Living the Abundant Spirit-Filled Life
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
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Sermon Summary: There is a life available to the Christian believer that far surpasses natural limitations. It comes through the baptism with the Holy Spirit and a desire to live fully the Spirit-filled life.
As Christians — and especially as Spirit-filled Christians — we have advantages not possessed by unbelievers. The unbeliever is limited by his humanity, by his mortality. The believer is limited only by how much he limits God’s work in His life. There is available to every Christian believer an abundant, Spirit-filled life.
John 7:37-39a On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit....
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
•• The Holy Spirit is in you. He is the “Spirit of life” (Romans 8:2).
•• The Spirit of God who breathed life into the primordial chaos (Genesis 1) is in you if you are a born-again, Christian believer.
•• The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from death to life is in you!
•• The Spirit of life and power who came upon the 120 at Pentecost is in you!
•• And just as wonderfully, that same Spirit, if we will allow Him, will flow out from us as a river of life.
Ephesians 5:18-19 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.
•• The Spirit of God will put music and a song of praise on your lips and in your heart.
•• He’ll give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3, KJV), in place of a spirit of despair (NIV).
•• He’ll draw the focus of our hearts away from ourselves and to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
•• Righteousness! Only God’s Spirit can make us holy. He is the “Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:4). We can’t make ourselves holy solely by our human efforts, but He can!
•• Peace! The fruit of the Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22). Where this world brings us trouble, God’s Spirit brings us inner peace.
•• Joy! The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Where this life’s stresses and strains bring despair, He brings us hope and joy. That’s why Paul and Silas could sing praises in the prison (Acts 16:25).
Romans 8:14 ...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
•• The Spirit who lives in us and fills us with Himself wishes to lead us, to guide us.
• A pastor friend of mine was approaching a curve in the road, when he suddenly pulled to the side of the road, for no apparent, visible reason. Then a car appeared speeding at him in the lane that he had just vacated! His astonished passenger asked, “How did you know to pull over?” To which the pastor replied with the truth, “The Spirit of God told me to.”
• My then teenage son was preparing to take a 550-mile trip on the interstate highway. My wife was praying about his trip and heard a prompting from the Holy Spirit, “Have him take the Buick” rather than his Ford. Thankfully, she obeyed that leading and we had him take our newer Buick up the interstate. While our son was gone with the new car, I was driving his old Ford slowly through a parking lot in our home town and a front wheel fell off! Imagine what could have happened if that wheel had fallen off on the interstate highway with our son behind the wheel. Thank God my wife listened to the Holy Spirit’s leading and we sent our son on his trip driving her car.
Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
•• The baptism with the Holy Spirit — as also in Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-46, and elsewhere — opens up new realms to us — the realms of the supernatural manifestations of God.
• After my wife had endured six years of infertility, a Spirit-filled woman spoke to her a word from God: “Your barren days are over!” The next year my wife bore us the first of our four children. We saw first-hand evidence that Jesus still heals today.
• During a Sunday service, a Spirit-filled man came down from the choir and spoke into the pulpit microphone this Holy-Spirit-given word of knowledge: “Someone came this morning needing to be saved. And you know who you are, because you drank two beers before coming to church this morning.” The choir singer had no natural knowledge of this. It came from the Holy Spirit, and it convicted the heart of the man, who raised his hand and came forth to accept the Lord’s salvation.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
•• Do you have a problem speaking out boldly for the Lord? The boldness came to the disciples “after they prayed ... [and were] filled with the Holy Spirit.”
•• No matter what your temperament is, the Spirit of God, if you ask Him, will give you confident expression of God’s Word.
Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.... (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
•• The baptism with the Holy Spirit brings power. But it’s not just one item: “power”. It’s all of the above:
• Rivers of life flowing from within you
• Music and praise on your lips and in your hearts
• Righteousness, peace, and joy
• The sure guidance of the Holy Spirit
• Supernatural manifestations and gifts of the Spirit
• Bold speaking of God’s Word prompted by the Spirit
•• These are some of the things, some of the total package, given us by the Holy Sprit that cause us to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.
•• These are part of the wonderful spiritual abundance available for the Christian believer willing to live the Spirit-filled life.
Preached at Medford (Oregon) Christian Center, Sunday, June 23, 1996
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Spirit Filled Life
Evidences of the Spirit-Filled Life
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
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Sermon Summary: Many bible teachings and sermons assert that "the evidence" of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, in every instance, is speaking in tongues. This is correct. However, along with the every-time evidence of tongues, there are numerous other results and evidences of the Spirit-filled life.
Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4 ... [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... [2:4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
• (1) Speaking in tongues - always! This is universally "the initial evidence" that a believer has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. The identical evidence of tongues occurred also in Acts 10:44-46 and Acts 19:1-6 when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
• But there are other results and evidences of the Spirit-filled life in addition to speaking in tongues. A Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking Christian should not stop at the experience of speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit will also bring other spiritual manifestations into the daily expression of the Spirit-filled life.
• (2) “As the Spirit enabled them ... [KJV] gave them utterance” — to the Spirit-filled Christian there comes an enabling by the Spirit to do things not possible in the natural — for example, as here, the speaking of a language one has not learned.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• (3) The Spirit-filled believer will “receive power” — in context via the baptism [vs. 5], not the new birth, of the Holy Spirit. Holy Ghost power for ministry comes with the mighty baptism with the Holy Spirit.
• (4) “be [His] witnesses” — A Spirit-filled Christian grows in the ability to be an effective witness (for example, Peter's dynamic, soul-winning sermon on the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2]!).
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”
• (5) Fear is replaced by courage. Before Pentecost, Peter denied Christ three times. After Pentecost and his personal experience of the Pentecostal infilling of the Spirit, Peter preached boldly in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:16-17 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
• (6) Prophecy, visions, dreams, even among the young people, begin to be experienced by those living the Spirit-filled life.
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
• (7) Hear insights from God. For example, the newly Spirit-baptized Peter here voices the first mention in the bible of the full name of the Lord ... Jesus ... Christ.
• I can picture the suprised bible teachers and students reaching right now for their concordances. Please do; there you will find that never in the four Gospels is the full name — "Lord Jesus Christ" in any order of those three words — revealed. It is not disclosed until its revelation to Spirit-filled Peter in Acts 2:36!
• A delightful result of the Spirit-filled life is an enhanced ability to sense and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
• (8) Spirit-filled believers begin to see greater fruit in their ministries. Prior to Pentecost, the apostles had never borne fruit of this magnitude. Then here, on the very day of their Pentecostal baptism, Peter preached a sermon that won 3,000 converts to the Lord and to water baptism.
Acts 2:43 ...and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
• (9) Some Spirit-filled believers — not necessarily all — begin to be used in what have been called the “power gifts”.
Acts 3:6-7 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." [7] ...and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
• (10) To some are given gifts of healing.
Acts 3:16; 4:10, 12 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.... [4:10] ...it is by the name of Jesus Christ... [12] Salvation is found in no one else..."
• (11) The baptism with the Holy Spirit makes you Christ-centered, not Holy-Spirit-centered. As Paul said, "We preach Christ!" One of the Holy Spirit's works is to make us effective in pointing people to Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness... [31b] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
• (12) One result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a divine enabling to speak the Word of God boldly.
• I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, in Anchorage in 1971. Immediately I sensed a stronger prompting from God and a greater enablement to articulate God's Word to people.
Acts 6:2-5 ...[3] choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.... [5b] They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip...
• (13) The original seven deacons — and all deacons then and now — can fulfill there "deacon"-type, serving ministries best when they are "full of the Spirit".
• Every ministry — deacons, elders, pastors, or any other — is most effectively accomplished in the fullness of and leading by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
• (14) A remarkable result of the Spirit-filled life is the ability, as determined by God according to the need, to hear the Holy Spirit's voice directly.
• In Anchorage, Alaska, in the early 1970s, my wife and I were called in to pray for a woman in the throes of demon possession. For hours we prayed and invoked the Lord's Name, but without apparent victory. Then we stopped and asked the Lord for wisdom. I distinctly heard the Holy Spirit speak within me: "She thinks she has committed the unforgiveable sin!" I declared to her, by the Lord's Word, that she had not done this. Then, as we rebuked the devils once again, four of them came out of her. Within minutes the young woman became born again and filled the the Spirit, speaking in tongues and praising God. Our hearing a specific "word" from the Holy Spirit had illuminated the situation and given us the wisdom and direction to see the exorcism completed with great victory for her.
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
• (15) Spirit-filled, Spirit-led Christians are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prohibiting ministry that may be man's sincere idea, but is not God's.
