Today, as we reflect on the powerful impact of Christ coming to the world, we light what is called the “C.H.R.I.S.T” Candle. This is the big one! It is the big ole white candle usually placed in the center of the Advent wreath. It’s white color represents the purity of Christ, and it also represents how He purifies our lives, and how He completely erases all the sin virus from the hard drive of our spirits and souls. Just as computers are dead, and they are completely non functional when a virus infects them, even so we die, are disrupted and are in bondage to the disruption of sin in our lives. C.H.R.I.S.T. cleans us up and He cleans us out to make us fully alive in Him. Because this is true, we experience the benefits of being Heirs of God!
Ephesians 1:3-14
(3.)Praise Be to the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly dimensions, with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. (4) For He chose us, in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love (5) He predestined us to adopted as His sons and daughters, through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will — to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the one He loves. (7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (8)that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (9) And He made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ (10) to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
(11) In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, (12) In order that we who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. (13) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of His glory!
I hope you took time and read this passage: If you did, you will learn, according to verse 14, God makes us His Heirs! Now there are many wealthy people on our planet, but what they offer to their heirs is fleeting at best, and it only last a life time on earth. Not so with this grand, glorious and eternal inheritance given to we who are God’s adopted children. Let’s examine briefly this inheritance using another acrostic: C.H.R.I.S.T: I will keep it simple, but I do hope you will review each letter of this acrostic, and you will see just how important it is how God identifies you in this way, and how it will impact your life, as you follow Christ Jesus.
C: = Chosen
Yes, if you look at verses 3-6 you will see God has picked you! It is real easy, during these days of struggle and conflict to feel like an outsider looking in. But you are not because God chose you to be Holy and blameless in His sight. AND because He loves you, it is His will, and it brings Him great pleasure to adopt you as His child.
H: = Holy Spirit is given you!
He also, as a part of the wealth of your inheritance, He let’s you experience some of it right now: Verse 13 tells us He gives us the Holy Spirit! This is important because, the Holy Spirit gives us power (Acts 1:8.) This is a power to be God’s witness. But there is more! The Holy Spirit produces “fruit.” It produces, if we allow Him to work in us and through us, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, (the ability to be unshaken or not easily rattled), gentle, good, kind, and a person of integrity who has self control. (Galatians 5:22-23.) The Holy Spirit also loads us up with gifts, and these are gifts enormously incomparable to those gifts under the Christmas tree, which He wants to use for the good of the Church, as well as the whole world. (1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14)
R: = Redemption (All Sins Are Forgiven!)
In verse seven, Paul celebrates the blood of Jesus which was shed for you, me and for the whole world. Because of this, no matter how bad is our sin and brokenness, God, through Jesus shed blood, removes every single sin, and he forgives you and me completely.
I: = Included
We hear a lot about inclusiveness these days. Sadly, what is meant here has little to do with how God defines it. Everyone who will come and make Jesus Lord of their lives has the golden opportunity to be included. Verse 7 tells us we are included when we heard “the word of truth” the gospel of our salvation. So, when we turn from our sin to believe in Him, we experience the grand and glorious news of salvation in Christ and He in us. Praise God! The almighty gives this to us! But let me be clear, this is given to those who truly repent, turn from their sins, to Christ to be forgiven, and who are also transformed to live true life!
S: = Security
Once we believe in Jesus, as the Savior and Son of God, verse 13 & 14 tells us the Holy Spirit seals us, and He serves as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance! God wants us to not only feel secure, which most of us want dearly, He guarantees it!
T: = Total Preparation
Check out verse 1: 9-11: Read these verses carefully. God reveals a mystery to His people. He makes known to us the mystery of His will. Doing so gives God pleasure. It is also something God has done, and does, on purpose. The fulfillment — of this revealed mystery — will happen at the right moment, and it will happen at the right time. It is something for which He totally prepares his heirs. The day is coming when God will bring ALL things together under one head, even Christ! Indeed, there is coming a day when every knee will bow, above the earth, below the earth and on the earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! (Philippians 2:9-11.) As a part of our inheritance, God reveals to us, and He prepares us for it. In other words, God totally prepares us for the fulfillment of the mystery of the final reign of Christ, which brings glory to God the Father.
There are a lot of things to celebrate brothers and sisters, but this is one thing I hope you will grasp because God provides this for you! He makes you, and He makes, me heirs of God. It is no wonder Paul praises God by saying “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, from the heavenly dimensions, with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus! Why? I will tell you why. We are …
Chosen to be holy and blameless in God’s sight, and He adopts us as His children! Hallelujah!
H: Holy Spirit is given to us and all that goes with the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah!
R: Redemption! God gives us Redemptions. He forgives our sins completely! Hallelujah!
I: Includes us IN Christ and Christ IN you and Me! Hallelujah!
S: Security IN Christ is guaranteed via the seal of The Holy Spirit! Hallelujah!
T: Total preparation for the fulfillment of the mystery of the final reign of Christ is ours!
HALLELUJAH!
SoJourner
Rock Solid Living 