Positional Relationship with Jesus Christ

Date: 9-Mar-2012
Venue: Toongabbie Church Hall
One may consider himself a Christian by virtue of being baptised in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Let's call this person a 'child of God and co-heir with Christ' (Rom 8:17). At the same time when that person falls back into his old sin nature, even though co-heir with Christ, he becomes slave to sin because he has not yet gained spiritual maturity (Gal 4). For instance, When one falls back into the old sin, then God's image is marred, He tends to become slave to the very thing he hates. Until one reaches the spiritual maturity, he may tend to go back and forth the sin nature. According to Apostle Paul, this is because he has not fully entered into a rightful inheritance and relationship with God the Father. As such he is simply a 'trustee and guardian' (Gal 4:2) of Godly things. When it comes to God's inheritance, basically there isn't much difference between a christian who has not matured and that of slave. They both hold onto things on a temporary basis.

So what shall we do to be set free to experience our rightful heritage? Practically, there is nothing much we can do but it is what God the Father has already done for us. Saint Paul says, 'God at the appointed time, sent His Only Son Jesus Christ, born to a Woman, born under the condition of the law so that He might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law' (Gal 4:5-6). Therefore, to transition from a trustee or guardian role to a rightful heir of God's inheritance, God had to purchase us from the legalities of the world. No longer we are slave to the old sin nature, we are now truly co-heirs with Christ even to call God the Father as 'Abba, Father'. In other words, we've been temporarily calling God as Our Father up until the time God allowed His Son Jesus to be paid as a price to redeem us. That is why Apostle Paul can confidently share his own experience when he said 'when one belongs to Christ, the old nature is gone, a new life has begun' (2 Cor 5:17). Jesus Christ is the one who was paid as a price to redeem us and we should belong to Him to remove our old nature.

What's next, we were transitioned from a slave to a son then made co-heir with Christ. I mean a mature son of God for a lasting relationship, for 'slaves does not stay with the Father forever but a son does' (John 8:35). Symbolically, we were raised from the dead (dead to sin), we are now seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph 2:6). Our position in Christ makes it possible to call God, 'Our Father'. Furthermore, we no longer have to live in the realm of darkness anymore, God has rescued us and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear son (Col 1:13)

In summary, we were once slaves to sin, then we became children of God although spiritually immature but God redeemed us at the appointed time to bring us back to Him permanently in a rightful relationship to Him. We became co-heirs with Christ, we can call God as 'Our Father' and Jesus has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to live a Godly life here on earth until He returns to take us back to sit in the heavenly realms with Jesus Christ our Savior in all His glory.

Prayer:Our Father, we learnt that our positional relationship with you depends on our position with your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to align to Him always. We cannot do it on our own merit but by your divine plan and purpose. Thank you for including me in your master plan, Thank you for redeeming me through the blood of Jesus Christ and Thank you for the Holy Spirit through whom we are empowered to call you Abba Father. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Thank you & God Bless you!
Chris