What Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ?

As we have been drawing closer to Resurrection Sunday this year, the Scripture that has been playing and replaying in my mind are Paul’s words to the Galatian church from Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV

Crucified with Christ

On the cross, Jesus sacrificed His life in our place so that we could receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to God.

I am eternally grateful and thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice because without Him, I would still be held captive to sin and darkness and on my way to Hell.

Jesus gave His life up as a payment for the sins of the whole world, but His sacrifice has not been accepted by everyone (John 3:16-18, Matthew 20:28).

However, anyone who acknowledges that they are a sinner, repents, and wholeheartedly receives Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for their sins becomes born-again!

So, Paul’s words, “I have been crucified with Christ,” means that when we make Jesus’ death on the cross personally applicable, the moment we pray the sinner’s prayer, our old sinful spirit is put to death with Christ, thus receiving His sacrifice as payment for our sins.

Christ Lives in Me

Paul goes on to say, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Our old sinful spirit died at the point of salvation, but we are not left with a vacuum. We receive Jesus’ life – eternal life. God gives us a new spirit created after His righteous nature and causes His Holy Spirit to take up permanent residence within our spirits. (1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:9, Ezekiel 36:26).

Who we were before committing to Christ ceases to exist, and we receive a new life with a new identity rooted and built on the foundation of Christ Jesus.

Jesus died before He was resurrected. The same is true for us. Our old self died, and a new person in Christ is resurrected to live a life that pleases God, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

My old stubborn, rebellious, low self-esteem-ridden self no longer lives. That person died when the new and true me met Jesus.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Living by Faith

Paul continues by saying, “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.”

As born-again believers, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, lives in us and is forever available to empower and help us. However, we do have a part to play in whether we consistently live in a Christlike manner.

Even though we are new creatures and Christ lives in us, we are not robots. We still have free will and the capacity to decide if we will choose to live like Christ or choose our natural selfish tendencies, referred to as the “flesh” in the New Testament.

The flesh is a mindset—a way of thinking, feeling, and behavior that opposes the Spirit and the Word of God.

As we yield to Christ through faith, we learn to say “no” to the flesh and “yes” to the Spirit so that we can reflect His glory to the world around us.

We cannot do this on our own strength or willpower but by faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, which remains effective as we stay rooted in the Word of God and prayer.

Crucifying the Flesh By Faith

By faith, we trust and believe in Jesus to help us no longer think, believe, behave, and act based on the world’s standards or our former experiences and attitudes before Christ.

By faith in Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin and the pull of sinful desires. We refuse to allow worldly convictions and the attitudes we indulged before Christ to rule over us.

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 NIV

This means that we must surrender wholeheartedly and align ourselves and our desires with the truth of the Word. But if we constantly go against the grain of the Word, we stifle the work of Spirit.

By faith, we become free to express our new identity in Christ fully. We become willing and obedient to take up our cross daily, die to our selfishness, and follow wherever Jesus leads us (Matthew 16:24).

Embracing Perseverance as We Crucify the Flesh

By faith, we persevere because dying to self is not a one-day-and-done experience. It is a daily and sometimes moment-by-moment choice to sacrifice our needs, wants, and desires in favor of Christ. Dying to self takes time, especially in areas where we were previously conditioned to behave contrary to God’s will. Just like Jesus suffered pain as He hung on the cross, dying to self can be sacrificial and painful.

We will still face temptations, and we may need to resist for a long time. But as we consistently yield to God in the areas we are tempted, the pressure lessens until we become dead and non-reactive. Similar to how a dead man does not respond to any stimuli.

And, as we gain victory in one area, the Lord may reveal another thought pattern or attitude that we need to surrender to Him.

If we find that we do sin, it causes us great discomfort in our souls because sin no longer has mastery over us. Because we are “crucified with Christ,” we identify with Christ’s death on the cross in such a way that it profoundly impacts our lives.

Motivated by the Love of Christ

Going back to Paul’s statement in Galatians 2:20, we see that Paul was motivated by the love of Christ.

“…The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20b NIV

In context, Paul wrote this letter to the Galatian church because they were departing from faith in Christ and relying on the law for righteousness. They were losing sight of the love Jesus demonstrated by sacrificing His life on the cross.

We may or may not be tempted by legalism. But we must guard ourselves against anything that detracts us from living by faith motivated by the love of Christ displayed on the cross of Calvary.

Because Jesus died on the cross and resurrected on the third day, we must reckon ourselves as dead to sin and alive to righteousness. Sin no longer has dominion over us, so let’s resolve to stay on the side of righteousness.

Personal Experience

Personally, God is bringing this Scripture alive to me in the area of relating with difficult people. The re- re- re- repeat offenders who trip me up emotionally.

Before I gave my life to Christ, I had no qualms with cutting people off and erecting high walls of defense to protect myself.

But being crucified with Christ and living by faith in the love of Christ calls for a different approach. I can choose to continue to erect fortresses of frustration and offense, or I can choose love.

So, I bring these relationships to Christ. I ask and continue to ask for His help and power to overlook offenses, confront when necessary, and live as a peacemaker.

Questions for Reflection

• What aspects of your life from before Christ are you still holding on to?
• What attitudes or thought patterns do you need to bring to the cross for crucifixion?

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for the cross of Jesus Christ through which You have brought me from death to life.

I pray that through the Holy Spirit, the power and blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ will be evident in my life. Help me to walk by faith and yield completely to Christ even if it means suffering for Him. May I be a vessel through which the people in my world encounter Your love. In Jesus name, Amen!

10 Scriptures to Meditate on

^“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Matthew 16:24-26 NIV

 

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:24-26 NIV

 

”For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.“ Romans 6:6-7 NIV

 

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13 NIV

 

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV

 

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 NIV

 

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:9-12 NIV

 

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2 ESV

 

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:10-12 NIV

 

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:5 NIV

Footnotes

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To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© What Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ? Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

The post What Does it Mean to be Crucified with Christ? appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

Jesus: A Reflection on God’s Gift of Salvation

A couple of years ago, Asheritah Cuicui introduced me to studying the names of Jesus through her devotional, “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus.” I have come to learn more about who Jesus Christ is and who I am in Him as I have spent time meditating on His many names/titles.

Each name of Jesus Christ gives us insight into His nature, character, attributes, and personality. As we get to know Him more, we can worship Him with awe and fellowship more intimately with Him.

Click on the links below to read two articles I previously wrote on the names of Jesus.

1. Reflecting on the Meaning of Immanuel: God with Us
2. Three Names of Jesus: Devotionals

This Christmas, the name that I am focusing on is…

Drum roll, please!!

JESUS

The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “the LORD is salvation.” [Strong’s Hebrew 3091]

The English version of Yeshua is Joshua. However, as English speakers, we refer to our Lord as Jesus, not Joshua, because we read the English translation of the New Testament, which was originally written in Greek.

Jesus is the English version of Iēsoús, which is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua (short form of Yehoshua).

Therefore, the names Jesus and Joshua are essentially the same name, as they are both derived from Yeshua. [Strong’s 2424]

Everyone Needs Jesus

When the angel of the Lord visited Joseph in a dream to tell him that Mary had become pregnant through the Holy Spirit, he said,

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NIV

The name Jesus is a direct revelation of His purpose in leaving Heaven to come to earth. Jesus came to save us from the penalty and consequences of sin and reconcile us to a peaceful relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:18).

If you are unfamiliar with the gospel message, you may wonder why we humans need Jesus to be saved.

