Our Inheritance in Christ: Accepted

 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18 MEV

 We've been in a series studying our blessed inheritance in Christ. When Christ died and rose again He granted us a generous inheritance that is available to all who believe right now. We don't have to die and get to Heaven to experience it. We can experience it and enjoy it here and now.

 We have seen so far that we have received the gift of no condemnation in this glorious inheritance. We saw last time we are no longer separated from God ever again. Spiritual death simply means separation from God. We were separated and now because of Jesus we are forever His and He will never leave or forsake us. We will never be apart from Him. 

 Today, it seemed good to continue this amazing study looking at our perfect acceptance in Christ. In the first chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, he speaks of our inheritance in Christ. We who believed have obtained an eternal inheritance. 

 In this inheritance, we can see that we are found accepted in the beloved. Christ's work has made us acceptable to the Father. 

 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

  To the praise of the glory of His Grace. His glorious Grace has made us accepted. This word accepted means to be honored and to be highly favored.

 God has bestowed divine favor upon us, His Church, His people. He has favored us and bestowed honor on us. We may not always feel so honorable or favored but nevertheless, we are favored.

 In this world system, to be accepted or honored we must achieve much. We have to also conform to their ways of doing things. The stepping on others to get ahead, the seeking the favor of only those the world system already esteems. We must keep striving and doing more and more even if it means neglecting friends and family to achieve favored status.

 Under traditional religion, we had to work harder and keep all the rules to be found worthy and favored. We struggled and strived to achieve a sense of acceptance from God and the ministries we were a part of. We sought acceptance and accolades from men by our works and performance.

 We didn't understand we were already highly favored and honored by God the moment we believed. We were trying to earn what was free. We were trying to achieve what was already ours in Christ.

 In our dealings with man, there is always someone who comes in the last place. Someone who is chosen last. Someone who won't qualify. In Christ, we are always picked first to be on Jesus' team. In Christ, we are never disqualified, we are chosen, we are loved, we are accepted eternally in Him.

 In Christ, we are accepted. We aren't rejected. We aren't disqualified. Even in our worst, we are still accepted. He isn't accepting our misdeeds or mistakes, He isn't accepting our sins and shortcomings because He reminds us those deeds aren't who we are, that's not our identity, He accepts us. He reminds us of who we are and whose we are. We are always found acceptable to the Father because of Jesus. 

 In summation, rejoice in the Good News. See yourself as He sees you. Highly favored. Loved. Honored. Acceptable to the Father. The enemy works overtime to get you to think you are unacceptable to God. He brings his shame and points to your sins and shortcomings. Resist the enemy and reject his lies. When he points you to your sins and shortcomings you point him to your Savior whose work is superior to any achievements of man. Child of God you are accepted in Him, it's yours in this glorious inheritance Christ procured for you. 

Image by Mustafa shehadeh from Pixabay 

Our Inheritance in Christ: No Separation

to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18 MEV

We began a new study looking at our inheritance in Christ. In this New Covenant, child of God you have an inheritance in Christ. Some believers really don't know what belongs to them because of Christ. 

 In the Old Covenant, God cut a covenant with man. Mankind was consistent in only one aspect of this covenant. They could never uphold their part. In the New, Jesus represented mankind and cut the covenant with the Father on our behalf. So in essence this New Covenant was made between the Father and the Son and we who believe are the beneficiaries. 

 We have seen that our inheritance includes the gift of no condemnation. Today, I want to reveal another aspect of our inheritance. There is no more separation for the child of God. 

 Sisters and brothers, there is nothing you can do to be separated from the Father. You're eternally sealed with the Holy Spirit. You been given the Spirit as an earnest down payment on your complete redemption and once for all salvation. Good news for those who have been taught we can lose or forfeit our salvation. This makes it clear it is eternally secure.

 Our society, due to the fall, is conditioned on separation. What do we do with children who misbehave? We put them in a corner for a "time out". What about when they get older? We suspend them from school for a short duration. What about when they are adults? If it's really bad we separate them by placing them in Jail or prison. Even in prison if they can't behave with the rest of the inmates they are separated further by placing them in a disciplinary segregation unit. 

 My point is not to rail against these institutions. It's not to tell parents don't put their kids in time out. In a fallen fractured creation, we need some methods to control unruly behavior to instruct and even to protect others. That said let's stay focused on the main point I want to make. That separation is conditioned in our minds. 

 When we see actions or performance that isn't up to the standard of perfect righteousness and holiness, we default to separation. Let me explain further by illustration.

When Jesus used Peter's boat and blessed him with a boat sinking harvest, here, what was Peter's reaction to the blessing?

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Luke 5:8 NKJV

 Peter saw the power of God, the Goodness of God which revealed to himself his own insufficiency. That is his own imperfections and shortcomings. His first response? Separation. He wanted to be separated from Jesus. He felt so unworthy. 

 When we sin or blow it, what do we do? We run from God. We run from the local church. We stay away from ministry friends and those we see as committed believers.

 Why? Because we are going back to the default. Separate. I am wrong so I must separate. Or the idea comes from the religious. Oh brother or sister you've sinned your sins have separated you from God.

 Many ministers teach that our sins stop God's hands from healing or providing or delivering or protecting us. Yet when Jesus encountered the sinner lost in their sin His response was to go towards that person. Jesus said He must needs pass through Samaria, where He ministered to one woman who was living in adultery. Jesus is what qualifies us to receive from God not ourselves. Our behavior isn't our savior, or provider or healer or protector, Jesus is!

