Theme Scripture:
Colossians 1:13 (KJV) – "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) – "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
I. Introduction: Redefining Christianity – Beyond Mere Religion
- A. The Divine Nature Manifest: Begin by challenging the common misconception of Christianity as merely a religion, a set of doctrines, or a moral code.
- Emphasize that true Christianity is the "very life of Christ in a human body," "the divine nature manifest in a human being," indeed, "Divinity at work in humanity."
- It is not an affiliation but an infusion of God's own essence.
- B. The Ultimate Purpose: Fellowship with God: Unveil the profound truth that Jesus came primarily to restore our fellowship, our living relationship, with the Father.
- This "all-inclusive word" — fellowship — defines our existence in Christ. Any form of "religious Christianity" that falls short of this intimate, living relationship is a contradiction and leads to spiritual barrenness.
II. The Great Paradox: Belief Without Manifestation
- A. The Cry of the Perplexed Believer: Address the agonizing question many Christians secretly harbor: "I believe, but why is it not working for me?"
- Paint a vivid picture of the struggles: persistent infirmity, financial lack, relational breakdowns, and an overall sense of spiritual warfare despite earnest faith. Many find their lives seemingly worsening, leading to frustration and doubt.
- B. The Root of the Dilemma: Lack of Understanding: Pinpoint the core issue not as a lack of faith, but a critical lack of awareness concerning two simple, yet fundamentally powerful, aspects of Christ and our redemption.
- It is not enough to simply know; we must understand and apply this knowledge. Ignorance of divine truth keeps believers in bondage.
III. Unveiling the Dual Aspects of Our Salvation in Christ
- A. The Legal Aspect of Christ:
- Definition: This refers to "all that we are, all that we have, all that we can do, and our position, rank, and authority as granted us in Christ."
- Foundation: This is God's declarative act; what He has already accomplished for us through Christ's sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension. These are our established rights, inheritance, and identity in the heavenly realms, irrespective of our feelings or current circumstances.
- Activation: The legal aspect is apprehended through acknowledgment of the Word and acting on its truth. It is accepting as fact what God has legally decreed about us.
- B. The Vital Aspect of Christ:
- Definition: This speaks of "all what the Holy Spirit has done or is doing in our spirit, soul, and body through the word, developing us after the image of Christ and the Father."
- Manifestation: This is the experiential, dynamic, and transformative work of the Holy Spirit within us. It is the power that brings growth, maturity, healing, and supernatural living into our daily lives.
- Activation: The vital aspect is powerfully activated through our confession (Homologia) of the Word. Our declaration aligns our spirit, soul, and body with the divine reality.
IV. The Peril of Theological Confusion: Striving vs. Resting
- A. The Futility of Ignorance: Expound on the dangers of misunderstanding these aspects. A blurred vision leads to a "mix-up" in applying the Word.
- Life becomes "a constant war," filled with endless striving, struggling, and prayer for things God has already provided.
- Believers often attempt to "claim" things they already possess in Christ, signaling a fundamental lack of awareness of their inheritance. We do not claim what is already legally ours; we acknowledge it and walk in it.
- B. God's Legal Framework: A Sovereign Order: Underscore God's absolute adherence to legal principles.
- God dealt with Satan on legal grounds, and Satan continues to operate through these legal loopholes established by Adam's high treason. This necessitates the understanding of Jesus as the "Second Adam."
V. The Cosmic Drama of Redemption: From Treason to Triumph
- A. Adam's High Treason and its Ramifications: Recount the pre-Adamic rebellion of Lucifer and his subsequent plan to ruin God's new creation.
- Detail Adam's act of high treason in Eden, his willful obedience to Satan, which legally transferred the dominion and authority over the Earth to the adversary.
- Emphasize that Satan's power over humanity is not his own, but the "Adamic authority" he usurped.
- B. Jesus Christ: The Second and Last Adam:
- Introduce Jesus as God's perfect legal response – the "Second and Last Adam" – who came to head a new creation, undoing Adam's legal blunder.
- Explain that every human being, born of Adam, is born into "spiritual death" and separation from God, hence the absolute necessity of being "born again" to enter the Kingdom of God.
- C. The Case of Cornelius: A Perfect Illustration of Grace Through Faith:
- Narrate the story of Cornelius (Acts 10-11): a devout, God-fearing, prayerful man, generous in alms. Yet, despite his piety and visions, he was unsaved.