The Bad News

The bad news is that all of us, without exception, came into this world with a common problem— we were all born as sinners (Ephesians 2:1-3). Adam sinned against God in the beginning, and since we all descended from him, we all inherited his sinful nature (Romans 5:12;3:23).

God is infinitely holy, and sin separates us from Him. Similar to how a human Judge determines if people are guilty of their offenses and sentences them accordingly, God does not overlook our sins. The Bible states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). In plain words, God’s verdict for sin is that those who remain in their sinful state will forever remain separated from God and spend eternity in Hell.

Now, the Good News

The gospel, aka the good news, is that although we deserved death because of our sins, God in His mercy, provided a substitute – Jesus. Jesus took our punishment, died in our place, and, in exchange, gave us His life – eternal life.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, which means that it is completely and totally unmerited. We do not become saved based on how good we are, nor do we earn eternal life because we give to the poor or come from a family that identifies as Christian.

Ephesians 2:8-9 puts it this way, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

In John 3: 16-18, Jesus Himself said that He came to save and not condemn the world. His salvation is an all-inclusive and open invitation for whoever, wherever. However, His invitation requires a response and is not to be ignored.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3: 16-18

Receiving God’s Gift of Salvation

Salvation is a gift available to everyone; however, only those who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ receive, open, and enjoy the gift. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).

The gospel is the good news that shows everyone the only Way to God, and His name is Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). But, to receive salvation, everyone must at some point in their life acknowledge that they are a sinner who needs Jesus. If you are reading this and are not sure if you are saved, I invite you to pause right here and receive the best gift ever – eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Romans 10:9 states, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You can pray in your own words or use the prayer below as a guide.

Father, I ask You to forgive me of my sins. Specifically, I repent for rejecting Jesus as my Savior. Today, I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I wholeheartedly believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead to give me eternal life. I lay my life down, and I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I commit to follow Jesus and obey Him all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Enjoying the Complete Salvation Package

It is crucial to understand that God’s gift of salvation continues to have a profound impact on our lives here on earth after we receive the forgiveness of our sins.

Being saved and becoming a child of God is a one-time experience, but appropriating and enjoying God’s gift of salvation is an ongoing process.

In Ephesians 2:10 and Titus 3:5, Paul states that it is by God’s grace and mercy that we are saved. This shows us that we are saved completely and perfectly when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. However, in 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul tells us that the message of the cross makes the power of God manifest in the lives of those who are “being saved.”

“Being saved” is in the present continuous tense, showing that Christ’s perfect salvation continues to have an ongoing impact on our lives.

To understand the full implications of salvation, it helps to do a word study on a Greek word that is used multiple times in the New Testament.

The Greek word defined as “to save” in the New Testament is sozo. Sozo is an umbrella word that encompasses salvation, healing, preservation, and deliverance (Strong’s Greek 4982).

Here are five examples of the use of sozo in the New Testament

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save (sozo) his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed (sozo) you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34 (The woman who had the issue of blood)

“Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured (sozo).” Luke 8:36 (the demon-possessed man restored)

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed (sozo).” Luke 8:50 NIV (Jairus’ daughter raised from the dead.)

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved (sozo) it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

All these references show us that the salvation Jesus provided on the cross for us is truly all-encompassing.

Chizobam Means God Saves Me

My name is Chizobam. (Just in case you haven’t read my “About Me” page.)

Chizobam is an Igbo name (from Nigeria) that means God saves me in the present continuous tense.

I grew up going to church but did not get saved until I was a young adult after surviving what I typically describe as a tumultuous and chaotic teenage existence.

At the point of my salvation, my sins were completely forgiven, and I received a brand-new life in Christ Jesus.

Because I am now saved, the power of God continues to work in my life through the Holy Spirit. God’s saving grace empowers me to live daily as a Christian and walk in obedience to God as I am continuously transformed and changed in my thinking, attitudes, mannerisms, and actions to be more and more like Christ.

Because I am saved, I can depend on God to deliver me from the mental and emotional traps that the devil positions in my path.

And because I am saved, I call on God in sickness and trust in Him as my Great Physician and Healer.

And I trust in Jesus’ complete and perfect gift of salvation for every aspect of my life until I see Him face to face and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

In Conclusion

Salvation refers to every blessing, grace, mercy, and provision we receive through Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

God gave us the perfect gift of all time, and His name is Jesus Christ!!

If you are yet to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, this Christmas is the appointed time to receive this gift!

Footnotes

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Jesus: A Reflection on God’s Gift of Salvation. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

The post Jesus: A Reflection on God’s Gift of Salvation appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV (Emphasis, mine)

My word for 2023 is PEACE.

2022 came with a lot of challenges that relentlessly tested my peace. Therefore, this year, I am digging my heels into the Word of God and inviting the Holy Spirit to teach me how to prioritize and practice the peace of Christ (even when life throws me multiple curve balls all at once).

As you may know, a lot of the articles on this website are borne out of what God is teaching me in different seasons of my life. This one is no exception. I write to keep myself focused on the Word. So, I invite you to join me in studying the Word on how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us, His followers to receive and enjoy His gift of peace.

Grab your Bibles and study the Word with me!

What is Peace?

The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines peace as “the state of harmony that is available to believers through having a right relationship with God and others and is especially associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit.”¹

Peace implies much more than the absence of conflict. One of the definitions of peace from Dictionary.com is “freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity.”

The Hebrew word translated as peace in the Old Testament is shalom, which means completeness, soundness, welfare, peace. ² While the Greek word translated as peace in the New Testament is eiréné, defined as one, peace, quietness, rest. ³

To help us get a fuller picture of what peace is, I have included some synonyms and antonyms below.

Peace Stealers

Here are ten things that can steal our peace (if we let them).

1. Sin
2. Fear, anxiety, and worry
3. Strife and unforgiveness
4. Discontentment and comparison
5. Busyness, feeling overwhelmed, and hurried
6. Too much information
7. Obligations and work-related stressors
8. Health problems
9. Low self-esteem/ identity issues
10. Perfectionism, which can be a sign of self-absorption and self-centeredness

The Quest for Peace

Sometimes we may depend on the wrong things for peace. Some people may search for peace through relationships, career advancement, money, sex, vacations, or even drugs and alcohol. Not everything I listed is inherently bad. However, none of them will give us true, consistent, and lasting peace.

Everyone’s search for peace ends when they realize that peace is a Person and His name is Jesus Christ.

So, how can we find and consistently enjoy true, lasting peace that comes only through Jesus Christ?

The first step is to make peace with God by acknowledging, receiving, and identifying with everything Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.

Jesus Exchanged our Punishment for His Peace

In the beginning, God created humans in His image so that He could enjoy close, intimate fellowship with us (Genesis 1:27;3:8-9). But sin came into the world through the first man, Adam (Genesis 3:6). Every single one of us descended from Adam and inherited the sin nature from him. We were all born into this world, as sinners, with no exceptions (Romans 5:12;3:23).

God is holy; therefore, our sin created a wide chasm between Him and us (Isaiah 59:2). Because of sin, we deserved punishment from God and eternal separation from Him (Romans 6:23). God, being a just God, (Psalm 89:14) could not overlook our sin, but He is also merciful and compassionate (Psalm 145:8-9). So, He sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross in our place to satisfy the justice we deserved (1 Peter 3:18).

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV (Emphasis, mine)

On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself, the punishment that was due us because of our sins. He completely identified with us to the extent that He took everything bad that rightfully belonged to us upon Himself and gave us what rightly belonged to Him.

It was a glorious exchange indeed!

