TOPIC: OPERATING THE HIGHER LIFE IN CHRIST PART 2 DATE: 08 -05-2016
TEXT: COL. 1:12-14; MARK 10:45; MATT.
5:17; GAL. 3:13
INTRODUCTION:
During the teaching of last week, we
stated that salvation is a movement from the lower realm of life in the world
into a higher realm of life in Christ. This movement was powered by man’s
redemption and forgiveness of sin accomplished by Jesus Christ through His
blood (Col. 1:12-14).
Our redemption through our Lord Jesus
Christ provides the platform for our operating in the higher life in Him. We
have already been delivered from the powers of darkness that held sway in the
lower realm of this world and translated (carried to a higher realm) in Christ.
No wonder Jesus said in John16:33 that in Him we shall have peace but in the
world we shall have tribulations. This clearly affirms that there are two
realms of living viz: Life in Christ (the higher realm) and life in the world
(the lower realm). Redemption moves the believer from life in the world where
the powers of darkness hold sway to Life in Christ; where Jesus reigns
(Colo.1:13). For the believer to operate in the reality of the new realm he/she
has been lifted to function, his/her thinking has to be transformed through the
renewal of his mind (Rom.12:2).
The believer has to begin to think
and operate in God’s higher thoughts and ways (Isa.55:8-9). He/she has to have
a working knowledge of the great accomplishments made during his redemption.
Last week we dealt with three of such accomplishments. Today we shall look at
two other accomplishments of redemption. They are:
1. Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law
(Matt. 5:17).
To be blessed
under the law was conditional (Deut.28:1-2); such conditions were too hard to
meet. Jesus clearly stated that His mission was not to abolish the law but to
fulfill it. To fulfill means to meet its demands. Jesus has met all the demands
of the law on our behalf. Obeying the law no longer determines our right
relationship with God; but believing in what Jesus has accomplished via His
work of redemption. When Jesus fulfilled the law, He met all the demands of the
law unconditionally. We are no longer bound by the demands/responsibilities of
the law.
Peter said
the forefathers of the Jews could not bear the weight and the yoke the law
placed on them (Acts15:10-11). No wonder Jesus said we should come unto Him all
those struggling under the heavy weight of the Law and we shall find rest in
Him. He said His burden was light and His yoke was easy (Matt.11:28-30).
2. Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the
curse of the law (Gal.3:13)
The curse
includes all the negative consequences that go with failure to meet the demands
of the law. The conditions to be met under the law
before receiving blessings no longer hold. Jesus met all the conditions on our
behalf once and for all.
These curses are 3-fold
1. The curse of death.
2. The curse of poverty.
3. The curse of sickness.
BY:
REV. SONGO WHYTE
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