July 12, 2002
THE GIFT OF HIMSELF TO HIS CHURCH. Not only did Christ give Himself on Calvary but He is constantly giving to His church. The supreme and ultimate gift will be the fullness of Himself. His goal is a church precisely and in every way like Himself. There is no other way for the church, which is called <His body> to be His body. His body, must and will be filled with His Spirit, for He was. Mt. 3:16-17. After being crucified His body was raised from the grave, or quickened by the Spirit. He is now, far beyond the possibility of any of the things common to man, such as sin, sickness or death having any effect on Him. Never again will He face these elements of this life. He has borne it all for us, taking our place on the cross, that we might be like Him, in every aspect. 1 Pet. 3:18 The effect of the cross is far more powerful than just the forgiveness of our sin as glorious and wonderful as that is. We have been QUICKENED TOGETHER with Him. That means, that as the great shepherd, He enfolded us in His arms and carried us with Himself in all the demonstration of His death, burial and resurrection. We are one with Him. We have been quickened {to reanimate conjointly with, Him. (Strong)} as one, with Christ. Eph. 2:5 We are well aware of a future resurrection for those in Christ Jesus. It is called the First Resurrection. However, the scriptures contain a promise that is available to us NOW. The true church will lay hold of His promises and see them fully consummated. His covenant, now in execution, is that which is available to us. For He <HATH raised us up together>. The glorious power of the resurrected Christ is ours today. Not only in the future, in a perfected church but NOW. If we have been saved by His blood. If we have been filled with His Spirit. If we are living and walking with Him, then the life giving power of Christ is being made manifest in us. If we are sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and we are, according to His word, all the benefits of that heavenly kingdom are at work in our soul and spirit, at this present time. Eph. 2:6
THE EVIDENCE OF HIS RESURRECTION AT WORK IN THE CHURCH. The object of our affections will display and give evidence to the power of His resurrection at work in us. The heart will seek after those things that are spiritual and not the things of this world. Our minds will think on those things which are heavenly. Christ must be the very core of our desires and love. Our lives are now His and have found an abiding place that is heavenly and eternal. When we are IN HIM, then our life is HIS LIFE. Living His life means that we are free from sin, sickness and disease. Col. 3:1-3 We are set at liberty from the forces of evil that control the ungodly. Now, we live by the Spirit of life that is found in the Lord Jesus. Completely set free from that which formerly controlled our lives. Liberated from the law of sin and death. There is no limit to the achievements of the law of the Spirit. Filled, absolute victory is ours in Christ. Rom. 8:2