You’re Included

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” – Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)

It’s only through the Word of God that you can learn who you are in Christ because, not only does the Word reveal Christ but it reveals your true identity. Your destiny is to be like Jesus, to partake of His nature, to have the mind of Christ, but this can never be accomplished by your own human effort, only the work of His Holy Spirit can complete this transformation in you (see Galatians 3:3).

Before He entered Gethsemane, Jesus’ prayer was,

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17 (NIV)

Christ, at the threshold of His crucifixion, was thinking of you, desiring that you be made holy. He was very aware that “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV). He knew the importance of living in accordance with the truth of the Word since it is that truth alone that will make you free to conform to His image and participate in His divine nature (see Romans 8:29 and 2 Peter 1:4).

God gave you everything at the cross. Even while you were a deliberate sinner (Romans 5:8), He lavished His love on you through the sacrifice of His “only begotten Son” and gave you the opportunity to become His own – a child of God and co-heir with Christ. He longs for you to partake of everything He has, and is willing to do all things in you, through you, and for you.

According to Ephesians 1:13, if you have already “heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” then you’re included in Christ, and if you have also believed and accepted God’s Gift of Salvation, then know that you are destined to receive every blessing that flows from Jesus. As a child of God, He positions you in Christ and places His stamp of ownership on you with His Spirit. When you’re included, you have a spiritual union with Christ.

Beloved, you’re included and it’s time you start to see yourself as such since the truth is “whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NIV).

Amen†

You’re Included

Shelley Johnson April 24, 2017