. . . even when we were dead in sins. This spiritual resurrection is by the power of the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The four Gospels record Jesus raising three people from the dead: the widow's son (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:49-56), and Lazarus (John 11:41-46). In each case He spoke the Word and this gave life.
The Word of God is quick (living) and powerful. These three physical resurrections are pictures of the spiritual resurrection that comes to the sinner when he hears the Word and believes.
But our spiritual resurrection is much greater because it puts us in union with Christ: God "made us alive together with Christ". Because we are united to Christ, we have been exalted with Him and share His throne in the heavenlies.
. . . When we are born into the family of God, we are given real integrity. To have integrity means to be honest.
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
There was a time when maintaining our integrity was as important as breathing. Its not what you say but what you do. Integrity has almost vanished from modern America.
Integrity apologizes when wrong. I'd rather be poor and have integrity than rich without it.
Integrity affects the lives of our children. Kids should see you the same at home as you are at church. That kind of integrity teaches them how to raise their future families.
We need to align our lives according to God's Word. That's how we grow spiritually and gain knowledge of integrity. As it becomes a part of our lives, we have meaningful relationships with each other.
Once you've lost integrity, its hard to regain it.
. . . He is also a holy God, and sin angers Him.
It was Passover week and a lot of folks from all over the world were in Jerusalem to worship. By the Law, they were to bring two perfect doves.
At the temple Priests and other religious leaders allowed local vendors to sell doves, charge taxes, and add money exchange fees. This made Jesus so angry he turned over their tables and kicked them out.
Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.
Jesus gets angry at sin. He went to the cross days later for those thieves and all other sinners. Why? Love.
This temple was the one place in Jerusalem that was deemed to be holier than others. This was the place where God rested -- where the Ark of the Mercy Seat rested.
Does sin anger us any more or are we numb to it? Today Christians are called haters when they defend God's word.
Jesus still gloriously forgives sinners.
A pompous lawyer in a cartoon read a client's last will and testament to a group of greedy relatives. "I, John Jones, being of sound mind and body, spent it all."
When Jesus wrote His last will and testament for His church, He made it possible for us to share His spiritual riches. Instead of spending it all, Jesus paid it all. His death on the cross and His resurrection make possible our salvation.
Jesus wrote us into His will, then He died so the will would be in force. Then He arose again that He might become the heavenly Advocate (lawyer) to make sure the terms of the will were correctly followed.
Ephesians 1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Christ's future inheritance is wrapped up in His church. We are joint-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17), which means that He can't claim His inheritance apart from us.
. . . bursting from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego's hearts after escaping the firey furnace unburnt. Amazingly, their hair was not singed, and their clothes were not scorched with no smoke-smell. But more amazing is Jesus walking with them in the fire. Don't you know they wanted to tell their mamas. But their mamas were not there.
Captured by Nebuchadnezzer and taken to Babylon, these guys and their friend, Daniel, had done well in captivity until the 91' golden idol appeared. When commanded to worship it, they refused. The king threatened to throw them in the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They stood firm on their convictions, stunning the king when they didn't burn and the fourth man appeared. Its amazing that he recognized Him as the Son of God.
In the midst of your trials, Jesus is walking with you through your fire, able to deliver you.
2 Timothy 2:7 For God hat not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
. . . then why did Christ die on the cross? His death, burial and resurrection are the key truths of the gospel. We are saved by faith in Christ (He died for us). We live by faith in Christ (He lives in us). Furthermore, we are so identified with Christ by the Spirit that we died with Him (see Romans 6). This means that we are dead to the Law.
We have been "raised to walk in newness of life" and don't need the "help" of the Law. To go back to the Law is to "set aside" the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.
The only Gospel that saves is the Gospel of the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ -- not Law and grace.
Liberty in Christ isn't a license to sin, but its enjoying freedom in Him as we submit to His will for our lives. We obey God because of love.
Are you trusting in your morality, good works, or religion to get you to heaven. A true Christian is one who trusts Christ alone
