2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person in (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Easter is the most important day of not only Christianity, but the most important day for the world as well. Without this day, the birth and death of Jesus would have been for nought. His Resurrection wasn't only the beginning of this new creation, but the hope for the lost.
We've been taught many doctrines of Christianity; some things are correct and other things are incorrect. The one things that is absolute about Christianity, is the resurrection from the dead. This isn't only about a future event, but for those who were brought back from spiritual death (separation from God through sin), it's about the resurrection of our mortal bodies too.
Those of us who have believed and been "ingrafted in Christ Jesus," were raised from the dead, when Jesus was raised from the dead. In our dead spirit, we were made alive in Him and restore back to God. We weren't just forgiven or cleansed from sin, but we were made alive in Him. We went from being covenant people (like the Old Testament believers), to being family by the One Sacrifice for all time. It's no longer a requirement that's been placed on us, but a fulfillment that was placed on Him. No longer are all of the requirements under the covenant between God with man, but the obedience of One Man for all men, met in Him. We are no longer just covenant men and women, but we are God's sons and daughters. We are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus Himself.
Few of us have ever made the distinction of our going from covenant to family. This is the greatest part of this Resurrection Day. We're not only forgiven, but we're restored. We have no past to repent of, because in Jesus Christ we are a new creation. We've not only been forgiven, like the covenant people were, but we're new creations. There doesn't ever need to be anymore sacrifice made, in order to cleanse us, because "the wages of sin was death." Before Jesus, we had already received death by our separation from God (Who is Life), because of Adam's sin. Now, by His death and new life, we died with Him and were raised with Him. We also are redeemed by Him and He (as family) is the "Firstborn of many brethren."
We still try to function as covenant people, by doing certain things, in order to receive from God. This was a covenant made by man, that man could not keep. The new creation covenant, was made with One Man Who met all of the requirements for all who would believe. The only requirement now, is that we simply believe in Him.
As we celebrate this Resurrection Sunday, we need realize that this was the greatest miracle God has ever performed. He perfectly cleansed, redeemed, restored and created a new creation being in the midst of death itself. This was a "mystery" hidden in God, until now. The world, the devil, the angels, and all who witnessed what occurred on the Cross, couldn't understand this mystery, until the Lord rose from the dead. This mystery was that Jesus bore our sin and we could be made righteous with God once again.
Jesus never committed any sin. He took our sins upon Himself, but was not a sinner. Jesus separated Himself from the Face of God, on our behalf, so that we could be restored back in right standing with God, through Him. All of Heaven stood mute, as the Lord of Glory died and was sentenced to death (separation) from the Father. Even the angels had no insight into what was happening with Jesus. Satan and his fallen angels, rejoiced in the fact that they thought they had won over God, because Jesus was dead. None knew the plan God had about the Perfect Sacrifice that would change all of creation and make a new creation.
1Corinthians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory." When Jesus was crucified, satan thought he had won and that all of mankind was doomed forever. This mystery or plan was in the mind and heart of the Father and the Son and was so legal and just by the Laws of God, that it was beyond anything the world could ever understand. It requires the Holy Spirit to convey it even now, to the spirits of the new creation. The new creation family, continues operating like the Old Testament people, instead of like God's family. Even though we call Him "Father," we still seem to think in terms of the Old Testament people.
Even though we can read and comprehend 2Cornthians 5:21 (Amplified) in our intellect, we seemingly fail to have the revelation of it, down in our spirits. Thus, it says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable an in right relationship with Him, by His goodness)."
This is what we were always to have been, before sin came into the world or death came as a result of sin. We were to be "approved, acceptable, in right relationship and family by His goodness."
Praise God for His goodness and the new creation through Christ Jesus. Live like family.
No comments:
Post a Comment