S SUCCESS, HOW GOOD A PERSON IS, IN LIGHT OF WHAT THEY DO.  WHAT IS ACHIEVED, WHAT IS MERITED. 

THAT’S NOT  HOW GOD DOES THINGS, HE SEES US IN OUR NEED AND DOES EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, FOR US. FROM A SECULAR HUMAN PERSPECTIVE OR THE PERSPECTIVE OF EVERY OTHER BELIEF SYSTEM, GOD DOES THINGS BACKWARDS. GOD DOES AND THEN WE RESPOND TO THAT, RATHER THAN US PERFORMING, AND THEN GOD RESPONDING TO WHAT WE DO AND THEN HIM BEING REQUIRED TO GIFT US BLEES US BASED OFF OF OUR MERITS.   

 

GAL 2:19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

YOU DIED WITH CHRIST, UNITED TO CHRIST IN DEATH. THE LAW THAT WE FAIL TO WALK  IN OBEDIENCE TO HAS CARRIED OUT ITS VERDICT OF GUILTY ON YOU.AND ITS PENALTY. BUT NOT ON YOU. CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO BORE THE WRATH OF GOD IN OUR PLACE. 

SO THEN THERE IS NO MERIT ON OUR END, NOTHING DONE BY US IN RULE KEEPING TO MERIT RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS EARNABLE, FAVOR FROM GOD WAS EARNABLE. THEN CHRIST DIED FOR NO PURPOSE. 

IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO LIVE A TRULY RIGHTEOUS LIFE. TO MEET THE BAR THAT GOD REQUIRES. THE PERFECT RIGHTEOUS STANDARD OF GOD THAT HE PERFECTLY EXEMPLIFIES. 

IF IT WERE POSSIBLE.

• THEN IT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF US. 

• IF IT COULD BE EXPECTED OF US

• THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR GRACE.

• WITH NO NEED FOR GRACE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE CROSS.   

IF WE WE COULD PERFORM TO HAVE GRACE FROM GOD, THAT MAKES THE GRACE OF GOD NULL AND VOID. POINTLESS. IF IT COULD BE EARNED THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR UNEARNED FAVOR FROM GOD.  GRACE WOULD CEASE TO BE GRACE

• ROMANS 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST, BLESSED BY GOD WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING, IN CHRIST. CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, JUSTIFIED IN CHRIST AND 

• ROMANS 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

IT’S AMAZING WHAT UNION WITH CHRIST TELLS US. IT’S THE WONDERFUL REALITY THAT YOU AND I ALONG WITH EVERY SAINT THERE HAS BEEN, AND EVER WILL BE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IT IS AS IF EVERYTHING CHRIST HAS DONE, BECOMES SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE. IN THE EYES GOD, WE LIVED A PERFECT LIFE, IN THE EYES OF GOD WE DIED  HIS DEATH, IN THE EYES OF GOD BURIED IN HIS TOMB, AND IN THE EYES OF GOD RAISED TO HIS GLORIOUS HEAVEN. 

 

RAISED TO HIS  GLORIOUS HEAVEN IS NOT ONLY A FUTURE REALITY. IT IS NOW.

EPHESIANS 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

 

RAISED US UP WITH HIM AND SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS. 

IN CHRIST = EVERYTHING. CREATED IN HIM, BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in him, CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, BURIED WITH HIM AND RAISED UP WITH HIM. JUSTIFIED IN HIM RAISED UP TO A GLORIOUS HEAVEN, IN HIM SEATED WITH GOD IN THE HEAVENLIES IN HIM.

THOSE ARE ALL POSITIONAL REALITIES IN CHRIST, 

NOW A FEW RELATIONAL REALITIES IN CHRIST.  

IN MARK CHAPTER 14 JESUS CRIES OUT TO HIS FATHER.

MARK 14:6 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

IN CHRIST THAT PRIVILEGE IS GRANTED TO US. 

