The Holiness of God the Son, Jesus Christ, part 3

Jesus’ Resurrection: Enabling Grace for us to live Holy
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:10 (we read it as we closed yesterday), “… but the life He lives, He lives to God” CSB.
 

Because Jesus completely met the demands of sin, the resurrected life of Jesus is totally related to God and not to sin. Sin no longer has any claim on Him. Paul tells us, that we are to be identified with Jesus’ death and he also insists that we are identified with His resurrection victory. With Christ’s resurrection, He gained total victory over sin, which He shares with us. We can live a holy life and it is a resurrected Christ which enables us to do so.
 

In Romans 7 (an often=-misunderstood chapter) Paul wrote about his earlier life, before he came to faith in Jesus, when he struggled with inward sin. In Romans 7:16-17, Paul writes, “Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now then I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me” CSB. However, after Paul met Jesus, he said, "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 CSB. He described His former condition as, “Not I, but sin…” but after he repented of his sin, turning to Jesus, he said, “Not I, but Christ…” He had been transformed by the resurrected Christ! Jesus was the revelation of God. In Him the Father was unveiled. 

Through Jesus, the Father’s hatred of sin, His holiness, His spotless purity, and His justice are seen. Jesus came into the world to reveal the Father and to do the will of the Father. He came to save lost mankind from sin and the sin nature. He came to bring people back into fellowship with God. The Resurrection was the final stone in the everlasting foundation upon which this work was built.
 

When Jesus takes the place, in your life and mine, where sin once resided; He cleanses our hearts! He lives within as the supreme Lord of life!  He gives us victory over sin! Because He lives, we can live!! Because he defeated sin, death, and the grave so can you, so can I! 

Finally notice…
 

Jesus’ Ascension Provides His Presence and Intercession.
We often think about how incredible it would have been to have walked and talked with Jesus while He was here on earth. I have heard some say that if Jesus was here in the flesh, then they could be a Christian. However, may I suggest to you, even as Jesus did, that we have a tremendous advantage because Jesus ascended to heaven?

Continued tomorrow