Peace With God

Romans 5: 1 says that “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus took our punishment, and in exchange, gave us His peace by reconciling us to a peaceful relationship with God.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are no longer in conflict with God because of sin. Jesus bore the full weight of our sins so that we can enjoy a peaceful relationship with God. We are justified through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This means that we are acquitted and no longer guilty in God’s sight. God treats us just as if we have never sinned.

Personal Testimony

I grew up going to Church but did not put my faith in Jesus Christ until I was a young adult. People had presented the Gospel to me innumerable times, but I was deceived into thinking that being a Christian was too difficult and impossible. I thought I had to depend on self-will to live holy, and since I didn’t have much self-will at the time, I stayed in my sins way too long.

I clearly remember that I used to have recurrent nightmares about the second coming of Jesus Christ. In my dreams, the sky would transform, the stars and sun will change color, and I would start panicking and begging God for mercy. I obviously had no peace with God because I had not put my faith in Jesus Christ as the only Way to Him (Acts 4:12). Once I accepted Christ, I received the gift of peace with God, and the “left behind” rapture nightmares ended.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 NIV

Now that I have peace with God, I no longer have a sense of doom. I am not afraid or ashamed to come into His presence to worship Him, speak to Him, spend time with Him, and receive His grace (Hebrews 4:16).

Peace Within Ourselves and PEACE With Others

The peace that Jesus brings is not restricted to our relationship with God. Through Jesus, we can also experience peaceful relationships with one another, and be at peace within ourselves, irrespective of our circumstances. This will be the topic of my next article on peace.

I invite you to sign up for my newsletter so that you do not miss it.

Next Steps

Here are two statements of faith to commit to memory and meditate on consistently.

1. Jesus took the punishment I deserved and gave me His peace.
2. I have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

If you are not yet a follower of Christ, I invite you to join me in being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. You can pray directly to God or use the prayer below as a template.

Father, I ask You to forgive me of my sins. Specifically, I repent for rejecting Jesus as my Savior. Today, I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I wholeheartedly believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead to give me eternal life. I lay my life down, and I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I pray that You fill me with Your Spirit and empower me to live in peace and follow Jesus all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Until next time….

Chizobam Idahosa

References

1. Manser, M. H. (2009).
   Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies

   . London: Martin Manser.

2. Strong’s Hebrew 7965 https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7965.htm
3. Strong’s Greek 1515 https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Peace with God through the Cross. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, or adapted, without the prior written consent of Chizobam Idahosa, the author, unless otherwise indicated.

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Since I was a kid, I have always looked forward to Christmas with excitement and anticipation. When I was a young girl in Nigeria, I looked forward to my puffy Christmas dress and spending time with my hoard of cousins in the village. As a grown-up, I still enjoy some Christmas traditions annually. Every Christmas season, I listen to Christmas songs on the radio, go out to see lights, open gifts on Christmas morning, and listen to my kids play carols on the piano. But I have learned that none of these activities focus on Jesus Christ.

A couple of years ago, Asheritah Cuicui introduced me to studying the names of Jesus through her devotional, “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus.” I have come to learn more about who Jesus Christ is and who I am in Him as I have spent time meditating on His many names/titles. Each name of Jesus Christ gives us insight into His nature and character. As we get to know Him more, we can worship Him with awe and fellowship more intimately with Him.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, I invite you to study the names of Jesus with me. I have shared three of His names in this article as short devotionals. To read an earlier article that I wrote titled “Reflecting on the Meaning of Immanuel: God with Us,” click HERE.

I pray that God will give you wisdom and revelation so that you may know Christ and live fully for Him.

Merry Christmas!!

Prince of Peace

The Hebrew word translated as peace is shalom, and according to Strong’s concordance means completeness, soundness, and welfare.

Jesus is our Peace with God

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 NIV

Because of our sins, we were enemies of God and separated from Him (Ephesians 2:13). But Jesus restored our relationship when He took on our sins and died the death we deserved on the cross. Jesus reconciled us to a peaceful, intimate, wholesome relationship with God (Romans 5:1,10; Colossians 1:19-20). Now we are joined to God and can fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3). Sin (and its consequences) has lost its hold on us.

Jesus is our Peace with others

Because we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in peace with others, have fellowship with one another, and live in unity (Ephesians 4:3).  He empowers us to be peacemakers with our neighbors, friends, and foes (James 3:18).

Jesus is our Peace within

In Him, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). He makes us whole and complete, just like Himself (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).  When trials come to test our faith, His peace comforts and strengthens us. His peace is not temporary or fleeting. It goes beyond our emotions and does not depend on our circumstances (John 16:33).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

Thank you, Lord, for being my Peace!

Prayer

Father, we thank You for reconciling us to You through Your Son, Jesus, our Prince of Peace. As we continue to exercise faith in Your word, empower us even more, to pursue peace in all our relationships. Help us embrace Your peace daily, even through the trials of life, so that we will be continually comforted and strengthened by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Light of the World

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 NIV

Light is synonymous with eternal life, holiness, truth, goodness, freedom, and wholeness. On the other hand, darkness symbolizes spiritual deadness, sin, evil, falsehood, captivity, and fear.

Before we came to Christ by putting our faith in Him as the Lord of our lives, we were in darkness. Having received the life of Christ, we are now children of light (Ephesians 5:8-9).

The light of Jesus frees us from sin and all its consequences. As we follow Jesus by abiding in His Word and obeying Him, the light of His Word guides our path and frees us from confusion and the traps of the enemy. His light exposes our self-centeredness and ungodly motives and directs us to repentance and holiness.

When we encounter people living in darkness, Jesus’ light reflects through us to attract them into His kingdom. Our good deeds shine for all to see as we yield to the Holy Spirit and walk in love.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for Your light that has freed us from sin. May Your light shine into the hidden recesses of our hearts and expose all areas of darkness in our minds, emotions, and attitudes. Use us as vessels to shine Your light for others to come to You and receive Your eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Lion of Judah

Lion of the Tribe of Judah is one of Jesus’ Messianic titles. In my language, Igbo, we praise Him as “Agu n’eche mba.”

Judah was one of the 12 sons of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (also called Israel). When Jacob was dying, he blessed Judah and referred to him as a lion’s cub and lion. Jacob prophesied over Judah that he would overcome his enemies and the scepter of kingship would never depart from him (Genesis 49: 8-10).

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” – Genesis 49: 8-10 NIV

The tribe of Judah went on to produce kings, including David. Jesus descended from the family line of Judah and David and is also known as the Root and Son of David.

Jesus as a Lion

When I think about a lion, multiple words and phrases flash through my mind, including:

• King of the Jungle
• Powerful
• Stately
• Authoritative
• Fierce
• Devours

Lions are fierce and fearful. When they roar, all enemies scatter. But on the flip side, lions are protective of their family/pride, who rely on them for safety.

Multiple Scriptures describe God as a lion who roars in power against the wicked but defends those who trust in Him. (See Joel 3:16; Jeremiah 25:30-31; Isaiah 31:4.)

Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Like a lion, He is all-powerful, yet He humbled Himself, and “like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7), He died on the cross, shed His blood, and resurrected in victory against the devil, sin, and death.

Jacob’s blessing was a Messianic prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ as the descendant of Judah who will reign forever.

Jesus will come back to rule the world. The scepter refers to authority, which will never depart from Jesus. He will destroy Satan, judge the nations, and rule for eternity. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and every knee will bow before Him (Revelation 19:16).

Prayer

Jesus, we worship, adore, and praise You, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We ask that You forgive us for the times we have trivialized Your power and authority and have not feared You as we should. Thank You so much for protecting and defending us from the traps of the enemy and for being so good to us.

