By Ken Fletcher
Many Christians have been taught the great importance of the cross of Christ. They have been told over and over the significance of the cross. The story of the great sacrifice of our Lord has been explained with much emphasis. This part of the gospel of Christ should, of course, have much importance placed upon it. The prominent event that took place on the cross should NEVER lose it’s vitality in our message.
However, so many dear believers, even some who have been saved a long time, are still kneeling, so to speak, at the foot of the cross. It is my intention today to show you what the scriptures reveal as your true place in Christ. Where exactly do you belong?
Positionally speaking, Jesus does not want you to stay near the cross! Yes friend, it is absolutely true that God wants EVERYONE to come to the foot of the cross in order to identify with Jesus’ death. Of course, we should ALWAYS remember and reverence the Lord’s great substitutionary act of love that was displayed upon the cross of Calvary.
It is important to realize as we, by faith, identify with His death, our old man, that was once separated from the life of God, died there too! But, you must understand that it does not stop there. You see, Jesus never intended for any believer to STAY near the cross.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made is sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians. 2:4-6)
Notice, in Ephesians 2:5 it says that, through the great substitutionary work of Jesus, the Holy Spirit “hath quickened us together with Christ…” The mighty Holy Spirit made us alive unto God with the same life and power that raised Jesus from the dead. Not a separate, different power and life, but THE SAME.
Read about your identification with Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:4-5 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection..” Romans 8:10-11 “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Hallelujah!
Ephesians 2:5 The Holy Spirit “…hath quickened us together with Christ…” We “hath” (have already been) “quickened” (made alive) TOGETHER WITH CHRIST! “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17) We are not separate, but unified together in life with Jesus. It happened when we accepted Jesus and confessed Him as our Lord by faith in the completed work of redemption.
Yes, dear one, Jesus went to the cross and died. But, He did not stay there! On the third day, Jesus arose from the dead. It was on that day that you and I arose as well! Glory to God! We came out of that grave WITH HIM, victorious!
You see, we who have been born again are new creatures in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 6:17 and 8:10) WE ACTUALLY PARTAKE OF THE VERY LIFE AND RIGHT STANDING OF OUR LORD. Jesus is the head and we are His body. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) We are one with Him. This was God’s desire all along!
We can see the strong desire of God, for His children to be one with Him, surface throughout the Bible. One of the greatest examples that reveals this deep desire in the heart of our Lord is found in John 17:21-23. Here, Jesus is praying to the Father concerning those of us who would later believe on Him. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Praise the Lord!
Oh, the awesome reality of this fact! It is too glorious for words to convey. Stop and consider, for a few moments, this amazing truth. We are one with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. “…ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16, 18)
Now, I want you to look again closely at this fact stated in Ephesians 2:6. God Himself, “…hath raised us up together, and made us SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” What does it mean to “sit together”? Dear friend, this is a positional term. This is our actual present day position in Jesus Christ.
What a magnificent truth! Think of it. As far as God is concerned, positionally speaking, the born again child of God is actually sitting together with Christ in the heavenlies. Jesus, the head of the church, is in heaven right now and we, His body, are on earth. Yet, we “sit together in the heavenlies.” Praise Jesus forever!
It is a sad fact, though, that most of the body of Christ on the earth today are completely in the dark concerning this truth. You see, if the devil can successfully keep the knowledge of the your rightful place in Christ away from you, it would be impossible for you to take advantage of it. Though it is an absolute fact that you share the Lord’s victory, it cannot benefit you, your loved ones, or anyone else in your world, unless you know about it and act upon what you know. That is exactly why we are spreading the good news about it today!
God wants you to KNOW your position with Him. He wants you to enjoy the sweet fellowship, the rights and privileges, and authority of your position in Christ.
Once you comprehend that you are positionally sitting together in the heavenlies with Christ, things will be different. You will be a tremendous extension of His love toward humanity during your time on the earth! You become a vessel of blessing to people–bringing to them the life giving message of salvation in a greater measure. You begin to see things from a different perspective because your vantage point has changed! Instead of looking up from the bottom, you’re looking down from above! Glory to God!
Knowing and walking in your God-given position means big trouble for the devil. You become extremely dangerous to him. His defeat in your life is certain.
My dear friend, in the light of this marvelous truth of your position and right standing with God, why stay at the place of defeat another moment? COME ON UP! COME ON UP AND TAKE YOUR SEAT! Amen. Things look much different from up here. SIT DOWN! Yes, glory to God, sit down with the Lord. SIT ON DOWN, CHILD OF GOD, IN THE VICTORY SEAT! Hallelujah! God Himself has already ordained you, and raised you up to sit with Jesus Christ in the heavenlies! Glory to God. Praise to the Father forever!
My friend, it is my prayer today that you grasp this vital truth from the Word of God. I believe that your life will never, ever be the same! You will do more for God than you ever thought possible. As a result of living in the light of this truth, heaven will be sweeter, too, because of those that you will have touched in this life. With love, Ken
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