- Highlight that good deeds, devotion, or even divine visitations are insufficient for salvation. It is by hearing and believing the preached "words by which you and your household shall be saved" that one experiences redemption.
- This powerfully reinforces that salvation is by grace through faith, activated by the Word of God, not by human merit.
VI. Our Glorious Deliverance and Translation: The Power of Acknowledgment and Confession
- A. Colossians 1:13: A Done Deal: Deeply expound on this pivotal scripture.
- "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness": This is a completed act, a legal transaction finalized at Calvary. The price was paid; we are not seeking deliverance but living in our deliverance.
- "And hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son": At the moment of being born again, we were instantaneously and legally transferred from the realm of darkness into the glorious Kingdom of Light. We belong to a different government, a different jurisdiction.
- Conclude: We are already delivered. To pray for deliverance as if still under the enemy's dominion is to negate Christ's finished work.
- B. Activating Our Inheritance: Acknowledgment and Confession:
- Activating the Legal Aspect: Reiterate that this is done through our acknowledgment of what God's Word declares about us. It is believing and receiving the truth of our new identity, inheritance, and authority.
- Activating the Vital Aspect: Emphasize that the inner, transformative work of the Holy Spirit (the vital aspect) is activated by our confession. It is our spoken agreement with God's Word that brings spiritual realities into physical manifestation.
- C. Romans 10:9-10: The Pathway to Salvation and Righteousness:
- "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness": Belief from the core of our being establishes us in right standing with God, a gift we did not earn.
- "And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation": Our verbal declaration of Jesus as Lord is the mechanism by which salvation (soteria – encompassing health, wealth, preservation, peace, safety, deliverance) becomes a tangible reality in our lives.
- Homologia: Define confession as "speaking the same thing in consent with God." It's not wishful thinking but proclaiming what God has already declared. This personal declaration of Jesus' Lordship makes salvation real and effectual in our experience.
VII. Christ in You: The Hope of Glory and Our Divine Atmosphere
- A. God at Work Within (Philippians 2:13):
- Proclaim the amazing truth that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
- God is actively making us both desirous and capable of fulfilling His divine will. We are not ordinary, weak, or incapable. This inner working is amplified by our confessions, transforming us into champions.
- B. Christ in You, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27):
- Elevate this profound truth beyond a mere cliché. It is a present, living divine reality.
- The glory Adam lost is restored and found in Christ, dwelling within us. This means we are carriers of a distinct, favored, and powerful atmosphere.
- Like the Israelites who left Egypt with their own spiritual climate, we, too, operate by a "different set of rules." We exude the life, light, and power of Christ.
- C. Our Fellowship, Oneness, and Partnership with God:
- Reiterate that this fellowship, this intimate union, is the "big thing about Christianity."
- We are not just servants, but "part of a divine pantheon," in perfect union, comradeship, and partnership with God Himself. This is our glorious identity.
VIII. Living the Champion's Life: Authority, Victory, and Unwavering Confidence
- A. From Infancy to Maturity: Embrace the Word:
- Draw the parallel from Galatians 4:1-2: an heir, while a child, is no different from a servant. Many believers remain spiritual infants, unaware of their rights.
- Exhort the congregation to store, meditate upon, and devour the Word voraciously. Treat the Word not as casual reading but as preparation for "a life exam." Diligent study and meditation are paramount for spiritual growth and accessing our inheritance.
- B. The God-Focused Perspective: See No Shadows:
- Challenge believers to "learn to look at God" and "see no shadows." To fix their gaze solely on Him and "listen to God only."
- Remind them of 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." We are to "live outside your body," realizing we are no longer defined by our physical limitations or earthly circumstances, but by our new, divine nature as "an associate of the God kind."
- C. Unwavering Confidence in Our Inherited Victory:
- Declare boldly: "Christianity is a life of champions." Encourage them to "Declare who you are!"
- Instill the truth that "failure is not a possibility until and unless you let it happen." We are the only ones who can allow ourselves to fail by rejecting God's Word.
- Divine Favor and Protection: Affirm that we are perpetually enveloped in God's favor, like Joseph. We are "children of grace," not curse, called to "inherit a blessing."
- Finally, empower them with the knowledge that no enchantment, no weapon, no enemy plot can prevail against a child of God. Do not waste time praying for deliverance from a defeated foe, for "you are fighting a defeated enemy!" Walk in the finished work.
- Concluding Affirmation: "You are in Christ. Christ is in you. Glory!"