Jesus, we will be forever grateful for Your Spirit that You have given us as a gift. Remind us when we are doubtful and fearful that You dwell in us by Your Spirit. Therefore, when we open our mouths to speak, You roar through us to bring things in conformity to Your (not our) will. AMEN!!

I am grateful to my friend, Rebecca, for her contribution to the section on Prince of Peace.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Three Names of Jesus: Devotionals. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

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The Cross and Healing

In the weeks leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I have been reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how it impacts my daily walk as His follower.

We were all born into this world as sinners because we descended naturally from Adam (Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22), whose sin produced multiple consequences, including death and sickness.

The penalty we deserve from God for our sins is death (Romans 6:23). But God loved us so much that out of His abundance of grace and mercy, He gave Jesus as a gift to save us from sin (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2).

When Jesus died on the cross, He willingly gave Himself up, paying the debt we owed because of our sins. The core of Jesus’ sacrifice is that He took our punishment upon Himself. Through the power of His shed blood, God forgave our sins and delivered us from the devil’s dominion. (See Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:5.) Jesus took our sin upon Himself and, in exchange, bestowed His holiness and righteousness on us (Hebrews 10:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He died on our behalf so that we may enjoy His eternal life (John 3:16).

With forgiveness of sins taken care of, the way opened for deliverance from all other consequences of sin. The rest of this post addresses one specific consequence of sin, which Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid for – that is, physical illness.

On the Cross, Jesus Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:13-14

Jesus was made a curse by hanging on the cross. We were the ones who deserved the curse, but He took our curse on Himself and exchanged it for all His blessings.

Deuteronomy 28 gives us multiple examples of the curse of the law, which God warned the Israelites that they would endure if they disobeyed the law. See Deuteronomy 28 verses 21 to 28, 35, 59-61 and notice that sickness and disease were listed as part of the curse.

“The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.” Deuteronomy 28:61

Under the Old Covenant, God did smite people with sickness as an act of His judgment, but He never used sickness as a tool to reveal Himself to His people. However, under the New Covenant, Christ has redeemed us who believe in Him from the curse of the law. His redemption covers everything associated with the curse – including mental and physical illness.

Next, let’s look at Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus’ suffering on the cross documented in Isaiah 53.

Jesus Provided Healing on the Cross

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

On the cross, Jesus took care of our spiritual needs – forgiveness of sins, and He also paid the price for our physical needs – healing.

The word “pain” in Isaiah 53:4 is the Hebrew word choli. Using the free online tool, Biblehub, choli is defined as sickness (Strong’s 2483). This same Hebrew word occurred multiple times in the Old Testament in contexts related to physical sickness. Specifically, this same word is used in the two Scriptures below.

“the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.” Deuteronomy 28:59

 

“The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.” Deuteronomy 28:61

The words “illnesses” and “sicknesses” from Deuteronomy 28 refer to the same term used in Isaiah 53:4 for pain.

The word “suffering” in Isaiah 53:4 is the Hebrew word makob (Strong’s 4341). Still using Biblehub, makob is defined as pain, (physical and mental) and sorrow and is used in many contexts in the Old Testament to depict both physical and mental pain.

The AMPC Translation of Isaiah 53:4-5 brings this out more clearly

^” Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” Isaiah 53:4-5 AMPC

Jesus took care of both our spiritual and physical needs.

He bore our sins and gifted us His righteousness, and our bodies are healed by His wounds. Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus shows how closely forgiveness and healing are related. This relationship between forgiveness and physical healing is also expressed in Psalm 103:2-3.

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”

New Testament References

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people at Peter’s house. Matthew, who documented the miracles, commented that the healings took place to confirm Isaiah’s prophesy about Jesus.

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17

Peter also referenced Isaiah 53 and applied it to Jesus.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter: 2:24

The Greek word used for “healed” in 1 Peter 2:24 is defined as “To heal, generally of the physical, sometimes of spiritual, disease.” (https://biblehub.com/strongs/1_peter/2-24.htm)

It gives me great confidence to know that Jesus covered all the bases on the cross – including my physical needs.

Healing is Part of Salvation

The Greek word defined as “to save” in the New Testament is sozo. Sozo is an umbrella word that encompasses salvation, healing, preservation, and deliverance (Strong’s Greek 4982).

Here are five examples of the use of sozo in the New Testament.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved (sozo) it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (sozo).” Acts 4:12

 

“He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed (sozo) you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34 (The woman who had the issue of blood)

 

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed (sozo) you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” Mark 10:52 NIV (Blind Bartimaeus received his sight.)

 

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed (sozo).” Luke 8:50 NIV (Jairus’ daughter raised from the dead.)

All these references show me that the salvation Jesus provided on the cross for us is truly all-encompassing.

These benefits did not only apply to the people to whom Jesus ministered to Himself. They did not end when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross opened the way for us, His followers, to receive everything He came to earth to accomplish. He sent the Holy Spirit to ensure that His work continues.

Just before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples (and, by extension, us) to drive out demons and heal the sick.

Jesus’ Final Instructions

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (sozo), but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18

PERSONAL Application 

Believe that Jesus provided healing at the cross

My first step in appropriating what Jesus accomplished on the cross is to believe and receive it wholeheartedly. I have chosen to put my faith in everything that the grace of God has provided for me, and I acknowledge and accept every single blessing Jesus bestowed on me through His death, burial, and resurrection. It is with the same faith that I believe and receive salvation for my sins that I also receive healing as a gift of grace.

Renew my Mind and Speak the Word regarding healing

When sickness knocks, I answer it with God’s Word. I resist the temptation to accept sickness with wide-open arms, and I endeavor to renew my mind with the Word of God. To achieve this, I locate Scriptures about healing, and I listen and speak them over myself consistently.

Pray

God has given us the privilege to come into His throne room to ask Him for whatever we need (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus was God’s will in action. While on earth, He demonstrated that it is God’s will to heal the sick. So, I pray when I am ill and trust God for healing (1 John 5:14-15). James also recommends that we call our church elders to pray over us.

 ^“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15

Resist sickness

If I have symptoms in my body, I don’t deny them or pretend they do not exist. But by the same token, I don’t live by sight and allow myself to be ruled by sickness. Instead, I exercise faith in the powerful promises of God’s Word regarding healing.

I acknowledge that since we live in a fallen world, we will not all walk in divine health on this side of eternity all the time. The New Testament gives accounts of disciples of Jesus Christ who experienced physical ailments – Trophimus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. (See 1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20; Philippians 2:25-27.)

However, there is no documentation that their sicknesses were blessings from God. Sickness is not a gift from God. Therefore, I resist everything that the devil has his hands in. Irrespective of my symptoms, even in the face of a long-standing diagnosis, my response remains to resist sickness with the Word of God.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38

 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Conclusion

My conclusion is simple. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, let us praise Him, and let us not discount any of His benefits— “He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3). Let us rest in His promises and leave the results to Him.

Our ultimate prize is that our natural bodies will be transformed into Christ’s glorious body, and we shall see Him face to face and spend eternity with Him (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21).

Now, that’s a prize worth looking forward to!!

Until next time …

Chizobam Idahosa

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Except where indicated, Scriptures are from the NIV.

© The Cross and Healing: A Bible Study. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

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In preparing to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, I decided to dig into the Word with the intent to study and meditate on Scriptures focusing on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On that note, this post addresses 2 key questions,

1. What is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
2. What does it mean to live the resurrected life?

This article is not exhaustive. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to pick your Bible and do a personal study on the topic.

As you read through my article and study the Word, my prayer for you (and also, me) is that we would know Christ more intimately, experience the power of His resurrection, and be willing to participate in suffering for Him (Philippians 3:10-11). Amen!