• I had a personal experience of this in 1971, when I was a new, Spirit-filled believer in a Pentecostal church in Anchorage, Alaska. I had gotten it into my mind that I should travel about the country in evangelistic ministry. I meant well; my heart wanted to serve God. But the Spirit of God, in a series of divine interventions, restrained me and revealed to me that His intent was that I stay there, learn and grow, then serve in the ministry of bible teaching. And, as one might expect, I quickly saw many proofs that the evangelistic ministry had been my idea, but that the bible teaching call was from the Holy Spirit. How gracious of Him to gently restrain me from following my sincere, but man-originated and erroneous, direction
Ephesians 5:18-20 ...be filled with the Spirit. [19] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...
• (16) Spirit-filled believers will find their hearts stirred with music to the Lord. To be sullen and downcast is contrary to that which the Holy Spirit does in our hearts and lives.
• (17) And the Spirit-filled life will be characterized by a continual attitude of thankfulness to God.
Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, January 25, 2006
If you find this topic interesting, may we recommend two related, more in-depth bible studies:
• Why Speak in Tongues?
•
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Bookmark and Share
Sermon Summary: Many bible teachings and sermons assert that "the evidence" of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, in every instance, is speaking in tongues. This is correct. However, along with the every-time evidence of tongues, there are numerous other results and evidences of the Spirit-filled life.
Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4 ... [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... [2:4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
• (1) Speaking in tongues - always! This is universally "the initial evidence" that a believer has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. The identical evidence of tongues occurred also in Acts 10:44-46 and Acts 19:1-6 when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
• But there are other results and evidences of the Spirit-filled life in addition to speaking in tongues. A Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking Christian should not stop at the experience of speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit will also bring other spiritual manifestations into the daily expression of the Spirit-filled life.
• (2) “As the Spirit enabled them ... [KJV] gave them utterance” — to the Spirit-filled Christian there comes an enabling by the Spirit to do things not possible in the natural — for example, as here, the speaking of a language one has not learned.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• (3) The Spirit-filled believer will “receive power” — in context via the baptism [vs. 5], not the new birth, of the Holy Spirit. Holy Ghost power for ministry comes with the mighty baptism with the Holy Spirit.
• (4) “be [His] witnesses” — A Spirit-filled Christian grows in the ability to be an effective witness (for example, Peter's dynamic, soul-winning sermon on the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2]!).
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”
• (5) Fear is replaced by courage. Before Pentecost, Peter denied Christ three times. After Pentecost and his personal experience of the Pentecostal infilling of the Spirit, Peter preached boldly in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:16-17 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
• (6) Prophecy, visions, dreams, even among the young people, begin to be experienced by those living the Spirit-filled life.
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
• (7) Hear insights from God. For example, the newly Spirit-baptized Peter here voices the first mention in the bible of the full name of the Lord ... Jesus ... Christ.
• I can picture the suprised bible teachers and students reaching right now for their concordances. Please do; there you will find that never in the four Gospels is the full name — "Lord Jesus Christ" in any order of those three words — revealed. It is not disclosed until its revelation to Spirit-filled Peter in Acts 2:36!
• A delightful result of the Spirit-filled life is an enhanced ability to sense and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
• (8) Spirit-filled believers begin to see greater fruit in their ministries. Prior to Pentecost, the apostles had never borne fruit of this magnitude. Then here, on the very day of their Pentecostal baptism, Peter preached a sermon that won 3,000 converts to the Lord and to water baptism.
Acts 2:43 ...and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
• (9) Some Spirit-filled believers — not necessarily all — begin to be used in what have been called the “power gifts”.
Acts 3:6-7 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." [7] ...and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.
• (10) To some are given gifts of healing.
Acts 3:16; 4:10, 12 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.... [4:10] ...it is by the name of Jesus Christ... [12] Salvation is found in no one else..."
• (11) The baptism with the Holy Spirit makes you Christ-centered, not Holy-Spirit-centered. As Paul said, "We preach Christ!" One of the Holy Spirit's works is to make us effective in pointing people to Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness... [31b] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
• (12) One result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a divine enabling to speak the Word of God boldly.
• I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, in Anchorage in 1971. Immediately I sensed a stronger prompting from God and a greater enablement to articulate God's Word to people.
Acts 6:2-5 ...[3] choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.... [5b] They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip...
• (13) The original seven deacons — and all deacons then and now — can fulfill there "deacon"-type, serving ministries best when they are "full of the Spirit".
• Every ministry — deacons, elders, pastors, or any other — is most effectively accomplished in the fullness of and leading by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
• (14) A remarkable result of the Spirit-filled life is the ability, as determined by God according to the need, to hear the Holy Spirit's voice directly.
