New Life Priorities - Spiritual Priorities

FROM ADAM TO CHRIST

All humanity is birthed "INTO" Adam and becomes part of his "earthly family". He's the federal head of the human race. Because he rebelled and broke covenant with God, (Hos. 6:7), sinning became as natural to him and his family as breathing! It's human nature to sin, (Rom. 3:23)! It's what we all do best!

The result of this situation is as desperate as the situation itself! Death! And who can help! "In Adam all die", (1 Cor. 15:22). The good news is, "In Christ all will be made alive", (1 Cor.15:22)! The question is, How do we get out of Adam and into Christ? The answer is, to be "Born Again". We need to receive spiritual birth through Jesus Christ! There's no other way to become "Alive In Christ"!

In reaching out to Christ in repentance of sin we find forgiveness. As we embrace Jesus as our Lord and Savior with a heart of love and faith, we're birthed into Him and made ALIVE, by the power of God, (Eph. 2:5).

We're brought from death to life, (Rom. 6:13), and that "God Life" has been given to us in abundance, (Jn. 10:10).

The spiritual results of being "Born Again" are astounding! We've become a part of Christ and His eternal family. There's a lot of spiritual inheritance we have! It's an entirely different kingdom we belong to now!

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IN CHRIST
* Seated With Christ: The "spiritual position" of the Believer can be hard for us to fathom. However, God has seated us with Christ, (Eph. 2:6)! When the Holy Spirit took us out of Adam and placed us into Christ we become one with Him in spirit. Therefore, where He is so are we, in spirit. This new spiritual position has dramatically effected our lives. Listed below are a few of the many blessings we have "IN CHRIST".

* Clothed With Christ: If our spiritual eyes were suddenly opened we would find ourselves presently clothed with Christ, (Gal. 3:26). When, "born again", not only does God put the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, He also puts us into His Son. We've been baptized (or totally submersed) into Christ, (Gal.4:6)!

When birthed spiritually, the Holy Spirit takes and puts us "INTO" Christ,(Gal. 3:26). That is our position! Spiritually, that's where we are!

* A New Creation: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is A NEW CREATION, the old has gone, the new has come, (2 Cor. 5:17)! This new creation is called a "first fruits", the first of it's kind in all God's creation, (Jms. 1:18). Those "In Christ" are as different from humans as angels are. To be "In Christ" is to be a completely different species. There's never been anything like it before!

* A New Self: God does not reshape the "old Adamic" nature! He's created a completely "NEW SELF", (Col. 3:9, 10). This "new self" is birthed in us as an infant and continues in a growth process until the nature of Christ is fully matured in us, (Gal. 4:19). We are God's workmanship created in Christ, (Eph. 4:24). Our whole life is transformed to be like Christ's, (2 Cor. 3:18). God is raising up children with His character. Just as Adam's children inherit his sin nature, so God's children inherit the nature of Christ. (Eph. 4:24).

* Sons Of God: Not one of Adam's descendants have the spiritually, legal right to call God their Father! Yet, to all who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God gives them "the right to become children of God", (Jn. 1:12). They can legitimately call God their Father because they've been born of God, (Jn. 1:13).

A very special and unique relationship has been established! We've been given the Spirit of Sonship, (Rom. 8:15)! Our hearts' cry to God is, "Abba Father". "Dear friends, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, (1 Jn. 3:2). We have already started our eternal relation with the God of heaven through our Lord Jesus.

* Heirs Of God: "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ," (Rom.8:17). "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba Father". So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir,"(Gal. 4:7).

When God sovereignly chose us to be His children, He also chose to give us the eternal blessings of His Kingdom. This is a family matter of divine origin. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," (Jn. 8:34, 35).

* Reigning In Life: One of the most unique and distinguishing features of God's family, the "new creation", the "new self", the children of God, is, the incredible freedom they've have from the power of sin. Sin shall not be your master, (Rom. 6:14)!

Christ has put us in a place of authority over sin and we are able to reign in life through His power, (Rom.5:21). "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God", (1 Jn. 3:9).

Our heavenly Father is faithfully committed to, and delights in the well-being of His children,(Ps. 35:27). He will never allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist sin. He will always make a way for us to escape,(1Cor.10:13).

* Forgiveness: But what if I do sin? What if I don't take God's way out? Even with divine escape routes, the most sincere child of God experiences the need of receiving forgiveness from time to time. There's nothing more personally devastating than to sin. Now what! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness," (1 Jn. 1:9).

How deep is the forgiveness of God? Am I in His "little black book"? Will He somehow hold this against me in the future? The Lord made an eternal covenant with us, (Heb. 8:8-12). "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sin no more," (Heb. 8:12). Even King David, a man after God's own heart, (Acts 13:22), found the need to receive the forgiveness of God. It was he who said, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us," (Ps. 103:92).

* More Than Conquerors: It's incredibly reassuring if you know you're going to win! The assurance of eventual victory enables us to endure the occasional set back. To lose a battle doesn't mean you've lost the war. It's great to be part of a winning team. Christ has given us the victory, (1 Cor. 15:57)!

The apostle Paul experienced many challenges in life. Some were extremely severe. To all of this he said, "Thanks be to God, who ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession in Christ," (2 Cor. 2:14). Lord, where are you leading us? Where are we going? Into victory! In and through all the situations of life, we are able to be MORE THAN conquerors through him who loves us, (Rom. 8:37).

The same God who closed the lions' mouths for Daniel and who quenched the flames of fire for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is on our side. He leads us into the victory purchased for us with the precious blood of Christ.

* Abundant Grace: Christ's death on the cross purchased our salvation and with it the vast riches of God. Grace can be understood to mean God's Riches At Christ's Expense'. GRACE

As the Lord sovereignly influences our hearts to receive from Him, this is GRACE in action. It's by God's grace we're saved (Eph. 2: 8,9). He's the one who divinely influenced our hearts in the first place! He drew us to Himself, (Jn. 6:44).This life changing "grace has been FREELY given to us in Christ", (Eph. 1:6). It's been lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding, (Eph. 1:7,8).

The effectiveness of grace is clearly demonstrated through the apostle Paul's life. In 1 Cor. 15:10, he said, "by the grace of God I am what I am". It was God's grace that had so transformed this self - righteous Pharisee into a Spirit - filled man of faith and love. The grace of God is sufficient to meet every need we will ever have, (2 Cor. 12:9).

* Great & Precious Promises: The power and significance of God's spoken Word is experienced every day. By His Word He created the heavens and the earth. It's this same Word that keeps every - thing in it's place, (Heb. 11:3 & 2 P. 3:7).

Promises are the verbal expression of God's heart. We're told that, no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes "IN CHRIST", (1 Cor. 1:20). These promises are alive and active right now! "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, He has given us his very great and precious promises, SO THAT THROUGH THEM (the promises) you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires," (2 P. 1:3,4). All of God's promises are designed of the Lord to powerfully effect our lives. We've inherited them, "IN CHRIST".