. . . 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.
