We are Created in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
There are two creations: the natural creation, and the spiritual creation.
We were created in Adam; naturally he was the father of all people.
We were created in Christ Jesus; spiritually, when we were born again.
1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
This shows what we have as a new creation, in Christ Jesus.
First there is Wisdom:
Wisdom is that sudden light from above which illuminates our lives.
We were afraid: wisdom came, and suddenly the thing we were afraid of, is seen against the background of God.
We were without understanding: wisdom came, and suddenly the “muddle of our minds” disappears, and we know.
And with the knowledge, that wisdom gives power to do, for this wisdom is from the Lord.
Second, there is Righteousness:
There is the imputed righteousness of Christ which is given to us. But this righteousness spoken of here, is the righteous acts of obedience which we do for His sake.
When we see what He wants us to do with the wisdom He gives, then, we will with Christ to do those acts of obedience to please Him.
(I also believe that with these righteous acts, comes a knowledge of God’s goodness and love which flows through us to others.)
Third, there is Sanctification:
Sanctification is the setting yourself aside for sacred use. To be used by God, for His glory and honor.
This sanctification is in Christ Jesus, but it is worked in us by all three of the Trinity: that is how important God thinks it is!
It is by our Heavenly Father that we are sanctified.
Jude 1: “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are sanctified.
1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”
It is by the Holy Spirit we are sanctified.
1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Fourth, there is Redemption.
(Now, I would have put this first…but Paul puts it last, for here is where we fit into God’s redemptive purpose for us; and become showcases to the world of Christ’s redemption.)
Redemption is to be bought back. The ransom for our lives was paid in full by Jesus Christ. We are saved from the guilt of sin, forever.
We are redeemed in every part of our lives….spirit, soul and body.
We are redeemed in our personal lives; Our school and work lives; Our habits and our hobbies.
We are redeemed in our thought life…..Jesus Christ has redeemed us wholly. Not any part is left out of His perfect redemption.
We are His purchased possession, and now nothing in the world (unless we let it have a hold on us) owns us. We are His.
Now all these things we have in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:31 “That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 