God originally created mankind in the image of the
Trinity (Genesis 1:6). Adam and Eve lived in an existence of body, soul and spirit
in close fellowship with the Father (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
They enjoyed the same immortality, which Christ exhibited
after His resurrection. Yet, when they believed Satan's lies, they chose to
ignore their spirit and to give in to the temptation of their human nature.
As a result, their spirit died, and we all reap the
consequences of their choice. Knowing this before He created the world, God
planned to become man as Emmanuel (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 1:23).
He paid the ransom for the sin debt of anyone who chooses
to submit to His will rather than to our human desires or the devil's
temptations (Romans 4:25, 5:6; John 3:16-18).
The reason that God's Spirit regenerates our spirit and
sanctifies our soul is so that we will live in the divine life of Christ in us,
rather than through our human life with its earthly thoughts and desires (2
Peter 1:4; John 1:1, 12-14).
This is possible once our spirit is Born Again. It is no
longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us (Romans 12:2, 8:29; 2
Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:3-4). We live, move and have our existence in
Christ alone (Acts 17:28).
We are united with Christ in our spirit, in the same way
that Jesus' humanity was united with His Godly nature, while He lived on this
earth.
The life, which we live in this body, is lived through
the faith of God's holy Son (Galatians 2:20). We continue the work of Christ on
this earth, and we do greater works as we function as His Body (John 3:3-6,
14:12).
We think, feel, speak and act in the will of God as we
follow the leading of His Spirit through every decision we make, every word we
speak and every action we take.
This affects our words and behavior in our vocation,
marriage, extended family, neighborhood and church Body. We live as a city on a
hill, and we never hide the light of Christ within us (Matthew 5:14-16).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for sending Christ to redeem us
from sin and its destruction. Thank You also for helping us to renew our mind
through the washing of the water of Your Word (Ephesians 5:26). Since Christ
set us free from sin, then help us to stay free from its demoralizing clutches
(Galatians 5:1).
Teach us how to walk in the divine nature of Christ in
us. Help us to live and move and have our being only in Him, so that we can
walk in Your will, exhibit Your character and do the works of Christ all the
days of our life.
Thought for the Day:
Since Christ abides in us by His Spirit, then even though
our body will die because of the sin, which cursed this world, God's Spirit
gives us His life in our spirit, soul and body, because of His holiness. -
Romans 8:10
Many thanks to Matt Milligan for the use of his photo.
