Alive Through Christ

ALIVE THROUGH CHRIST

Text: Ephesians 2:1-13

Ephesians 2:1-13

[1]And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins ,[2]in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,[3]among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.4]But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,[5]even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

[6]and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus ,[7]that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.[8]For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,[9]not of works, lest anyone should boast.[10]For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Brought Near by His Blood [11]Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—[12]that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.[13]But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Christ Our Peace

The message today is most central to the christian faith and belief. It is one of the most crucial tenets of the way of life which divides Christianity from the rest of the phenomenon the world calls religion. The believer is justified - acquitted,  set free, declared not guilty, accepted - because of what Jesus of Nazareth has done. 

He died the death that was ours and God in his infinite mercy accepted his sacrifice for our redemption, justification and sanctification. Therefore, we who were dead and buried in sin have been recognized as people who are alive. Not just alive, but also reigning with Christ. Alleluia!

This is the greatest mystery of all time. The mystery the kingdom of Darkness couldn't unravel until it came to pass. It is also the mystery anyone who is yet to accept the authority and leadership of Christ is yet to understand. But surprisingly, this mystery is the life of the believer. The very source of all we do as Christians. 

We were raised from spiritual death and set upon the highest place in the spiritual realms, sitted with Christ, the first born of the kind of man to live in God's coming kingdom. We are no longer held bound nor captive to the natural dictates of sin. Sin cannot control us ceaselessly again. We are not mesmerized by Satan anymore. Rather, we are in charge of our facilities. 

Our spirit, soul and body can no longer be enslaved. By the power of the active grace of Christ working in our spirit man, we can take demonic and fleshly thoughts (desires) captive. Our lives have been given back to us the way the father intended originally. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 

We are the Chosen, the Dedicated, the Delivered, the Redeemed, the Set apart,  the Sanctified and the Purified. We are equipped to do every good work that the father has designated for us in Christ. 

Beloved, this is who we are. And this is why we are privileged to be in the know already. Nothing can attack, stop or hinder us. This knowledge is our power. It is our forte. We have overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. 

This is also the message God wants us to keep disseminating to every living soul until Jesus' return. The message basically states that anyone who has the son has life but any who have not the son have not life. No matter how good natured they may be, without Christ, to cut off the offensive overflow of the nature of sin and give them the ingrafted life of his divine nature, they remain bound by Satan and can never inherit the coming kingdom of God. 

Finally, remember; your salvation is not by your power but by grace. It is a gift. Therefore shun and resist every thoughts or acts of boasting. Instead in humility and compassion reach out to others with the message. May God bless you and grant you a favour filled week through Christ Jesus. Amen