What is the Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?

1. The Resurrection Proves that Jesus is the Messiah

Jesus was not a mere human being. He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, showcasing Him as the one true Messiah (Romans 1:4). He told His disciples multiple times before He was crucified that He would die and rise again (Matthew 12:40; John 2:19). There is no other person in history who openly declared that He had the power to rise from the dead and kept his promise. Jesus is the only one who has ever done that and will ever do so.

His Physical Body Resurrected

After Jesus rose from the dead, He was seen at various times by multiple reliable witnesses. Apostle Paul records that more than 500 of His followers saw Him at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6-7).

He did not appear in the form of a ghost or a phantom. It was His same body that died and was buried that was resurrected by the power of God. To prove this point, He invited His disciples to touch and feel Him when He appeared to them (Luke 24:36-39; John 20:27). He even ate with them (Luke 24:41-43).

Out of His love for them, Jesus took the time to explain the significance of His resurrection to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.

“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:44-47

2. Our Christian Faith Hinges on the Resurrection

The Gospel or Good News is based on three crucial experiences of Jesus: His death, burial, and resurrection. Without these three core experiences, there is no Gospel message and no Christianity. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central and of “first importance” to our Christian faith.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, we are all wasting our time, believing in vain and spreading fables (2 Peter 1:16).

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-15

3. Our Salvation is Dependent on Jesus’ Resurrection

By His resurrection, Jesus proved victorious over sin, its power, and all its consequences. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, we would still be held captive to sin (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The requirement for receiving salvation involves openly declaring Jesus as Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).  Therefore, anyone who does not believe in the resurrection cannot be saved and is not a Christian.

The resurrection is crucial to our new birth experience into the family of God. From a spiritual standpoint,  our born-again experience is such that when Jesus died on the cross, we also died with Him. Our sinful nature was crucified on the cross with Jesus. When He rose, we rose with Him as new creatures empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for God. Sin no longer has dominion over us. (See Romans 6:2-4; Colossians 2:12-14.)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3

4. Our Justification is Dependent on Jesus’ Resurrection

We are justified, declared righteous, “not guilty” by God. The simple definition of justification is that God credits Jesus’ righteousness to the accounts of those who believe in Him. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God treats us “just as if we had never sinned.”

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:25

5. Jesus Resurrected to take His blood into the Throne Room of Heaven

God ordained that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

Jesus died and shed His blood on the cross for our sins. After resurrecting, He took His blood into the Holy of Holies and offered it once and for all to God, thereby paying for the penalty of our sins.

“He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12

6. Jesus Resurrected to Give Us Eternal Life

By His resurrection, Jesus showcased His victory over death (Acts 2:24; Revelation 1:18). He is the author of life. No one took His life from Him. He voluntarily laid it down and picked it up again (John 10:18).

Death came into this world and to all men through Adam when he chose to sin against God. Sin brought death as its consequence (Romans 6:23). But Jesus came, lived among us, died on the cross, shed His blood for us, was buried and resurrected that we may have and enjoy His life (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). He defeated death and gave us His eternal life (John 10:10).

Eternal life is the God-kind of life. It refers to both the quality and quantity of life enjoyed by those who believe in Jesus Christ. Eternal life begins at salvation and continues for eternity.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25

 

7. The Promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit would not have come if Christ did not resurrect. While on earth, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit. If He did not rise from the dead, He would not have been able to keep this all-important promise.

Jesus, while speaking to His disciples before His crucifixion, said, “very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

Jesus made it clear that He would not send the Holy Spirit until after His resurrection.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:38-39

8. Because of His Resurrection, Jesus Forever Lives to Intercede for Us

Because Jesus is alive, He remains our High Priest who intercedes for us at the right hand of God. Through Him, we enjoy direct access to God. No more sacrifices are needed to be offered for our sins.

“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

9. Because Jesus Resurrected, We Will Also Resurrect

We have God’s promise that because we are in Christ, God will transform our mortal bodies into immortal ones. Just like Jesus resurrected in a glorified body, we too will be resurrected to receive a body just like His (1 John 3:2). Therefore, as Christians, we do not mourn and grieve over our lost ones as though we have lost them forever. God has promised to unite us with them in His presence.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14

10. His Resurrection is Proof of His Coming Judgement

Christ’s resurrection is a clear warning to us that God will keep His promise of judging the world according to His righteousness.

“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

What Does it Mean to Live the Resurrected Life?

Because we are in Christ, we 100% share in His victory. We can now live the Christian life because the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is permanently resident within us.

“and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:19-21

As those who have received the power of Christ’s resurrection, we must choose to run our race with purpose, live with eternity in mind, and remain intentional about witnessing for Christ. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ who died for us and was raised to life (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Like the apostles who yielded to their calling, our primary assignment in life is to be witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:15). The author of life gave Himself for us that we may enjoy His life to overflow. We shouldn’t keep such Good News to ourselves.

Conclusion

As believers, it is our responsibility to share the message of the cross. The best place to start is with those who are in our immediate environment, our family, friends, co-workers. So, commit to starting today.

If you have read this far and know that you do not have the power of the resurrection in you, I am inviting you to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.

You can pray in your own words or use the prayer below as a guide.

Father, I ask You to forgive me of my sins. Specifically, I repent for rejecting Jesus as my Savior. Today, I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I wholeheartedly believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead to give me eternal life. I lay my life down, and I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I commit to follow Jesus and obey Him all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

Photos by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash and Pisit Heng on Unsplash.

© 2021. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus.

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To prepare my heart for Christmas this year, I decided to host a virtual Bible Study based on a devotional, which I highly recommend; “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus” by Asheritah Ciuciu.

I spent three sessions, each lasting two hours, with a group of wonderful ladies as we studied the names of Jesus and focused our attention on Him and away from life’s distractions. The purpose of today’s post, inspired by Asheritah’s devotional, is to wish you a very Merry Christmas and share my reflection on the name of Jesus, which impacted me the most during our Bible study; Immanuel.

Why are the Names of Jesus Important?

The names of Jesus reflect who He is.

Since our chief aim is to praise and glorify God, as we get to know Jesus more intimately, we can praise and worship Him more richly and deeper (see Isaiah 43:7; 1 Peter 2:9).

The names of Jesus also reflect who we are in Him.

Our identity and purpose stem from who we are in Christ. Therefore, as we dive deeper into our knowledge and revelation of who He is, we are better equipped to fulfill the call He has placed on our lives.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord  Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV

Unlimited, immeasurable power and authority are in the name of Jesus.

No authority in Heaven or earth surpasses the authority in the name of Jesus.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is  above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven  and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus  Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

 

Jesus has sent us out into the world and delegated His authority to us in His name.

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive  out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their  hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will  place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 NIV

We pray and make requests of God in the name of Jesus.

In His own words, Jesus promised that God would give us what we ask for in His name.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the  Father will give you.” John 15:16 NIV

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:23-24 NIV

See also Matthew 18:19-20 and John 14:12-14.

So now that we have discussed the importance of the names of Jesus, let’s reflect on the meaning and significance of Immanuel: God with us.

Immanuel: God with us

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give  birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 NIV

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”  (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 NIV

Immanuel means God with us.

God created us in His image so that we can relate intimately and enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him. Sin came into the world through Adam, and all of mankind inherited his sinful nature (Romans 5:12). Since God is a holy and pure God, our sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2).

