Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God

We’re not living for Jesus. Rather, He is living through us. Therefore, we’re not called to imitate. Instead, we’re called to participate in union with His life. 

1 Corinthians 1:2 ‘To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….

Hebrews 10:17 Amplified “And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].”

We have a tendency to remember what He forgets, and to forget what He remembers. We remember our sins and we forget we’re saints (holy and forgiven in Christ). He forgets our sins and He remembers we’re saints (holy and forgiven in Christ). 

Because I am in union with Christ, all that is true about Him is true about me. He not only died for me, but He died as me. Therefore, I was crucified with Him. I was buried with Him, and I was raised with Him a new creation in Christ. All of my identity is found in Him. Now, my story, past, present and future is His-story 

Paul also teaches us that a deeper union with Christ is only possible as we have an ever deeper acquaintance of the Cross. Philippians 3:10— states, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” This is what we need to know, not in theory or sentiment, but in actual experience, and the result will be a life of power, of victory over sin, Satan, sickness and death, and the world, and this is only possible as we get back to the Cross.  Watchman Nee

For God’s way of deliverance is altogether different from man’s way. Man’s way is to try to suppress sin by seeking to overcome it; God’s way is to remove the sinner. Many Christians mourn over their weakness, thinking that if only they were stronger all would be well. . . If we are preoccupied with the power of sin and with our inability to meet it, then we naturally conclude that to gain the victory over sin we must have more power. . . 

But this is altogether a fallacy; it is not Christianity. God’s means of delivering us from sin is not by making us stronger and stronger, but by making us weaker and weaker. That is surely rather a peculiar way of victory, you say; but it is the divine way. God sets us free from the dominion of sin, not by strengthening our old man but by crucifying him; not by helping him to do anything, but by removing him from the scene of action. 

For years, maybe, you have tried fruitlessly to exercise control over yourself, and perhaps this is still your experience; but when once you see the truth you will recognize that you are indeed powerless to do anything, but that in setting you aside altogether God has done it all. Such discovery brings human striving and self-effort to an end (The Normal Christian Life-Watchman Nee)

Our Tuesday night bible study group has been studying the book of 1 Peter. We felt the Lord’s leading to his wonderful, life-giving book. One of the central themes of this book centers around the trails and tribulations we encounter as believers on our journey. Two different times in chapter one, the writer speaks of the revelation to be brought to us as a result of the trial or trials.  Actually, in verse fourteen the Apostle Peter encourages to fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus. Simply put, every trial has an end result and has a goal that is set before those going through the fiery ordeal. As mentioned earlier, we are to be fixated on the hope (confident expectation) of a new and greater unveiling  of Jesus. We get as our prize, an experience of Jesus we never before had, and we get to go deeper in our relationship with Him, which makes it all worthwhile. You and I have heard the saying, “Keep your eyes on the prize!” Well, that is a true, biblical motivation that propels us to endure. I can assure you that the goal is worth the effort. 

1 Corinthians 1:2 ‘To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….

Hebrews 10:17 Amplified  “And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].”

We have a tendency to remember what He forgets, and to forget what He remembers. We remember our sins and we forget we’re saints (holy and forgiven in Christ). He forgets our sins and He remembers we’re saints (holy and forgiven in Christ). 

Because I am in union with Christ, all that is true about Him is true about me. He not only died for me, but He died as me. Therefore, I was crucified with Him. I was buried with Him, and I was raised with Him a new creation in Christ. All of my identity is found in Him. Now, my story, past, present and future is His-story 

Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace…

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you…..

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace..

Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet..

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart…

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace…

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now May the Lord of peace Himself…

Hebrews 13:20  Now the God of peace..

Peace is not just something the Lord gives us. Rather, peace is His very nature. He is peace. Therefore, since we are in Christ and He is in us, we possess His peace-all of it. Peace is the fruit of the life of Christ within us that we bear, not produce. So when we need peace, we don’t have to ask Him for it, we just thank Him for it because He has already given peace to us in Christ. Simply, by faith, we just receive who He is and what He has already done. A sample prayer would be as follows: “Lord Jesus, I thank you that You are my peace, and right now, I receive Your peace.”

Colossians 3:3-4  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed in glory

In the above verses the word hidden does not convey the idea that something has been hidden that cannot be found. However, the word hidden carries the idea that something like treasure has been buried just for you, and it can be easily found. The Lord doesn’t hide things from us but for us. The treasure that we discover is not only the person of Jesus but our true identity as well. My identity cannot be found in anything other than Christ Himself. This is an incredible truth. It’s no wonder the enemy of our soul has so twisted the pursuit of our selfhood. As you and I seek Christ and who we are in Him, our true selves will naturally come forth. Thank your Lord that our worth and value are found only in You.