In Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
In Christ Jesus, we have all blessings. And he wants us to have them, in our circumstances, here. (Ephesians 1:3)
He has for us: wisdom.
This is special light for those times we need it. (Light in scripture is knowledge. It is showing us what is real. God turns on the light, so to speak, so we can see the truth)
Wisdom is empowering light.
Wisdom is not only seeing things as they affect ourselves, but also, as they affect others we may be responsible for, in some way. It is special light for special times.
Proverbs 3:21-23 “My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”
Christ has for us: righteousness.
This is, of course, His righteousness imparted to us; giving us a right standing before God.
He also works within us righteousness which is obedience to His Will. This is good protection in this world, against the tricks of the devil.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect (living up to the light that he has been given in the Word), throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Christ has for us: sanctification.
This is when we set ourselves aside to God in thought, word, and deed, for sacred use, in our everyday living.
We deny ourselves, and yield to the Holy Spirit within us, and be obedient.
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:”
1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified by 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.”
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.”
All the Godhead is at work in our sanctification.
The Father chose it for us.
The Son, through His merits, won it for us.
And the Holy Spirit works it within us, everyday. It is His power within us to enable us to work it out.
Christ has for us: redemption.
This is a wonderfully complete word. For it means…”completely brought out from, by the ransomed price being paid.” (Hallelujah! What a Savior we have.)
It speaks of now,…..for we are His purchased possession;……never to have to be in bondage to anything or anyone, again.
Colossians 1:14 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
1 Peter 1:18-19 “For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by your tradition by your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
And He works His redemption within us, being faithful to us.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”
(Blameless is an interesting word: it does not mean sinless…..nor does it only mean, that the sins we commit are forgiven by Him….they all are.
But it means that the sins we commit were not “meant to”.
Did we mean to lie? Then the sin, and it’s consequences are blameworthy. We did, what we knew should not be done….but we did it; putting our interests first.
But God brings us to the point in our lives, where we do not sin, willfully.
Yes, we will always sin….either in error, or speaking out of turn [Colossians 4:6], or anger [Ephesians 4:26]….but these are trips, not denying self,….and not willful sin against our loving Lord.)
This redemption speaks, also, of the coming transformation of our spirit, soul, and body, to heaven forever.
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 “So also is the resurrection from the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power:”
In Christ Jesus, we have, and will have, all these things.
Are we getting them into us?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 