No Longer a Sinner - Divinity of Christ in Us

The Bible is full of symbolism. For instance, water baptism is a symbol of our death, burial and resurrection in Christ. We raise to walk in a new life with Him.

We do not die physically in baptism, but our flesh dies spiritually, and is now able to disregard the lure of sin in this world. Sin no longer tempts us as it used to, and we are free from its bondage.

We relate to Christ's new life in us to a greater degree than we connect to this world. We died together with Him; and it is Him, not us, that now lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20).

We are one with Christ; and through His divine nature within us, we die to the desire to sin. God adopts us into His family. We share in His benefits in His Kingdom of God as co-heirs with Jesus.

In Christ, we gradually become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our focus in life, our habits and the people we hang around with all change. Our life is spiritual now, rather than carnal and fleshly.

Our vital union with Jesus, puts us in right standing before God, our Father (John 15:1-11; Romans 6:3-11; Ephesians 5:30). He births our spirit, and we live a life which is pleasing to God. We are one with Christ and members of His Body.

Our old, carnal flesh - our intellect, emotions and will - is crucified with Christ and we died to sin (John 15:4; Romans 6:6, 8:11; Colossians 3:3, 9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 4:22). We are filled with the fruit of God's Spirit, which is the divine nature of Christ in us (Galatians 5:22-23).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that the fruit of Your Spirit grows in us only as we abide in Christ and follow Your will for our life (John 15:4). Our living union with the Trinity allows us to fellowship with You every moment of our day and results in our eternal security (John 10:27-30).

Create in us a clean heart, and use us as a living testimony for Your glory (Psalm 51:10). Thank You for loving us unconditionally and changing us from the inside out. We look forward to You continuing to change our relationship with You by Your Spirit, until our human nature is altered to one that reflects Your goodness to a lost and dying world.

Thought for the Day:

As a Christian, we are transformed by God's Spirit from one stage of glory to another until we reflect to the world the exact image of Christ in us. - 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 1:3

The Battle of the Ages

The Battle of the Ages is Satan’s attempt to annihilate the Messiah, so that he could remain as ruler of this world (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12:1-6). Jesus came from the seed of Abraham, and Satan tried to stop Israel throughout the ages. Thanks to President Harry Truman, God returned part of the land to Israel, which He promised to their forefathers. The figurative fig tree has blossomed ever since.

The symbolism in Revelation, chapter twelve shows Israel as the woman clothed in the sun. She is the mortal enemy of Satan. Jesus is the child delivered by this woman from the seed of Abraham. The fiery red dragon is Satan. The seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems of this dragon depict Satan’s dominion over seven past worldly kingdoms, ten future kingdoms, and the seven members of the revised Roman Empire, the modern day European Union.

World War II was acclaimed as the war to end all wars, and so it should have been after the destruction and degradation to human life that accompanied that war. The Korean War and multiple modern wars ensued after that one, however. The world will also see another war, which is described in Ezekiel 38-39.

This entails the Middle East and Russia attacking Israel, and the stage is set for that war even now. With no remaining world allies, Israel will stand alone, only to see the salvation of their God once again. Thankfully, in God’s economy, He does have a war planned that will definitely end all wars. It is the Battle of Armageddon. 

With the armies of the world gathered in the valley of Megiddo, Satan will attempt once again to gain ascendancy over God; yet God defeats them with one word and ends the battle of the, as well as all human conflict forever (Revelation 19:11-16, 21:4). King Jesus will take His throne and rule and reign on earth forever (Matthew 25:31).

Prayer:

Father God, it is so wonderful to read Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation and to understand Your timetable for humanity and the culmination of all things. We thank You for Your grace and mercy to save us from eternal damnation in the flames of hell with Satan and his demonic forces (Revelation 20:10). We pray that people whom we know and love will be strengthened by Your Spirit’s power in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:16). We look forward to spending eternity with them all in Your presence.

Thought for the Day:

Satan was able to bruise the heel of the woman’s seed, Jesus, at the crucifixion; but the seed of the woman will crush Satan’s head at the end of the Millennium. - Revelation 12:7-8