”The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our self-life. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else. But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!“
We have so much to be thankful for. Even though we were dead in our sins, living lives for ourselves and our selfish desires, Jesus came to Earth and died for us -- to set us perfectly and wonderfully free. And He didn’t just set us free from the trappings and sins of our past. He made us one with Christ. Once we repent of our sins, believe in the finished work of Jesus and accept the grace and forgiveness that He offers, when God the Father looks at us, He sees the perfection of Jesus. He doesn’t see our failings anymore. He doesn’t see our selfishness, sins and harsh words. He looks at us with perfect eyes of love and sees the unblemished purity of His Son Jesus who made reconnection with God possible for us through His death and resurrection. If that’s all that Jesus’s sacrifice accomplished, it would have been much more than we deserved. But He also raised us up with Himself and has given us authority in the spiritual realm -- His authority -- that is the authority of Jesus who lives in us -- who healed the sick, cast out demons and raised the dead. And He expects us to do the same.
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