How do we live in the fullness of God every day? The bible tells us that our spiritual condition was death before coming to Christ: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (the devil)…” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
The good news is that “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is BY GRACE you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Apostle Paul prays to God in Ephesians 3:16: “I pray that out of His glorious riches He (God) may STRENGTHEN you with POWER through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” His prayer shows that we need God’s strength to keep Christ in our hearts through faith. On the other side, Guilt, condemnation, or leaving under the law weaken us. Repent and turn away when you sin. But do not remain there. Accept God’s forgiveness and keep living by faith in Jesus.
What STRENGTHEN us is receiving the truth of the gospel. We are under grace and made right with God through Christ Jesus: “God will credit righteousness-for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the death. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).
How do we experience the fullness of God every day? The bible makes it clear what is vital in our daily walk with Christ: His abundant grace and His gift of righteousness. To live victoriously in Christ, we need to receive and take hold of God’s abundant GRACE and of his GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. If we don’t receive His grace and righteousness daily, we will not experience the fullness of God. Instead, we will try to make it on our own, though our own efforts. We will run empty, frustrated and disappointed. Galatians 5:4-5 warns us about this: “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from GRACE. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 is also a great reminder: “For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works., so that no one can boast.” Every time we fall (trying to make it in our own strength), we get up and remember that God’s abundant GRACE carries us through. We remember that Christ’s RIGHTEOUSNESS (not ours) gives us the right standing with God. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).
Let’s stand together in the truth of the Gospel and receive daily his grace and gift or righteousness: “how much more will those who RECEIVE God’s abundant provision of GRACE and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17).
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