In todays blog through the writing of Pastor Hoekstra we will find out that Jesus was the promised Israelite Messiah, who was give for mans reconciliation and then was given to us do indwell us as the Messiah or in the Greek, Chris. One of the many secrets or mysteries hidden in GOD by God for our searching and seeking of Him, Who is closer than our own brother.
"Jesus Given for Us to be Given to Us"
"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10)
"As the ultimate free gift of GOD's Grace, Jesus was given for us (dying for our sins): "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). Moreover, He was given for us to be given to us (that He might express His life in and through us). Remember Norman Grubbs stated that we all start out life as Esaus and someplace along the way we are given a choice to remain an Esau or wrestle with GOD as did Jacob to then become Christ-ones, as in receiving Christ Jesus within our restored, renewed soul as born again from above.
We began as enemies (enmity) of God. Certainly, we as well as those of Israelites were lost and condemned. The religious and those of the church world loose sight of this fact. Yet, our situation was even worse than that. Our lives worked against the purposes and plans of GOD: "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1:21). Our evil thoughts and activities set us against the LORD in both mind and deed. The only way that we could become the friends of GOD was for Jesus to be given as a sacrifice for us. "When we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of His Son." The Lord Jesus had to deal with our dual problem of sin and unrighteousness. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2Coritnhians 5:21). The Father graciously placed our sins on His Son that He might give His righteousness to us. For all who would believe in Christ, this brought the precious gift of reconciliation (the turning of enemies into friends).
Even after this rich grace of reconciliation, the LORD had "much more" yet to give us. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." What remained after Jesus being given for us (for our reconciliation) was for Him to be given to us. This is related to Jesus as the Christ, Christ being Spirit, coming to dwell within us that we could be "saved by His life." Why do the friends of Jesus still need to be saved? Well, His followers would be persistently threatened by the world, the flesh, and the devil. They would still be vulnerable to such matters as, temptation, doubt, fear, fruitlessness, distraction, inadequacy, and more. How then would they be saved? This ongoing rescuing work of the LORD would be "by His life" — by Christ Jesus living in and through His people. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Jesus as the Victorious Christ and LORD was not, and is not, susceptible to any of these threatening issues. When He is allowed to express His life in and through us, each of us finds all that we need all of the time. This astounding statement is true, because "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11)." Just as the LORD, Yehovah, Adoni was expressed in many titles, such as Yehovah-Mackidish, Yehovah-Salom.....ect., of need acted to fill the need required for each of His fellows. So He is still active now within and then through those who are One now with Him in agreement.
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