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God promised to send the Seed of the woman (Jesus) into the world to win victory over the devil, sin, and its consequences (Genesis 3:14-15). With the power of sin broken, we would be reconciled to a peaceful and wholesome relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Jesus came into the world fully God and yet, fully human so that He could represent us before God and bring us back into a relationship with Him (Hebrews 2:14). He is the Son of God, but He is no less God. There are multiple Scriptures in the Bible which testify to the truth that Jesus is God. (See Isaiah 9:6; John 1:18; 14:9; 10:30; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15)

As a result of His virgin birth through the Holy Spirit, He did not receive Adam’s sinful nature (Matthew 1:18). Jesus came face to face with the same temptations we experience but did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22).

Jesus is our perfect representation before God because He has walked in our shoes. While on earth, He slept (Mark 4:38), ate (Matthew 9:10), was hungry (Mark 11:12), cried (John 11:35), was angry (John 2:13-17), and experienced deep sorrow (Matthew 26:37-38; John13:21).

He was the perfect sacrifice who died in our place. Jesus completely fulfilled His mission of shedding His blood, dying on the cross, and resurrecting from the dead to give us eternal life (Romans 3:23-24; 6:23).

Immanuel: God with Us is also Christ in Us

Before He died on the cross, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to help and empower us to live for Him (John 14:16). Just as the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Scriptures also refer to Him as the Spirit of Christ, which reflects the unity of the Trinity.

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 NIV

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

So, my brothers and sisters, we are not orphans. We are children of God who loves us so much that He was willing to step down from Heaven to walk on this earth in human flesh among humans to restore His relationship with us, which was broken by sin (John 3:16-17).

Immanuel experienced life as a human. He knows us intimately, understands our strengths and weaknesses and has faced the temptations we face. Immanuel knows what rejection and heartache feel like. He has promised to be with us ALWAYS (Matthew 28:20), and the best part is that He has put His Spirit within us to empower us to live in victory as He did.

Is anything too difficult for Immanuel?

Of course not!

Therefore, I encourage you to praise Jesus, glorify Him and put your trust fully in Him. He is with you, He is for you, and He is in you.

I pray that you will continue to grow in your knowledge and revelation of who Jesus is as you study the Word and yield yourself to the Holy Spirit. And I pray that you will step out in boldness to do everything He has called you to do because you know and believe that He is with you all the way. Amen!

You are blessed.

Chizobam

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

© Reflecting on the Meaning of Immanuel: God with Us. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus.

The post Reflecting on the Meaning of Immanuel: God with Us appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

The Blood Of Jesus Speaks

“But you have come …….to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV

In my last post, we discussed the power and significance of the blood of Jesus in salvation. I strongly encourage you to click HERE to read it before scrolling down. This post is a continuation and focuses on ten critical spiritual benefits we receive through the blood of Jesus.

His Blood Speaks Better Things

In the Scripture above, the writer of the book of Hebrews compares the blood of Jesus with Abel’s. Cain killed Abel in a fit of jealousy because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but rejected his. (Genesis 4:2-8) Although Abel was dead, his blood had a voice, which cried out for vengeance to God. (Genesis 4:10) God heard and responded by punishing Cain.

While Abel’s blood cried for vengeance, Jesus’ blood “speaks better things” to God on our behalf.

The voice of the blood of Jesus echoes the same things that the blood has accomplished on our behalf.

Do you know what Jesus did for you through his blood?

Are you in agreement with the voice of his blood that speaks to God on your behalf and declares the same truths over your life?

Personal Experience

I experienced a series of nightmares late last year. One specific night, I awoke with a strong prompting in my sprint to meditate on Scriptures about the blood of Jesus.

Jesus’ blood was always speaking over me, but I wasn’t entirely in sync. After studying the Scriptures, my spiritual ears were tuned by the Holy Spirit to the same frequency. Faith came to me through the Word of God concerning his blood, and victory followed.

Faith in the blood of Jesus comes through an understanding of what it accomplished for you and what it will do for you in your current circumstances.

Below is a list of 10 critical spiritual realities, which we access through Jesus’ shed blood. These represent some of the “better things,” that Jesus’ blood speaks on our behalf.  I invite you to grab your Bibles. Mark, highlight, meditate and let your faith arise as you declare these Scriptures out of your mouths and apply them to your lives.

Reminder: read the first post HERE before scrolling down!

1) You are Forgiven

Death and the shedding of blood are a requirement for the forgiveness of sins. Only the blood of Jesus could take our sins completely away. As believers in Christ, our sins have been washed by his blood. We have been freed from the stain, shame, guilt, and consequence of sin. For more details, see my last post here.

“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” Revelation 1:5

God forgives us completely at the point of salvation, but He does not take our free will or our emotions away from us. We are not robots. Hence, we can choose between His holy way and our naturally sinful way of doing things. It’s so awesome to know that the same blood of Jesus, which washed our sins away at salvation, cleanses and purifies us if we sin afterward. The requirement is that we repent, confess our sins to God, and live in harmony with each other.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9

2) You are Redeemed

Through his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus’ shed blood paid the price necessary to redeem us. He purchased us from captivity to sin and the devil and transferred us into His kingdom.  Ezekiel 18:20 states that “The person who sins will die,” and according to Psalm 49:7 (NLT), “Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.” Only the blood of Jesus Christ could pay the ransom for us. He paid in full, and we no longer owe God the debt of our lives as payment for sin.

Sin prevented us from having fellowship with God, but the blood of Jesus paid the price necessary to reconcile us to God. Since the price has been paid, we don’t have to go through life weighed down by the burden of past sins.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12

 ^“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,” Revelation 5:9 NKJV

3) You are Justified

To be justified is to be declared righteous and “no longer guilty” by God. Jesus took the wrath we deserved on himself when he died and shed his blood. In the sight of God, it is “just as if we never sinned.” When God looks at us, He sees us through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Righteousness means right standing before God, which we can never attain based on how good or morally upright we are. Neither can we achieve it by keeping commandments, rules, and regulations. The righteousness that is from God comes by faith to all who believe in Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Romans 5:9

4) You are Reconciled to God

Reconciliation is necessary to bring sinners into an intimate relationship and fellowship with God. Because of sin, we were separated from God, unable to enjoy the benefits of His presence and promises. The shed blood of Jesus blotted our sins away, brought us back to a peaceful relationship with God, and united us with Him.

“and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:20

5) You are Holy

We are washed in the blood of Jesus, consecrated, and set apart by God to be used by Him. As believers, we are declared holy by God at the moment of salvation. We are also called to live a lifestyle of holiness, which reflects our relationship to God.

“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12

“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

6) You Have Eternal Life

Eternal life is the life of God. Those who believe in Jesus and place their faith in his finished work on the cross receive eternal life. Leviticus 17:11 tells us that life is in the blood. The life of Jesus is in his blood. At the point of salvation, your old sinful nature died, and you received a brand new life through the Holy Spirit. Eternal life means that you now have the life of God/ life of Christ in your spirit. In the words of apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20a)

“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:53-54

Eternal life starts here on earth and continues into eternity in heaven. No one will access heaven unless the blood of Jesus Christ has washed them. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

7) You Have Direct Access to God

I can boldly come into God’s presence at any time “t” because of the blood of Jesus. I don’t have to beg, plead, or crank up my emotions to talk with God through prayer and conversations. The blood of Jesus has already opened the way for me. And the best part is that He speaks to me. Yes, the God of the universe speaks to me, and I hear Him.

