...trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 1 Peter 1:11 (NIV)
Our opening scripture renders a remarkable reality that seeks to give us an in-depth insight into the glories that followed the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross. As we delve deep on Scripture we seek not to dwell on his sufferings but rather major on the glories that occurred thereafter because that is where true Christianity is embedded.
The word of God in Deuteronomy 6:23 (NKJV) tells us that; “Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.”
The Lord God has brought us out. A question to pose is: Where has he brought us out and to where has he taken us?
In the book of Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) the Apostle Paul reveals that; "He brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. This connotes that we were once in darkness, however, Gods plan all along was to bring us out, not only that but bring us into a better place.
God called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. The book of (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) affirms this truth God did not just bring us out, He also brought us in. Him bringing us out was a means to an end, meaning that, after he brought us out, He did not celebrate, because His ultimate goal and objective were to BRING US IN, and the only way to do this was for Him to first bring us out.
Going deeper let's look at how God accomplished bringing us out to bring us into a better place.
The book of Romans 10:9 (NKJV) conveys; “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation comes only by confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. It is not by confessing that Jesus died, rather, by confessing that God raised Him from the dead. Christianity is not the product of the death, rather, it is the product of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, His death brought us out and His resurrection is what brought us in. This is our present hour of reality. God does not do unfinished business. He brought us out, then, he brought us in, Hallelujah!
This is further substantiated in Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) which reads; “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Deliverance is the product of Jesus' death, meaning, if Jesus had just died and had not resurrected, we would still be delivered. This then goes to show that deliverance cannot be the glory that followed the sufferings of Jesus Christ because it is the product of the sufferings of Jesus.
Let us take a look at some of the things that the sufferings of Christ have produced:
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) reads; “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.” Jesus was bruised for our iniquities on the cross. By His stripes (on the cross), we are healed. The sufferings of Jesus were enough to earn us deliverance, the forgiveness of sin as well as healing from sicknesses. Deliverance and healing are the messages that would have been preached if Jesus had not resurrected, however, since He has resurrected, we celebrate the fact that He has brought us in.
More of what the sufferings of Christ have produced according to Galatians 3:13 is redemption. Redemption cannot be the glory that followed the sufferings of Christ because it is the product of the cross. On the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished.”
Forgiveness of sins is also the product of the cross. Jesus became sin on the cross. If Jesus had not resurrected, we would still be forgiven, however, it would not mean much because it would still be possible to sin again. It is therefore evident that healing, redemption, deliverance, and forgiveness are the blessings that were produced by the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross. They are not the glory that followed the sufferings of Christ referred to in our opening scripture.
In closing, the Bible says that if any man is in Christ, He is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christian is someone who is BORN AGAIN. A new born baby cannot then say; "I remember when I was in school last week." It cannot be! We are not the forgiven, the redeemed, the healed, the delivered but the New. Furthermore, how did the new creature get to be in CHRIST? It is the resurrection that launched us into CHRIST. Brethren, there is a place called In Christ, that is where we are now. Glory to God! There are glories that followed the sufferings of Jesus and its important that every Christian discover them. Paul called them mysteries that were hidden for ages and generations, the gospel in a nutshell. Peter called them, the present truth, glories made possible by the resurrection. Whether you call these glories the gospel or new creatures Realities - the truth is they are the word of God.
CONFESSION
I have been brought out of the darkness and into the kingdom of God's dear Son. In live in an environment called in Christ. In this place I've come to my land of inheritance. I enjoy divine health and undending prosperity.
SCRIPTURES TO PONDER ON:
Romans 6:8 NKJV
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
Romans 4:205 NIV
1 John 4:17 NKJV
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV