2 Corinthians 5:17 – “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

We’re continuing answering the question – “Am I truly a Christian or just deceived?” today as we look at the second mark of an authentic Christian, being captivated by the grace of God in Jesus.  This is coming after we have discussed the first mark,  maintaining a constant vigilance to put to death sin and increase affections for God, and next time we will discuss pursuing the growth of the Kingdom of God with other Christians.

What do I mean when I say authentic Christians should be captivated by the grace of God in Jesus?  In many ways, it is not so much a point in time captivation, but a captivation that endures, that our souls are so fixated upon, that everything else seems secondary.  Colossians 3:1-4 tells us “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity,passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”  I included the last verse there because it transitioned from what we’re talking about today, being captivated by the grace of God in Jesus, to the natural overflow of that captivation, which is the putting to death of sin, and bringing to life affections for God and the hope of glory with Him in eternity.

Consider all the things that are occupying your mind today.  Are you setting your mind on the things above, or on the things of the earth?  Are you amazed still that our Lord, Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God, dying in your place to reconcile you to Himself?  Everything in your life is temporal, God is eternal.  The weight of the glory of God in Jesus, should bear heavily on your soul as you consider these things.  None of us is going to walk away and forget the story of the gospel, and that is how many are deceived.  It’s not knowing what happened, its being broken in humble amazement, that our infinitely Holy God who needed nothing from man, willingly chose in love to take all of our sin, past, present, and future, and bear the penalty of infinite eternal wrath in His body, to reconcile you back to Himself.  There was no other way.  God didn’t have to do it, and He did.  Nothing on Earth can compare to what God has done, and nothing on Earth can compare to who God is – there is no greater treasure to seek in life than to seek after God as an overflow of the gospel.  Those who claim to know the gospel, but are not changed and impacted forever by it, are deceived.  It’d be like me giving a poverty stricken person in a remote village $100 million dollars in cash. They had nothing before, and now they have $100 million dollars, but unless they understand and see the worth of what they’ve been given, nothing in their life will change.  They’re more likely to burn the money, than to use it to escape their poverty.  It’s the same with someone who hear’s the gospel, but is not captivated by it.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 – “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[c] for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Do you have True knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?  I hope so, if you do, you’ll never be the same.  Your soul has a longing in it that is meant to be filled with Jesus.  You can never have enough of Him, and there is no end to Him.  We will spend eternity marveling at God in Joy, and after 10,000 years have past, and another 10,000 years have past, and another, and another, and another, we will still be in wonder at the glory of God.  Each day will be like the first day, when there are an infinite number of God’s excellencies to explore.  It will never end.  All of that is yours already in Jesus.  That is the God that redeemed you, and calls you to worship Him for your joy.

My exhortation today, is just to take an honest assessment of whether or not you’re captivated regularly by the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus.  We all need reminding from God’s Word and His people, which is what we’ll talk about next time when we talk about pursuing the Kingdom of God with other believers.  I hope this finds you well, and I hope you will take some time today to consider how great a treasure we have in Jesus.

Grace and Peace,

Adam