As long as you have placed your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, you can enjoy intimate, uninhibited conversations with God.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,” Hebrews 10:19

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

8) The New Covenant Promises are Yours to Enjoy

Under the Old Covenant, the Jews struggled to keep the whole law, but the law could never result in inward transformation. Instead, it brought condemnation and sin consciousness. (Romans 3:20, 5:20; 2 Corinthians 3:9, Hebrews 7:19)

Jesus came as the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 10:4) By his death, he brought the New Covenant into effect. He shed his blood to guarantee the “better promises” of the New Covenant to all who believe in him. (Hebrews 7:22, 8:6)

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20

Our salvation does not come through obedience to rules and regulations. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, which we receive by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:11) God writes His laws on the tablets of our hearts and minds and empowers us through His gift of the Holy Spirit to hear Him, know Him intimately and obey Him. (Hebrews 8:10-11) It is only through the New Covenant that we can please God and access His promises provided in the Word.

Communion, which is sharing in the body and body of Christ, reminds us that our relationship with God is based on the New Covenant established by the blood of Jesus. We are never to forget his broken body and shed blood.

9) You are Healed

Before his crucifixion, Jesus was beaten, whipped, scourged, and marred beyond recognition. (Isaiah 52:14) He bled many times for you and me.

The Greek word used for salvation in the Bible is Sozo. Sozo is an umbrella word that encompasses forgiveness, healing, deliverance, and soundness.

Jesus suffered and bled that you may be saved, healed, delivered, and made whole. Psalm 103:2-3 highlights the bond between the forgiveness of sins and the healing of our bodies. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” I encourage you not to leave any gift unwrapped at the foot of the cross. Open and enjoy them all. (See also Matthew 8:17; James 5:14,15)

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

10) You are Victorious

God raised Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Nine plagues later, Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he refused to free them. Just before the final plague, each Israelite family obeyed God’s instruction to slaughter a spotless lamb and smear its blood “on the sides and tops of the doorframes” of their homes. At midnight, every firstborn son in Egypt died, but the Israelites were spared. Because of the blood, the Lord passed over the Jews and did not permit the destroyer to enter their homes. (Exodus 12)

Jesus Christ is our true Passover Lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 13:8) The events of the Passover during the Exodus from Egypt were a reflection or foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

When we receive Jesus, his blood is applied to our lives. If the Israelites were protected by animal blood that represented a shadow of Christ’s blood, how much more would we be protected and stand victorious by the blood of Christ?

“The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Exodus 12:13

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11

The Word of our Testimony

We overcome Satan by openly declaring the Word concerning what Jesus’ blood has accomplished for us. Jesus is the “High Priest of our confession.” (Hebrews 3:1 NKJV) When the words of our mouth agree with the Word, Jesus advocates on our behalf, and God brings it to pass.

Victorious Christians are not wishy-washy, lukewarm, Church ‘bench warmers.’ Even if it costs them their lives, they remain committed to pleasing God. They are bold and unashamed to declare the name of Jesus Christ and the power in his blood.

Think about that!

Prayer and Declaration

The blood of Jesus is active in my everyday life. It speaks and powerfully works to ensure that everything God provided for me in Christ becomes a reality.

Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. I thank You that by his blood, I am forgiven, redeemed, justified, and made holy in Your sight. Through the blood, You have given me eternal life and the right to every promise under the New Covenant. I have direct access to You, and I stand victorious over the devil and all his schemes of diseases, plagues, and disasters.

I receive the power of the blood over my spirit, soul, and body. By faith, my thoughts, words, and actions will align with everything the blood of Jesus speaks over me.

I rest my case on the power of the blood of Jesus. I stand in faith to receive everything Jesus’ shed blood has accomplished for me and speaks over me. Amen!!

Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

To support this ministry, DONATE HERE.

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© Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus.

The post The Blood Of Jesus Speaks: Are You In Agreement? appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

   

The Blood of Jesus

In recent months, God has been teaching me about the importance and power of the blood of Jesus.

A topic like this deserves a series of posts or a book to exhaust entirely, but I will be addressing it in two blog posts. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to do a personal study on the topic. You can use this post, and the next, as your outline as you discover the treasure in the Word of God.

To the non-believer, I pray that the Holy Spirit will show you your absolute need for Jesus Christ, the one and only Messiah. To the believer, I pray that the Word regarding the blood of Jesus will come alive to you in such a powerful and tangible way that it becomes applicable to your daily life.

You are blessed!!

Chizobam

The Consequence of Sin

From the beginning of time, God made it crystal clear that He will not condone sin.

Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden by eating from the tree that He commanded them not to. (Genesis 3:11) Since Adam was the first man, sin came into the world through him, and all of mankind inherited his sinful nature. (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22) Without exception, we are born into this world as sinners under the devil’s dominion. (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-2)

God is a holy and pure God. He created us for intimate fellowship with Himself. Sin separates us from God because a holy God cannot commune with impurity. Light has no fellowship with darkness. (Isaiah 59:2; Hebrews 12:14, 2 Corinthians 6:14)

The result of sin is eternal separation from God and condemnation to Hell. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

But God had a plan!

Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them with garments of skin. To make the garments, God killed an animal on their behalf and shed blood. (Genesis 3:21) His actions signified that sin has a high cost, which is death and the shedding of blood.

Old Covenant Sacrificial System

Under the Old Covenant, God established a system for the Jews in which the blood of sacrificed animals atoned for their sins. “The life of a creature is in the blood.” Therefore, sacrificed animals substituted for the lives of sinners, and the animals’ blood served to cover their sins. (Leviticus 17:11)

Only the high priest was allowed access behind the veil into the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God dwelt. Annually, he was required to go through a rigorous ritual in which he offered blood for his sins and the people’s sins. (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:7)

The problem with the Old Covenant was that the blood of animals only temporarily cleansed their sins. The blood of sacrificed animals lacked the spiritual power to take away sin. (Hebrews 10:4; 11) It was a temporary solution repeated year after year. (Hebrews 10:1) An external ritual, which could not inwardly transform the hearts of the worshippers. (Hebrews 9:9-10,13) It failed to make them holy. They were still plagued with the guilty conscience of sin. They were kept at a distance from God, unable to enjoy intimacy with Him. (Hebrews 10:1-2)

The purpose of this sacrificial system was to point the world towards the Messiah. It represented and foreshadowed His ultimate sacrifice on the cross and the power of His blood to permanently take sin away. (Hebrews 10:1)

Jesus the Perfect Sacrifice

At the appointed time, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood.” (Romans 3:24-25) Jesus was the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for all sinners. He was the one and only Lamb who could take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) While He walked on earth, He was fully God, yet fully human. (John 1:1, 18; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15)

He was God with us clothed in human flesh. (Matthew 1:23)  As a result of His virgin birth through the Holy Spirit, He did not receive Adam’s sinful nature. (Matthew 1:18) His human nature made Him our perfect representative before God. Jesus experienced our struggle with temptation, yet He did not sin. (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 2:17-18) Therefore, He was the perfect sacrifice who died and shed His blood in our place.

Critical Truths About The Blood of Jesus

Jesus was the sinless, spotless sacrifice whose blood had the potency to obliterate sin, resulting in an inward spiritual transformation. (1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

                             The blood of Jesus is POTENT with INFINITE power.

