SEPTEMBER 18
HE MADE YOU ALIVE WITH HIM
Colossians 2:13-15
13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (WEB)
If we want to stay true to the biblical view of who we are, we should always refer to our old life before meeting Christ as being in the past tense. Today's Scripture passage is one of many verses that describe our old life as just a fleeting memory. The Apostle Paul tells us that we were dead, but now God has made us alive in Christ.
Our sins have been forgiven, and every ordinance against us has been wiped out because each one was nailed to the cross. Any defeat, shame, or past failure is still a fading residue of our old life that has no power over us today. 2 Corinthians 5:17 clearly states this truth: therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (WEB)
I don't believe it honors God and the finished work of Christ when we constantly refer to things that no longer exist in God's sight. In some Christian circles, embracing a 'worm theology' might seem like a sign of humility, but that is not the truth of our new heavenly identity.
We were once sinners, but because of the finished work of our elder brother, all heaven regards us as saints. My prayer is that this truth penetrates deeply into each of our hearts today. May every hint of condemnation and shame that reminds us of the 'old us' be consumed by the fire of God's love and the 'once and for all sacrifice' the Lamb of God secured for us.
Hebrews 8:11-12
They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” (WEB)
13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (WEB)
If we want to stay true to the biblical view of who we are, we should always refer to our old life before meeting Christ as being in the past tense. Today's Scripture passage is one of many verses that describe our old life as just a fleeting memory. The Apostle Paul tells us that we were dead, but now God has made us alive in Christ.
Our sins have been forgiven, and every ordinance against us has been wiped out because each one was nailed to the cross. Any defeat, shame, or past failure is still a fading residue of our old life that has no power over us today. 2 Corinthians 5:17 clearly states this truth: therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (WEB)
I don't believe it honors God and the finished work of Christ when we constantly refer to things that no longer exist in God's sight. In some Christian circles, embracing a 'worm theology' might seem like a sign of humility, but that is not the truth of our new heavenly identity.
We were once sinners, but because of the finished work of our elder brother, all heaven regards us as saints. My prayer is that this truth penetrates deeply into each of our hearts today. May every hint of condemnation and shame that reminds us of the 'old us' be consumed by the fire of God's love and the 'once and for all sacrifice' the Lamb of God secured for us.
Hebrews 8:11-12
They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” (WEB)