Monday, July 8, 2013

Our Place in God's Kingdom


kingdom of god photo: Kingdom God.jpg
 

God walked with Adam in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). They had unbroken fellowship with one another. However, with Adam’s sin, this fellowship was broken. Then during the days of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God took up residence in the Holiest of Holies, also called the Most Holy Place. God fellowshipped with the High Priests (Leviticus 16:2,15). He also spoke to His prophets and used them to communicate His words to His people (Hebrews 1:1). He filled with His Spirit each of His anointed people throughout history so they could accomplish His work for them during their lifetime.

Then, with the ascension of Christ, God restored His original, daily communion with each of His children. The Holy Spirit moves into our spirit at salvation and He never leaves. We can quench the Spirit by our thoughts, choices and emotions (1 Thessalonians 5:19); but restoration comes with true repentance. With our new identity in Christ, we have access to the Holy of Holies and we may enter His presence with boldness (Hebrews 10:19). He gives us a new heart upon which He writes His commandments (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).

God also calls us to cease from our labors and to enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:9-10). He gives us a special place in God’s Kingdom. Here is a list of a few of them. We are:

Acceptable in His Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Apple of God’s Eye (Zechariah 2:8)
Branch of the Vine of Christ (John 15:5)
Children of God (1 John 3:1-2, 10; John 1:12)
Chosen ones, dearly loved (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9).
Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)
Free from sin’s hold and condemnation (Romans 6:23, 8:1)
Friend of Jesus (John 15:15)
Fruit bearer (John 15:16)
God’s possession (Titus 2:14; 2 Peter 2:9)
God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
Holy, blameless, irreproachable (Colossians 1:22)
Indwelt by God’s Spirit (Ephesians 3:17)
Justified (Romans 5:1)
Kings, reigning through Christ (1 Peter 2:9; Romans 5:17)
Members of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19)
New creation (2 Corinth, 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephes. 4:24; Coloss. 3:10)
New Israel of God (Galatians 6:16; Romans 9:6)
One with Christ in Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)
People of God (1 Peter 2:10)
Perfected in the Spirit (Philippians 3:15; Hebrews 12:23)
Priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6)
Reconciled (Romans 5:10-11)
Redeemed (Colossians 1:13-14)
Righteous (Ephesians 4:24; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Saints (Romans 8:27; Ephesians 1:18, 4:12)
Sons of God through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26)

Prayer:
Father God, Jesus is standing outside of the door of our heart, asking to come inside. If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He promises to come in and fellowship with us, giving us access to Your Most Holy Place (Revelation 3:20; Hebrews 10:19). In addition to all of this, we enjoy newness of life forevermore (Romans 6:4). Thank You for our daily bread, for forgiving all of our sins and for all of Your blessings. We look forward to living and reigning with Christ during the Millennium and to living in Your presence throughout eternity.

Though for the Day:
Because Christ shed His blood for the remission of our sins, God now has a personal relationship with every Born Again Believer. - Hebrews 9:12