His blood did not provide a temporary cover for sins. It was a permanent sacrifice. Jesus’ sacrifice was not repeated year after year but was offered once for the sins of mankind. (Hebrews 9:24-26, 28; 10:10) Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. No other suitable sacrifice exists. (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 10:18)

The temple’s veil was torn in two at His death on the cross, signifying that we now have direct access to God. (Matthew 27:51)

Jesus took the acceptable sacrifice of His blood into the Most Holy Place and presented it to God on our behalf. He paved the way for us to enjoy direct access and intimacy with God. Now, we can confidently enter God’s presence and communicate with Him. (Hebrews 9:12; 10:19-20)

Jesus’ sacrifice made the Old Covenant obsolete and ushered us into the New Covenant. A covenant, “established on better promises,” based on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Chris, not on rules and regulations. (Hebrews 8:6,13; 12:24; Ephesians 2:8-9)

The blood of Jesus works internally in the hearts of believers to cleanse our guilty conscience, make us holy, and bring peace to our relationship with God. (Hebrews 9:14)

Personal Experience

Before I surrendered my life to Jesus, I knew the gospel, but I was not a child of God. I clearly remember being plagued with a sense of condemnation and doom. I had no peace with God. By repenting of my sins and placing my faith in His complete sacrifice on the cross, I accepted Jesus as Lord, and since then, I have been at peace with God.

After Jesus “had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3b; 8:1; 1 Peter3:22) The right hand of God is the seat of authority. By seating, He made it clear that all authority had been given to him by God, and He rested from His completed work. By His blood, He has extended an open invitation to the whole world to be at rest, seated in authority with him at the right hand of God. (Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 4:11)

Final Thoughts

Jesus died the death we deserved. He sacrificed His life by shedding His blood on the cross for everyone. But he has not been accepted by all. Salvation comes through repentance, receiving Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and placing our faith and trust in him as Savior and Lord (Acts 3:19, 4:12, 16:31; Romans 10:9-10)

When we do this, the Holy Spirit moves in and makes our spirits His permanent dwelling place, thus giving us a brand new life. (Titus 3:5)

Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Have you received His sacrifice? Are your sins washed by His precious blood, and are you saved?

If your answer is “no,”

I earnestly urge you to accept Jesus’ sacrifice. You have heard his voice TODAY; do not harden your heart. Today is the day of your salvation! (Hebrews 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will open your eyes to the truth: you are a sinner in need of a Savior. I pray that you will turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and I pray that you will receive forgiveness and a place among those who are washed by the blood of Jesus. Amen!

If your answer is “yes,”

then rest in the promises of God. Jesus bought you with His blood and washed your sins away. You are a saved, victorious child of God and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Stand firm, be unshakable and let nothing move you from your place of authority. Jesus Christ has commissioned you as His ambassador. Step out and share the gospel with the lost today.

I pray that you will value your salvation even more and share the Good News with the lost. Amen!

In my next post, we will discuss 10 critical gifts we receive through the blood of Jesus. Stay tuned!

Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

Related Posts:

• The Blood Of Jesus Speaks: Are You In Agreement?
• The Holy Spirit: What is His Role in Salvation?
• What is Biblical Repentance, and How Does it Relate to Salvation?

To support this ministry, DONATE HERE.

To ensure you don’t miss a post, SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can also connect with me on Facebook or Pinterest.

© Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus.

The post The Blood of Jesus: Its Power and Significance in Salvation appeared first on Beautiful in Jesus.

We Do See Jesus

In studying the book of Hebrews the last couple of months, I have been captivated by four words in chapter 2 verse 9,

“…We do see Jesus…”

To enable us to grasp the immense power behind these words, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we study from Hebrews chapter 2 verses 6 through 11 using the New International Version (NIV).

Let’s go!!

God’s Love for Mankind

But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?” You made them a little lower than the angels.. Hebrews 2:6-7a

The writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:4-6 and reflects on God’s immeasurable love for mankind. This truth is also evident in the all too familiar verse John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Angels are messengers of God who operate under His authority in both the physical and heavenly realms. Although angels and humans are both created by God, angels are fully spirit beings while we are spirits living in earthly bodies. (1 Thessalonians 5:23.)

 Created to Rule

“…you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Hebrews 2:7b -8a

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1.) After calling the world into existence, He created man in His own image and positioned him in a place of honor, authority and dominion over all earthly creation. God put everything under man’s feet. (Genesis 1:28-30.)

God made us in His image. He created us to be in close relationship with Himself with the ability to commune and intimately fellowship with Him; just like in the Garden of Eden where He walked and talked with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:8.)

The Fall

“Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.” Hebrews 2:8b

Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God’s command in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:6-7.) The result was that sin got introduced into God’s awesome creation. Sin separated mankind from God (Isaiah 59:2), direct fellowship with God was shattered and man lost his place of authority and dominion. That which was put under man’s feet was no longer under his feet.

The grave consequence of Adam’s sin is that since he represented mankind as the first human, his sin transferred to all humanity after him. With sin came spiritual death and eternal separation from God. (Romans 5:12, 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.)

In the absence of a relationship with God, we are doomed to eternal separation from Him with zero hope of walking in victory.

We Do See Jesus

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:9-11

Our attention is drawn to our Savior Jesus Christ, the exact representation of God in human flesh, who for the sake of humanity was “made lower than the angels for a little while.” (Hebrews 1:3, 2:9, 17, Colossians 1:15.) As believers, we see Him, not with our physical eyes but by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7.) We see Him by believing in Him and trusting in Him as the only Way to God. (Acts 4:12, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-10.)

The Potency of the Blood of Jesus

The Word teaches that “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22.) Under the Old Covenant, animal sacrifices were made year after year by the High Priests. These sacrifices could only temporarily cover the sins of the Israelites and lacked the potency to purify their consciences from sinful acts in contrast to the permanency of the sacrifice that Christ offered once and for all for our sins. (Hebrews 9:12-14, 10:1-4, 12.)

Jesus came to earth, fully God, yet fully human so that He could perfectly represent us to God. He offered Himself as a sacrifice, shed His blood, suffered a humbling death on a cross, was buried and rose on the third day to save us and completely revert the consequences of Adam’s sin for those who believe in Him.

Jesus Our Source of Victory

Jesus is crowned with glory and honor and is seated in authority at the right hand of God. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 8:1.) Those who repent of their sins and turn to Jesus, accepting Him as Savior and Lord are assured of God’s promise that their sins are forgiven.

They are purified, made holy by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, reconciled to God and given the right to become children of God. Therefore, Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. How awesome is that! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Revelation 1:5, Colossians 1:19-20, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 1:12.)

Because Jesus tasted death and resurrected, those who believe in Him have passed over from death to life. We receive eternal life, the abundant life and nature of God imparted into our spirits at the point of salvation. His fullness of love, joy, peace, power, ability etc. God recreates us. He takes away the sinful spirit in us and gives us a brand new spirit created in His own image and likeness. Those who belong to Jesus have the right to eternal life here on earth. Eternal life starts here and continues for eternity. (John 3:16, John 20:31, John 5:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26, John 11: 25-26.)

Furthermore, we share Christ’s seat of authority with Him. Because we are in Him, everything that is subject to Him and under His feet is subject to us and under our feet. As believers, we stand in the authority of Jesus Christ with victory over sin, sickness, the devil and all his schemes. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:6, Hebrews 2:14, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:24.)

And the big one!

Drum roll PLEASE!!

Jesus Our Hope of Glory

Because of Jesus Christ, we have the hope and expectation of coming into God’s eternal glory. We have God’s promise to spend eternity with Him and enjoy an imperishable inheritance in heaven.

We eagerly look forward to Jesus’ return because God has promised us that “when Christ appears, we shall be like him,” as our natural bodies will be transformed into His glorious body. (1 Peter 1:3-7, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:2, Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.)

In the words of Apostle Paul, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19

Conclusion

Because we do see Jesus; we have been crowned with glory and honor and everything has been put under our feet!

I pray that you continue to meditate on these Scriptures; refusing to drift away but fixing your eyes on them until the truth becomes cemented in your hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN!

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

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