God originally created mankind in the image of the
Trinity (Genesis 1:6). Adam and Eve enjoyed an existence of body, soul and
spirit in close fellowship with the Father. They enjoyed the same divine
nature, which Christ exhibited.
Yet, when they believed Satan's lies, they chose to
ignore their divine nature and to give in to the temptation of their human
nature. As a result, their spirit died and their immortal body became mortal. We
all reap the consequences of their choice.
God planned, before He created the world, to become man
as Emmanuel (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 1:23). He paid the ransom for the sin debt of
anyone who will choose to submit to His will rather than to our human desires
or the devil's temptations (John 3:16-18; Romans 4:25, 5:6).
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 only 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). We live, move and have our existence in Christ alone (Acts
17:28).
The life, which we live in this body, is lived through
the faith of God's holy Son (Galatians 2:20). We are united with Christ in our
spirit, just as Jesus' humanity was united with God, while He lived on this
earth.
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 and every action we take.
This affects our behavior and words 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, You teach us in Your Word that if we live by
the dictates of our flesh, and give in to Satan's temptations, we will surely
die in our sin. Yet, if we live by Your Spirit, He enables us to resist
temptation and we will live in Your Kingdom as co-heirs with Christ forever
(Romans 8:13). Teach us how to walk in the divine nature of Christ in us.
Help us to live and move and have our being 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 (Acts 17:28). Thank You 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, help us to stay free from its destructive clutches
(Galatians 5:1).
Thought for the Day:
God's Spirit, who raised Christ from the dead, now lives
within our body through our spirit, and gives us His life.
- Romans 8:11