 Child of God there is nothing you've done, are doing, or will do that will cause you to be separated from God. Paul declared that there is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God. No action from the enemy or from ourselves can separate us from God. 

 Christ's perfect shed Blood perfectly purchased and procured complete and total redemption. New life and peace have been made available to whosoever will accept this free love gift. Upon reception, perfect redemption, total peace, complete acceptance approval, and right standing are theirs forever. Never to be disconnected, separated, or out of fellowship with the Father. All of this because of Jesus and His great Love.

 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 NKJV

 There is no more separation. There is no putting the leper out of the camp. God is not breaking away or disconnecting from you. 

 You may be thinking, brother this sounds too good to be true. What about 1 Corinthians 5 brother? It does appear on the surface I am contradicting Paul or that Paul is even contradicting himself. 

 Let's use context to understand what Paul is saying here. Paul is addressing a specific issue. Paul is speaking Apostolicaly and Pastorally concerning a brother whose behavior is hindering the work and testimony of the ministry. The reason for strong words is because the brother was unrepentant and rebellious. In other words, he knew his actions were wrong and he was apathetic to the results.  

 For a short season, Paul instructed the brethren to not go down the same path he was on. In truth, God was never separated from him, but he was separating himself from God and His ways. What were the results when people refused to go down the same path he was on? He had a sudden change of mind. What people seem to overlook in this event is that not one place did Paul suggest he had lost his salvation or was in "time out" and God wanted nothing to do with him. 

 Let's rejoice in our inheritance. In Christ, we have no separation or disconnection from the Father no matter what. God is never going to leave us or forsake us. God is always with us, even at our worst. God sees all of our faults and flaws and failures and still He embraces us as His own. God is a Good Father and will never separate us from Himself. 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Our Inheritance in Christ: the gift of no condemnation

 

 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18 MEV

 In our last study, we saw the good news that those of us in Christ have an inheritance. It seemed good to continue looking at our inheritance in Christ. Knowing who we are and what we have in Christ brings great comfort, and enables us to walk in triumphant victory in our daily lives.

 Did you know one of the greatest benefits we have in Christ is the great gift of no condemnation? Condemnation is an insidious lie of the enemy. It's the enemy pronouncing a damnatory verdict over your life. God is not judging you, child of God, it's the enemy lying to you attempting to get you to withdrawal from fellowship with God. To get you back to a performance-driven faith, and often to ultimately get you to go back to your old way of living, trying to ensnare you in a cycle of guilt and shame. 

 That is the enemy's scheme but God is greater and His amazing Grace has completely defeated the enemy! The Word declares God was in Christ annihilating the schemes, plans, and works of the devil. God's overcoming Grace, the power of the Holy Spirit within, and God's amazing Love empower us to daily demonstrate this destruction of the enemy! 

 I get so happy, excited, ecstatic, and overwhelmed with joy and rejoicing when I think of the Goodness and lovingkindness and Grace of our Good Father and our triumphant Savior, King Jesus! We have the victory over shame and guilt and condemnation. Grace is greater than shame.

Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. Romans 8:1 AMP

 This is the witness of Paul, revealing what belongs to us in Christ, see Jesus Himself promising this,

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life. John 5:24 AMP

 We have received the gift of no condemnation. What if we sin? What if we keep sinning the same sin repeatedly? What if we don't go to church anymore? What if we quit reading the Bible? 

 Nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Nothing can change who we are and what we have in Christ when we believed. When we sin, it doesn't change our nature within. It doesn't give the enemy the right to attack us either.  

 Think of it, if you drove your car to a known high crime area and got out of your car with the keys still in the ignition and a crook took advantage and drove off with your car, did that thief have a "right" to take your car? Of course not. Now you made a foolish choice but that still didn't give the criminal the right, if you will, to steal your car. 

 So it is with sin. Sinning is a foolish choice, but unlike what religious leaders teach, your sin doesn't give the enemy the "right" to steal from you. In fact, your sin is none of the devil's business. Your behavior is between you and your Savior never the devil. 

 As for failing to read and study the Word, or not attending church, again, that's a choice you make but God isn't going to condemn you over it. I believe He will lead you into the truth. Prayer, Bible study, church attendance is a beautiful benefit of being in the Body of Christ. 

 God will correct us but never through the use of disaster, death, or destruction, and never condemning us. He leads us into the truth. What truth? The truth of who we are in Him and whose we are because of the Cross. 

 This is what Grace, Eternal Life, relationship with God, Christianity really looks like; my shackles are broken off. I am free and forgiven once for all time. No more am I bound by the chains of brokenness, shame, guilt, condemnation, sin, and spiritual death. I am free to run, to shout, to dance, to live rejoicing in Him. 

 What Christianity, Grace, and life in Christ are NOT supposed to look and feel like; my chains are gone, I better not screw up. I have a new chance at life, I hope I don't blow this. God took a chance on me, I hope I won't let Him down. God has done so much for me, I am so unworthy, I need to do more for Him. God is so faithful, I don't think I have done enough for Him. I hope I can merit His trust and gifts.

 Child of God, brothers, and sisters, let's rejoice in the Goodness of God. He has made us Righteous and we have no condemnation in Him. This is an amazing gift. 

 In summation, rejoice in your inheritance in Christ. Remember it's all because of Jesus. Jesus accomplished it all. He did it all. God is satisfied once for all time in the Finished Work of Christ. 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay