THE CONDITION IS TO BE IN CHRIST *RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL* TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH, 2014 PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The above scripture is God’s announcement and unveiling of the new man through the Apostle Paul. Lets analyse the verse carefully. First, it says “if any man be in Christ…,” which means “anybody,” irrespective of who he is, once in Christ, is a new creation. The environment of the new man is Christ. Notice it doesn’t say, “He will be a new creation,” or “He shall be a new creation”; rather, it says, “…he is a new creation….” This isn’t a promise; its a statement of fact. The word “is” is a “now” verb, showing a present-hour occurrence or reality. If you’re in Christ, youre a new creation NOW. You’re not a reworked, renewed, or refurbished creation; you were born anew, without a past! You’ve been baptized into the body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). It makes no difference whether or not you feel so. This is God’s picture of you; this is His declaration about you: you’re a new creation in Christ. Your human spirit, through faith in Christ Jesus, has been recreated, and youre now the righteousness of God in Him. As a result, you can now stand boldly in God’s presence without guilt, inferiority or condemnation, because you have the same life and nature with Him; you’re born of His Spirit (John 3:6). 1 John 4:17 says, “…as he is, so are we in this world”; you’re not going to be like Him, youre already like Him, and you’re in Him, and He’s in you. Together, you’re one divine creation. Blessed be God! CONFESSION I’m a new creation; old things are passed away, and all things are new in me! I’m an heir of God, and joint-heir with Christ. I’ve been freely and gratuitously justified to have right standing with God, by His grace, which was bestowed on me in Christ Jesus. Glory to God forever more! FURTHER STUDY Romans 6:4 Living Bible (TLB) 4 Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy. Galatians 3:27-29 Living Bible (TLB) 27 and we who have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by him. 28 We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same—we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that we are Christ’s we are the true descendants of Abraham, and all of God’s promises to him belong to us. Romans 8:1 Living Bible (TLB) 8 So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. DAILY SCRIPTURE READING 1 Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Peter 4 Ezekiel 33-34 2 Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 1:1-20 Hosea 3-4 rhapsodyofrealities.org/index.php/en/
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 04:34:00 +0000
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