• In Anchorage, Alaska, in the early 1970s, my wife and I were called in to pray for a woman in the throes of demon possession. For hours we prayed and invoked the Lord's Name, but without apparent victory. Then we stopped and asked the Lord for wisdom. I distinctly heard the Holy Spirit speak within me: "She thinks she has committed the unforgiveable sin!" I declared to her, by the Lord's Word, that she had not done this. Then, as we rebuked the devils once again, four of them came out of her. Within minutes the young woman became born again and filled the the Spirit, speaking in tongues and praising God. Our hearing a specific "word" from the Holy Spirit had illuminated the situation and given us the wisdom and direction to see the exorcism completed with great victory for her.
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
• (15) Spirit-filled, Spirit-led Christians are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prohibiting ministry that may be man's sincere idea, but is not God's.
• I had a personal experience of this in 1971, when I was a new, Spirit-filled believer in a Pentecostal church in Anchorage, Alaska. I had gotten it into my mind that I should travel about the country in evangelistic ministry. I meant well; my heart wanted to serve God. But the Spirit of God, in a series of divine interventions, restrained me and revealed to me that His intent was that I stay there, learn and grow, then serve in the ministry of bible teaching. And, as one might expect, I quickly saw many proofs that the evangelistic ministry had been my idea, but that the bible teaching call was from the Holy Spirit. How gracious of Him to gently restrain me from following my sincere, but man-originated and erroneous, direction
Ephesians 5:18-20 ...be filled with the Spirit. [19] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything...
• (16) Spirit-filled believers will find their hearts stirred with music to the Lord. To be sullen and downcast is contrary to that which the Holy Spirit does in our hearts and lives.
• (17) And the Spirit-filled life will be characterized by a continual attitude of thankfulness to God.
Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, January 25, 2006
If you find this topic interesting, may we recommend two related, more in-depth bible studies:
• Why Speak in Tongues?
•
Monday, September 28, 2009
Seated with Christ in Heaven
Seated with Christ in Heaven
“We were made alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5).
The newness of life we received, as Christians is a spiritual life imparted through our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. This identification with Him in His death broke the power of indwelling sin. Moreover, our identification with Christ in His resurrection resulted in the impartation of divine life (Romans 6:34).
You have been completely saved by grace and the present result is that you are in a saved state of being.
The apostle Paul could not have stated in stronger and clearer terms the unending state of the believer in salvation. Our past, present and future state of salvation is dependent upon one thing alone, our appropriation by faith of Jesus Christ as our Savior the day we first believed on Him. We received salvation by that initial act of faith in Christ.
When we were born again we were made alive spiritually. The Holy Spirit imparted life to us just like raising the dead. Christ communicates life to us like He did to the dead man Lazarus (cf. Rom. 6:6-8; 8:11; Gal. 2:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22-23; Col. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:11ff).
Because of our vital union with Christ, His death is our death, His life is our life, and His exaltation is ours. Our physical position may be on earth, but our spiritual position is “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
All of the verbs in regard to our vital union in Christ are in the past tense. The apostle Paul is stating what has already taken place, not what is future. The resurrection, the quickening and raising up of Christ’s people were in an important sense accomplished when He rose from the dead and sat down at the right hand of God.
The believer is vitally related to the body whose head is Christ. The life of the whole body is in the head, and therefore when the head rose, the body rose. The first to rise from the dead was Christ. Then we who are in Christ positionally rose and are seated with Him.
Paul describes this new life in Christ as being “raised up with Him.” We now have this life in a present spiritual sense, and we also look forward to the future bodily resurrection. Christ made us alive, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins. He accomplished this spiritual resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our spiritual resurrection places us in union with Christ. God made us alive together with Christ. We are now united together with Him (Eph. 1:22-23), and we now share His resurrection life and power (vv. 19–20).
“Raised up with Him,” and “seated” enthroned with Christ in heaven. The glorified body of Jesus Christ is now in heaven in the presence of God the Father. It is also the state into which believers are introduced by our new birth. We now enjoy, even in this life, a state of purity, exaltation and favor with God. The opposite state is called "the kingdom of Satan."
We are even now described as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Because we are in Christ we have a right to the privileges, blessings, and responsibilities of citizens of the kingdom of God. Even now, spiritually we occupy the heavenly city. We have a foretaste of what it shall be like in glory with Christ.
