Wsuavsurdij. CITIZENSHIP W HILE IT IS TRUE that the Bible speaks to us about salvation, appropriation, identification, and ex- emplication, there is also the wonder ful assuarnce Paul declared of the Saviour “who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us out of this present evil world” (Gal. 1:4). Before coming to Christ, we all walked in the world, being taken up with the things of this life (Eph. 2:2). While in this state many years ago, I can remember the tremendous thirst that built up within me to know something better. I tried a number of things but was never completely satisfied until I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. The things of this life, no matter how appealing they may ap pear superficially, bring no lasting peace or contentment. It was in Aug ust 1929 that I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, and that I died to self. While I was in the world I was not of it. My life was no long er lived on a horizontal plane, for I had found a wonderful relationship and communion with God. Consider to what point Christ has delivered us. My heart never ceases to praise God for the truth conveyed in Ephesians 2:6: “And has raised us up and made us to be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” What a marvelous position to be in! We, as born-again children, of God, are “in Christ,” (Rom. 8:1), II Cor. 5:17). In the Word of God there are three words denoting the One who died for us upon the cross of Cal vary. Matthew 1 :21, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Here we obviously consider the finished work
He did for us nearly 2,000 years ago. In Philippians 8:9 we find the im portant word “Lord.” This speaks of sovereignty in the future. At the ap pointed day, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The third word is “Christ.” According to Ephesians 2: 6, He has raised us up and made us to be seated in heavenly places. This should remind us of his advocacy. A boy was walking along the street with his father as they passed a church. Seeing one of the beauti ful stained-glass windows depicting Christ standing outside the door knocking, the lad asked, “Daddy, how is it that Christ stands outside the door?” The father pondered a mo ment and then replied, “Im sorry, Son. but I don’t know.” When they had walked a short distance farther, the son again inquired, “Daddy, don’t you really have an answer?” The parent had to admit that he didn’t. But, on down the street, when the question came again, he whimsically explained, “Maybe the people were living in the cellar and didn’t hear the Lord knock.” What a picture that is of our unregenerate state! Man lives in the deprived basement of his soul. The tragic part of it is that many born-again Chris tians who can sincerely say, “I know Jesus Christ as my own per sonal Saviour” are not living in the heavenlies, possessing all of their possessions in the Lord. They fail to realize that their lives are hid with Christ in God. They don’t draw deeply upon Him day by day for their spiritual strength and victory. Where is your treasure? What do you value more than anything else? 9
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker