Union with Christ - Fully Human and Fully Divine

Jesus was fully human and fully divine when He lived on this earth. This same Christ is fully divine in us (1 Corinthians 2:12). As we live in union with Christ, we are also one in Spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 John 5:12; Hebrews 3:14, 6:4).

Our belief in Jesus secures this merger (I John 4:15,16). We are now dead to sin because of Christ in us, and He lives His divine life in and through us (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Timothy 1:14).

In fact, the entire Trinity takes up residence within us (John. 14:23). God’s Spirit seals us and dwells in us, confirming our union with Christ and our adoption into God’s family (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22).

When this fact becomes a reality in our life, God’s peace permeates our thoughts, choices and emotions. As we mature in Christ, we grow deeper in the wisdom and knowledge of God, and we realize that Jesus within us already overcame Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

In the same way that Jesus denied His humanity and walked in the Spirit of His divinity, we too consider our humanity dead in Christ. We allow Christ to crucify the deeds of our flesh and to integrate us with Himself in God (Colossians 3:3; Ezekiel 36:26).

Christ in us conforms our spirit and soul into an expression of Himself, and this affects our body as well. Jesus functions in His gifts and ministries through us, and He gives us the power and direction to walk in His will (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that all the power and authority of Christ’s divinity reside within us (Matthew 28:18). You pour out Your love into our hearts (Romans 5:5). You teach us all things (Ephesians 5:17). You prepare us for Your service, You strengthen us for the work and You give us victory over every challenge and obstacle as we walk in Your Spirit.

At Salvation, You crucify our humanity and fill us through our entire being with all of the fullness of Christ's divine nature. You give us the desire and the power to do Your will with our life (Philippians 2:12-13). All of this comes from Christ in us, who is our Lord and Savior now and for all of eternity (Romans 10:9; Colossians 1:27; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 3:15).

Thought for the Day:
Once we realize that our humanity is dead in Christ, we walk in the Spirit of Christ in us and no longer fulfill the desires and lusts of the flesh; we live with our mind on the things of the Spirit rather than on the temporal aspects of this earth; we live on the earth, but we are not part of the earth except as He directs us to influence this world for His Kingdom. - Galatians 5:15-25

Christ Richly Dwells in Us

God wants us to abide in Christ, who dwells in us, and is the wisdom of God for us. Jesus, who had no sin, took the shame of our sins upon Himself and nailed them to Calvary’s cross. As we grow in Christ, our former accomplishments become meaningless, and we gain the righteousness of Christ in exchange for our sins (Philippians 3:8-9).

God blesses our union with Christ, which gives us all of the power and authority resident in the Heavenly realm (Ephesians 1:3-4). This merger with Christ begins with regeneration and progresses through our obedience to His predetermined will for our life (Ephesians 2:4-5, 10). We do not boast of our own accomplishments, because we see our self as we really are in God's eyes.

Our only boasting is actually about His goodness and love for us (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Our carnal nature slowly dies through sanctification, and Christ lives out His purpose in and through us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4). We no longer follow our own agenda or dreams for our life, but we focus solely on the will of God for each moment of our day.

Through His love, God draws us to Himself by His Spirit and desires that we share with Him the glorious blessings He arranged for us to enjoy with Him in eternity. No human mind has ever conceived, nor has any eye ever seen, nor has any ear ever heard of the extent of these benefits, which God prepared for us (1 Corinthians 2:9).

By faith, Christ richly dwells in us, and He deepens our roots in Him and establishes us in His love. Out of His glorious riches, God strengthens us with power from His Spirit within us (Ephesians 3:16). God's Spirit gives His power to all of His Saints, so that we can comprehend the fathomless dimensions of our Father's love (Romans 8:38-39).

Prayer:

Father God, those of us who persevere in our union with Christ will appear with Him, and rule and reign with Him in Your Kingdom for all of eternity (John 10:27-38; Romans 6:14; Colossians 2:11-12, 3:1-3). Remind us not to rely on human effort, but on Christ's finished work on Calvary's cross, and the effects of His sacrifice in our life. Help us to walk in Your Spirit each moment of every day (Galatians 5:15-25). Fill us with the fullest measure of Your complete character and nature (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Thought for the Day:

As we see our self in the wide scheme of God's eternal plan, we lose all anxiety over the here and now.