• GAL 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 

• ROM 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!

AS SONS, CRYING OUT ABBA FATHER. THE FATHER LOVES US AS HE LOVES HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 

• John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me

• 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are....

 

AS CHILDREN OF GOD, ADOPTED AND LOVED LIKE HIS VERY OWN  WE ARE HEIRS OF GOD. 

• 1 PETER 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you

• ROMANS 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,...

IF SONS, LOVED AS HIS OWN AND FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST, THAT MEANS OUR INHERITANCE IS THE SAME AS HIS INHERITANCE.

WHAT IS CHRIST’S INHERITANCE?

• HEB 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

ALL OF IT, ALL THINGS.

IN CHRIST, ALL OF THIS FACT ABOUT YOU. ABOUT EVERY SAINT. THIS IS SO MUCH TO TAKE, SO MARVELOUS. SO MAGNIFICENT AND WONDERFUL.

IT IS FINISHED, YOU ARE IN CHRIST.

Once far from God and dead in sin,

no light my heart could see;

but in God’s Word the light I found.

Now Christ lives in me.

As lives the flower within the seed,

as in the cone the tree;

so, praise the God of truth and grace;

His Spirit lives in me.

With longing all my heart is filled,

that like Him I may be,

as on the wond’rous thought I dwell

that Christ lives in me.

 

Dwell on this, CHRIST IN YOU, YOU ARE IN CHRIST. 

JUST AS PAUL, PETER, AMD JOHN DO. I WILL ALSO. THEY REMIND THE SAINTS OF WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST, ALL THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH CHRIST IN YOU. STATING FACTS ABOUT THE SAINTS, THE REALITY OF WHO THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY HAVE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING, IN CHRIST.

BUT THEY DO NOT TOP THERE.

THEY GO ON TO CALL THE SAINT TO WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE LORD.

• 1 JOHN 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

• EPH 4:4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

• COL 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• 1 PETER 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

BE HOLY. BE DIFFERENT, SET APART, DON'T BE LIKE THE WORLD AROUND YOU. DON’T BE LIKE THE YOU THAT WAS IN THE WORLD, THEIR DEAD. BE THE YOU THAT IS A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST.

 

LIKE WAS SAID BEFORE, ALL OF THE WONDERFUL FACTS ABOUT YOU IN CHRIST ARE NOT SAID SO THAT WE IN CHRIST, CAN DO WHAT THE WORLD DOES.  PURSUE WHAT THE WORLD PURSUES. TO TRY MERIT FAVOR LIKE THE WORLD DOES. THINK LIKE THE WORLD THINKS.

THE WAY WE USED TO THINK. THEY WAY THE SECULAR WORLD, AND THE WORLD OF OTHER RELIGIONS. 

WORK WORK, STRIVE STRIVE STRIVE. STRUGGLE FOR ACCEPTANCE, FAVOR , LOVE, RESPECT, PEACE,JOY, GRACE, HOPE. STRIVING TO MAKE IT SO SOMEONE SOMEWHERE HAS TO RESPOND TO YOU AND GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE, BECAUSE YOU EARNED IT. 

BUT REMEMBER THAT’S NOT HOW GOD DOES THINGS. THAT’S BACKWARDS. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE ALL THAT. AND MORE. REMEMBER GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLIES IN CHRIST. SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES. THAT IS YOU IN CHRIST. Unconditionally.

SO THEN, INSTEAD OF HAVING A MINDSET OF EARNING GOD'S FAVOR, INSTEAD OF HAVING A MINDSET WHERE WE THINK WE NEED TO PERFORM TO KEEP HIS LOVE.

HAVE THIS MINDSET. LIVE LIKE THE YOU THAT YOU ALREADY ARE IN CHRIST. THE REALITY OF WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, WHAT YOU HAVE IN HIM, WHAT YOU ARE IN THE EYES OF GOD IN CHRIST. SEEK TO DWELL ON THOSE THINGS. NOT WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHAT HE HAS DONE

COL 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

GOD PERFORMED, GOD ACCOMPLISHED, THEN AFTER ITS ALL DONE. WE RESPOND.

