My encouragement today is from – Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

There is a past, present, future of the gospel.  Most of us understand the past, and future, but fail to enjoy the fullness of the gospel in the “now”.  We know that Christ has died for our sins (past), we know that he has purchased for us a future hope with Him for eternity (future), but we do not live a “gospel centered life” now.  God’s gift to us is that we can enjoy the fruit of the gospel in our lives today.  People often hear that we will receive glorified bodies in heaven, without sin, perfect for enjoying God for all eternity.  This can often be misunderstood, to think that this is separate from your sanctification now – it is not.  God puts things in your life today so that, out of a fullness of your identity in Christ, as a redeemed creation, righteous in the eyes of God because of the blood of Christ, you may now live in freedom to make much of Christ for your good and His glory.

How is this for your good if lets say, you’re going through a time of struggle?  Because everything God does, or puts in your path is to increase your dependence on Him, see Him more clearly, and draw you into more close fellowship with Him – all for your joy.  Without the hope of the gospel, everything you confront in life would only offer the superficial good or bad experience, but in Christ, whether good, bad, or in between, each day offers the opportunity to increase our joy in Him.

1 Peter 1:3-9
“³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Grace and Peace,
Adam