identity in Christ

The making of saints.

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1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.  Colossians 1:1-8

 

When Paul uses the word “saints” to address the followers of Jesus he is saying that they are “holy.” They are a people “set aside” for God. That is, they are on reserve, cleaned and like God. When the Scripture speaks of holiness it always has God as the reference of holiness. One important note though, our holiness is not preserved by staying on a reserve shelf, tucked away safely from the world. No, we are also faithful. We are able to engage in life remaining faithful and responsive to Jesus.

Some Christian traditions have identified particularly outstanding Christians in our history as saints. But the New Testament reference of saints is to all the followers of Jesus. We are the saints, the holy ones made so “in Christ.” In Christ we are becoming a “faithful” people. The steady movement of our long obedience in response to Jesus’ grace transforms our character and makes us faithful.

This is who you are, and who you are becoming: A saint. A faithful one in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Having our needs met… in Christ.

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18At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

20Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 4:18-20 NLT

Paul is so grateful for what he has and he is thankful or the provisions sent to him by the Philippian church. Even when he was having difficulties, Paul said he had learned contentment. Its true,  God meets our needs in a variety of ways. Paul expresses confidence for God’s supply not only for himself but also for the them:

“This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

To live in the “abundance” of your relationship with God through Jesus is to live confidently and generously. To live in the abundance of Jesus allows you to be a connecting person in your relationships. This kind of life is in contrast to a “stingy” demeanour about life. The stingy person acts as if all the glory of life depends on themselves. But for us, as followers of Jesus we have the promise of God’s great supply and grace even when we feel that we don’t immediately have enough money, strength, will-power, kindness, peace, joy, or even love.

He can supply. He will supply–from what may seem to be likely and unlikely sources.

 

 

 

 

 

Live as people of the light!

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8For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Ephesians 5:8-14

 

When I wake up my kids on a school day, not only do I call out to them, but I also turn on the lights! The light works longer than my voice!

In Christ our lives have been flooded with light. Jesus described the transformation this way, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) Belonging to Jesus causes us to live as people of light. Light is powerful. Even a little bit of light shining in the dark can lead us forward. Jesus has not been stingy with the light, He says our lives have filled up with His light.

However, even as His followers we can dim the light. And that is tragic. As a follower of Jesus we are making 1000’s of small choices to either keep the light bright and unhindered or to turn it down. Paul highlights two of those processes.
1. Carefully determining what pleases the Lord.
2. Determining not to participate with other people in the pursuit of “worthless” empty deeds of evil and darkness.

The presence of Jesus is light. Exposure to light creates unease in people because of the disease in their hearts. Its no wonder that accusations fly against the light when there is a confrontation of light into the darkness. But we must keeping hoping that the love, purity, honesty, humility, goodness, faithfulness, and joy produced by the Gospel in your life exposes and dispels the gloom of darkness.

God says today to me and to you, “Wake up O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Get close to God with freedom and confidence

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8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honoured.  Ephesians 3:8-12

 

“Sometimes its tempting to believe prayer is futile.” Never let this thought take over as a belief; it will derail your life with Jesus. The Apostle Paul is aware that we can develop a “because-I-have-trusted-Jesus-life-must-be-easy” idea. Our expectation of comfort unhinges us from mission and from prayer. So Paul reminds them, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

Paul is telling the church in Ephesus that his service and his suffering as a follower of Jesus is part of God’s plan for the church to display God’s wisdom. Paul has become a beneficiary of God’s amazing mysterious plan. Paul is living in the presence of God because of Christ. Paul is living boldly and confidently in God’s presence. This is your opportunity as well.

Take a moment now, to enter in God’s presence through your faith in Christ. Approach Him with freedom and confidence. Meet Him and ask Him to show you more of your endless treasures available to you in Christ Jesus. Speak to Him of what is on your heart and mind.

Built together by and for Jesus.

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origin november 24 2013 005 - Version 2

19So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22

Jesus has radically altered the landscape of humanity with His death, burial and resurrection. Now together with all those who call on Him, we are being built together for a purpose that will culminate in His return and the redemption of all creation in Him. Now our lives are being altered by His grace. Such that together we are “holy building.” Jesus is the cornerstone; the apostles and the prophets are the foundation. Now we are being built up and inhabited by the Spirit of God. Now the church is made up of Jews and Gentiles united by faith in Christ as the people for God.

In carpentry, joining is an incredibly skilled process of linking two or more boards together. The craftsmanship when this is done well — is beautiful! The church is meant to display the beauty of God. The knowledge that I am being “carefully joined together” with others as the church by a master craftsman changes the way I see the church. Now, my participation in the church is not just an optional part of my life. You are an essential part of the church! This reality is meant to be an essential part of your identity in Christ.