AND WE RESPOND BY BEING  DIFFERENT, BEING SET APART. BEING  HOLY. BEING DISTINCT FROM THE WORLD.  SETTING OUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE. THATS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THATS WHAT WE NEED TO BE.

SET APART, HOLY, BLAMELESS, DISTINCT. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE IN THE EYES OF GOD, IN CHRIST. 

PRAISE GOD!

SO NOW WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES WHEN WE LOOK IN THE MIRROR. EVALUATING OUR DAY, OUR WEEK, OR EVEN YEARS. CONDEMNING  OURSELVES AND BEGIN TO THINK HOW COULD GOD LOVE SOMEONE LIKE ME, HOW COULD GOD LOOK AT ME AND BE PLEASED WITH ME AFTER VIOLATION AND VIOLATION IF HIS PERFECT AND RIGHTEOUS STANDARD.  WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. NO.

NO, HE IS PLEASED WITH ME, HE LOVES ME. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I DO. BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST DID. AND CHRIST WILL NEVER CAST ME OUT, CHRIST WILL NOT RETURN TO FATHER WHILE EMPTY HANDED BECAUSE OF ME.  GOD CHOSE ME TO BE IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD, TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY GUARANTEE. I AM A HEIR WITH CHRIST TO ALL THINGS AND ALL OF THE FATHERS LOVE. THE OLD ME IS DEAD, THE ME THAT IS NOW, IS  A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. I AM CREATED IN CHRIST FOR GOOD WORKS. NOT TO STAY LOVED BY HIM BUT TO RESPOND TO HIS GLORIOUS GRACE. I HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH  CHRIST. ADOPTED IN CHRIST, JUSTIFIED IN CHRIST. I AM RIGHT NOW SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES. HIDDEN IN HIM. HE IS MY LIFE. HE IS MY ALL

YEA. I'M GOING TO SET MY MIND ON THOSE THINGS. I'M GOING TO LIVE IN LIGHT OF THOSE THINGS.

Here is the bottom line.

 

• ROM 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

PERIOD. NO CONDEMNATION FROM THE FATHER, NO CONDEMNATION FROM CHRIST, NO CONDEMNATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. NO CONDEMNATION FROM MAN. NO CONDEMNATION FROM OURSELVES.

IT IS FINISHED YOU ARE IN CHRIST.

 

"A debtor to mercy alone,

Of covenant mercy I sing;

Nor fear with thy righteousness on,

My person and offerings to bring:

The terrors of law and of God,

With me can have nothing to do;

My Saviour's obedience and blood

Hide all my transgressions from view."

 

NOW THIS THE PART WHERE WE FALL ON OUR FACE IN WORSHIP TO A WONDERFULLY GRACIOUS GOD, THANKING HIM FOR ALL HE IS, AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE. THANK HIM AND PRAISE HIM FOR PULLING US OUT OF CONDEMNATION. AND PROMISING YOU TO NEVER LET YOU GO, TO NEVER LET ANYONE SNATCH YOU OUT OF HIS HAND. WE THANK HIM AND PRAISE HIM. WE DO NOT PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK AND STEAL WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO HIM. ALL THE THANKS, ALL THE PRAISE, ALL THE GLORY, ALL THE WORSHIP. GOES TO GOD.

I HOPE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT YOU. IN THE SAME WAY IT HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME. SO, AS WEE GO ABOUT OUR DAY, ABOUT OUR WEEK AND YEARS TO COME LET US LIVE IN LIGHT OF THIS. 

LIVE LIKE THE YOU THAT YOU ALREADY ARE IN CHRIST! 

 

PRAY.

***

Marcus Bratton ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org