Allow the greatness of this new life in Christ to become a part of your thinking. We have been “freed from the condemnation of the law, the dominion of Satan, the lethargy and pollution of spiritual death. We have been “reconciled to God," made partakers in His Spirit, as the principle of everlasting life. We have been “adopted" into His family and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God both in this life and the one to come in glory. This is a change worthy of being expressed by saying; “he has quickened us, and raised us up and made us to sit together with Christ in heavenly places.”
The apostle Paul tells us that this has been accomplished “in Christ.” Believers hare in His life because of their union with Christ. Moreover, we share in His exaltation because we are to reign with Him.
But Paul tells us we already have these blessings. We enjoy the now and the yet to be. We already enjoy to some degree these blessings of salvation. Moreover, our vital union with Christ guarantees “the continuation and fulfillment” of all of these blessings in the future with Christ. In Jesus Christ we “are already raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.”
John Calvin said the Christian by virtue of Christ’s conquest of sin and death and by His exaltation to heaven is lifted “from the deepest hell to heaven itself.”
Claim your inheritance today. These are the great truths that give us hope of tomorrow and assurance for today.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
“We were made alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5).
The newness of life we received, as Christians is a spiritual life imparted through our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. This identification with Him in His death broke the power of indwelling sin. Moreover, our identification with Christ in His resurrection resulted in the impartation of divine life (Romans 6:34).
You have been completely saved by grace and the present result is that you are in a saved state of being.
The apostle Paul could not have stated in stronger and clearer terms the unending state of the believer in salvation. Our past, present and future state of salvation is dependent upon one thing alone, our appropriation by faith of Jesus Christ as our Savior the day we first believed on Him. We received salvation by that initial act of faith in Christ.
When we were born again we were made alive spiritually. The Holy Spirit imparted life to us just like raising the dead. Christ communicates life to us like He did to the dead man Lazarus (cf. Rom. 6:6-8; 8:11; Gal. 2:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22-23; Col. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:11ff).
Because of our vital union with Christ, His death is our death, His life is our life, and His exaltation is ours. Our physical position may be on earth, but our spiritual position is “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
All of the verbs in regard to our vital union in Christ are in the past tense. The apostle Paul is stating what has already taken place, not what is future. The resurrection, the quickening and raising up of Christ’s people were in an important sense accomplished when He rose from the dead and sat down at the right hand of God.
The believer is vitally related to the body whose head is Christ. The life of the whole body is in the head, and therefore when the head rose, the body rose. The first to rise from the dead was Christ. Then we who are in Christ positionally rose and are seated with Him.
Paul describes this new life in Christ as being “raised up with Him.” We now have this life in a present spiritual sense, and we also look forward to the future bodily resurrection. Christ made us alive, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins. He accomplished this spiritual resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our spiritual resurrection places us in union with Christ. God made us alive together with Christ. We are now united together with Him (Eph. 1:22-23), and we now share His resurrection life and power (vv. 19–20).
“Raised up with Him,” and “seated” enthroned with Christ in heaven. The glorified body of Jesus Christ is now in heaven in the presence of God the Father. It is also the state into which believers are introduced by our new birth. We now enjoy, even in this life, a state of purity, exaltation and favor with God. The opposite state is called "the kingdom of Satan."
We are even now described as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). Because we are in Christ we have a right to the privileges, blessings, and responsibilities of citizens of the kingdom of God. Even now, spiritually we occupy the heavenly city. We have a foretaste of what it shall be like in glory with Christ.
Allow the greatness of this new life in Christ to become a part of your thinking. We have been “freed from the condemnation of the law, the dominion of Satan, the lethargy and pollution of spiritual death. We have been “reconciled to God," made partakers in His Spirit, as the principle of everlasting life. We have been “adopted" into His family and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God both in this life and the one to come in glory. This is a change worthy of being expressed by saying; “he has quickened us, and raised us up and made us to sit together with Christ in heavenly places.”
The apostle Paul tells us that this has been accomplished “in Christ.” Believers hare in His life because of their union with Christ. Moreover, we share in His exaltation because we are to reign with Him.
But Paul tells us we already have these blessings. We enjoy the now and the yet to be. We already enjoy to some degree these blessings of salvation. Moreover, our vital union with Christ guarantees “the continuation and fulfillment” of all of these blessings in the future with Christ. In Jesus Christ we “are already raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.”
John Calvin said the Christian by virtue of Christ’s conquest of sin and death and by His exaltation to heaven is lifted “from the deepest hell to heaven itself.”
Claim your inheritance today. These are the great truths that give us hope of tomorrow and assurance for today.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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