IN CHRIST (I)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Oftentimes Paul speaks of things that are supposed to happen to a believer “in Christ”, and I believe all too often we glide over such passages without attributing to them the true object of their sustenance.
A little over 160 times the Apostle Paul uses the word ‘in Christ’ in half of the new testament as a way of describing the new life that God makes possible through Jesus Christ’s lordship over one’s life. Child of God, it is Him that makes it possible. We begin to struggle and be dismayed by the demands of faith when we attempt to produce results outside of Christ.
God did not send His son to redeem you and I, then have us toil for the exact thing He died for. Hence entering His rest (Hebrews 4:3) is not possible unless you have understood that it is all made possible by God through Christ!
Prayer: Father I thank you for this glorious truth. Far be it from me to toil for what you hung on a cross to redeem me from. I rest my personality entirely on the one who causes me both to will and do according to your good pleasure, in Jesus name. Amen!
CI.
