It is such a wonderful joy to know that He is at work within each one of us.
Colossians 2:11-13 ‘When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised”, but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision – the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ…’
God is continually at work within us cutting away the sinful nature. What is He busy doing within us?
1. Removing our sinful nature.
2. Burying us with Christ.
3. Raising us to new life in Christ.
4. Developing our trust in Him. ‘because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.’
5. Making us alive.
6. Coming to the realisation that this can only happen with Christ. ‘God made you alive WITH CHRIST!’
YOU ARE FORGIVEN
Colossians 2:13 ‘.…for HE forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away….’
It is Jesus Christ who has the power to forgive our sins. His blood was shed for the remission of sins. His death brought with it the forgiveness of sin. Not in a progressive way but in a full and a complete way. It was once and for all. This includes past, present and future sin. This forgiveness is universal in nature – it reaches all sin, original and actual, before and after conversion; sins of thought, word and deed. Only God could do this and it was His prerogative. He chose, through the death of His Son, to give us the gift of forgiveness. Look at what some of the other translations say: ‘Having forgiven us all our trespasses.’ ‘Having forgiven us all our transgressions.’ ‘He forgave us all of our offenses.’ ‘He forgave all our failures.’ Whatever it is, He is ready to forgive us.
THE CROSS HAS THE FINAL SAY
The significance of the cross can never be under-estimated.
Colossians 2:14 ‘….He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.’
Our sin was nailed to the cross with Christ.
Colossians 2:15 ‘And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’
The cross is a picture of great triumph for us. In that instant we went from death to life. From overcome to overcoming. From defeat to victory. From bondage to freedom. Let the cross have the final say in your life. Let your sin be nailed to that cross. May you and I live in triumph, because of the cross!
We need His sustaining presence in our lives. When His presence is a reality in our lives, any doubt will be removed.
John 21:12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, I need You in my life. I need to know and experience Your presence each and every day. May I never try to do my own things, ignoring and thinking that I can do it on my own or without You. May Your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life and may I dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
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