What We Have Become in Christ
In this message we will continue to cover our new position after
being born again. 21.
We Have Become Vessels unto Honor
The Bible says that we are each a vessel made by God to contain His
divine life: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the
excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us" (2 Cor. 4:7).
As human beings we are earthen vessels, but when we were born again
we each received a heavenly treasure. We became vessels unto honor,
because we received the very life of God Himself.
22. We Have Become the Temple of God
Individually we have become vessels unto honor, but corporately we
have become the temple of God: "Do you not know that you are the temple
of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you" (1 Cor. 3:16). In
the Old Testament age God's temple was a physical building in Jerusalem.
But in the New Testament age, God's people are His temple.
23. We Have Become the Members of Christ
We have also become the members of Christ. "For no one has ever hated
his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also
the church, because we are members of His Body" (Eph. 5:29-30).
| "Individually
we
have become vessels unto honor, but corporately we have become
the temple of God."
|
24. We Have Become
Fellow Citizens with the Saints
We saw previously that we have been transferred into God's kingdom.
In God's kingdom there are many fellow citizens, which are all the believers
in Christ. "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household
of God" (Eph. 2:19).
25. We Have Become Members of the Household of God
"So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Eph.
2:19). When we were born again we were born into God's household.
26. We
Have Become God's Masterpiece
Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we
would walk in them." The word "masterpiece" can also be translated "workmanship."
For us to become God's masterpiece requires God to work on us continually.
27. We Have Become the Letters of Christ
By being born again we have become the letters of Christ. This means
that the Lord is writing on us all the time. The apostle Paul said this
clearly: "Since you are being manifested that you are a letter of Christ
ministered by us, inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tablets of stone but in tablets of hearts of flesh"
(2 Cor. 3:3).
28. We Have Become God's Cultivated Land
In our new position we have become God's cultivated land. "For we are
God's fellow workers; you are God's cultivated land, God's building"
(1 Cor. 3:9). We have become God's farm, the ground that He tills and
works on in order for life to grow.
29. We Have Become God's Building
| "God
is
doing something with us all time."
|
"For we are God's
fellow workers; you are God's cultivated land, God's building" (1 Cor.
3:9). God is doing something with us all the time. On one hand God is
tilling us so that His life can grow in us. On the other hand God is
building us together to be His corporate testimony.
30. We Have Become God's Inheritance
The last point concerning our new position is that we have become God's
inheritance. "In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having
been predestinated according to the purpose of the One who works all
things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11). We, the believers,
were designated as God's inheritance. But only when we experience the
previous twenty-nine items of our new position can God's inheritance
be fully realized.
Conclusion - Enjoying Our New Position
We have to
realize that in the moment we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, so
many wonderful things happened to us. Formerly we were in a poor and
hopeless position, but by being born again we migrated from one "country"
to another. We have been transferred into an entirely new position.
Now we can enjoy each of these thirty items that our God has provided
for us.
Back to top
Do you have a question
or comment about this message?
Long version of this message
To
purchase the book Born Again
|
Other
Born Again messages
We
Have Received the Necessity of a New Living (1) - We
were not born again so that we would have to struggle so hard. We
were born again into a living of enjoyment. We can enjoy Christ
as everything to us. He is the Lamb, He is our Friend, He is our
older Brother, He is our Shepherd, He is the Builder, and He is
the Bridegroom!
We Have Received the Necessity of a New Living
(2) - Christ is not only a living person for
us to enjoy, He is also the supply to meet our daily needs. In the
Gospel of John we see that Christ is life to us. He is the bread
of life, the water of life, the light of life, and the word of life.
Then He is also grace, reality, satisfaction, freedom, the resurrection,
and the true vine. The enjoyment of all these riches will supply
us to meet all the needs in our daily life.
We Have Received the Necessity of a New Living
(3)
- We have seen that when we were born again we received the necessity
of a new living. The first aspect, which we have covered, is the
enjoyment of Christ. The second aspect of this new living is that
it is for the Body of Christ and the practical church life. Now
that we are in the Body of Christ, we should realize that the Lord
requires something from us. We should love one another, keep the
oneness, and feed and shepherd the lambs and the sheep. |
|