25 lines
4.3 KiB
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25 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">April 10</div></div>
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<h2>Christ Living in Us</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>I have been <b>crucified</b> with <b>Christ</b>; it is <b>no longer I</b> who live, but <b>Christ lives in me</b>; and the life which I now live in the flesh <b>I live by faith</b> in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',2,20);">Galatians 2:20</a>)</div>
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<p>In these sublime words, we are given profound insight concerning the <b>grace</b> of God at work <b>through</b> our <b>intimate relationship</b> with <b>Christ</b>. This majestic statement begins with <b>our</b> spiritual death, that <b>another</b> might live in and through our lives. Finally, we are told <b>how</b> we are to respond, so this divine arrangement can proceed <b>as intended</b>.</p>
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<p>First, our spiritual <b>death</b> is in view. <i>"<b>I</b> have been <b>crucified</b> with <b>Christ</b>."</i> If we are believers in the Lord Jesus, <b>we died with Him</b> upon that cross. The cross of Christ is now our testimony of rejoicing, for by that cross we escaped the dead world of unredeemed humanity. <i>"But God forbid that I should glory except in the <b>cross</b> of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the <b>world</b> has been <b>crucified</b> to <b>me</b>, and <b>I</b> to the <b>world</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',6,14);">Galatians 6:14</a>). Although the <b>cross</b> is the <b>end</b> of our <b>old life</b> in <b>Adam</b>, that is not the end of our story. <i>"Even when we were dead in trespasses,</i> [God] <i>made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph',2,5);">Ephesians 2:5</a>). By His grace, we were <b>raised with Christ</b>. We died with Him, that we <b>now</b> might <b>live with Him</b>. <i>"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also <b>live with Him</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',6,8);">Romans 6:8</a>).</p>
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<p>The astounding consequence of these truths is that <b>we</b> are <b>not</b> the ones <b>producing</b> our Christian life. <i>"It is <b>no longer I</b> who live."</i> This reality is radically contrary to man's <b>natural</b> thinking. If <b>we</b> are <b>not</b> to manufacture our life with God, what other option could possibly be available? The wonderful answer is: <i>"<b>Christ lives in me</b>."</i> <b>True</b> Christian living is to be <b>Christ</b> living <b>in</b> and <b>through our lives</b>. How can this be accomplished? We still have an ongoing human experience in flesh and bones bodies: <i>"the <b>life</b> which I now live in the <b>flesh</b>."</i> Yes, but this life is to be <b>lived by faith</b>: <i>"<b>I live by faith</b> in the Son of God."</i> As we put our <b>trust</b> in <b>Jesus</b> day by day, <b>He lives</b> in and through our <b>thoughts</b>, our <b>words</b>, our <b>choices</b>, our <b>priorities</b>, our <b>relationships</b>.</p>
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<p>Once again, this is God's <b>grace</b> at work through <b>humility</b> and <b>faith</b>. <b>Humility</b> is expressed by embracing this confession: <i>"it is <b>no longer I</b> who live."</i> <b>Faith</b> is expressed by counting upon this truth: <i>"<b>Christ lives in me</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear God of my salvation, what a magnificent plan! Thank You for providing a way out of the old life. Praise You for raising me to a new life. How wonderful that this new life is to be Christ living in me. Lord Jesus, please live in me as I depend upon You, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0409.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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