Year 2 Day 53

Year 2 Day 53

Pray (ACts)

Read - Romans 3:21-26, Galatians 4:4-6

Message - Alan Burke 

On Wednesday we thought about that glorious exchange that takes place, as our sin is imputed to Christ Jesus. It means we can come before God the Father, as God the Son became the most vile sinner that ever was, as he atoned for our sin he became cursed so we could escape that curse. This saving work is applied to us by the work of God the Spirit. As a result of what God has done, Father, Son and Spirit we are justified, adopted and sanctified. These words sum up the benefits that are applied to us that moment that the Spirit calls us and we are united with Christ.  

The first of which we think about is ‘justification’, as we are made right by God (Rom 3:24-25). As God pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, as the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. The basis of our justification is the work of Jesus Christ. That moment the Spirit calls us we are justified, we receive God’s unmerited favour through the work of Christ. When our faith is weak we remain justified because it is Christ himself who is the basis for God’s righteous verdict. 

We are also adopted as sons (Gal 4:4-5). This means our status changes, we move from being enemies of God to the people of God to being a child. For that is what happens, as the Spirit works in us our status changes, we are no longer “strangers and aliens” to the people of God but “members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). To be adopted is to be able to stand where Jesus always stood, looking at God and calling Him “Abba.” Jesus, who always addressed God as “My Father,” teaches His people to call God, “Our Father.” (Gal 4:6). God will never cast us out of His family. He is not waiting for us to cross the finish line before He signs the adoption papers and makes us His children forever. We are His children in Christ, and just as He will never cast out Christ, He will never cast us out (John 6:37).

Finally sanctification. As we are set apart for God, for his for His use to be made Holy. Sanctification is immediate as we are made holy but also an ongoing and progressive work in our lives. Although every believer is brought out once and for all, from bondage to sin, we are not immediately made perfect. We will not be completely freed from sin until we receive our resurrection bodies at the last day. In Romans chapter 8:29 we are told how God works in those who are his own to conform them into the image of his Son. As the Spirit works us, God graciously helps us to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ our Saviour. As we become increasingly Christlike, as the “fruit of the Spirit” is progressively formed in us (2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:19; 5:22–25).

All this means is that right now, if you call on Christ by faith, you are justified! You are, right now, adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God! You are, even now in the middle of your battle against indwelling sin, in your battle against the old nature, being sanctified made holy! Believer, this is your reality right here and right now, while we will see this fully consummated at the second coming of Christ when all things are made new do not miss the fact that this is our present reality. Let this grand and glorious truth strengthen you daily, minister to your soul, and lead you to praise our great God, who is indeed mighty to save.

Pray (acTS)

Sing

WSC
Q62 What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, (Exod. 20:9) his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day. (Exod. 20:11)
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