THE NEW BLESSINGS 1
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4 (NIV)
There is something outstanding that is stated in our opening scripture. This scripture lets us know that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus brought to us a whole new life, consequently, His resurrection also brought to us new blessings that were not possible before His death, burial and resurrection.
These new blessings are available for those who are born again; hence, He came so that we may have a new life. It is pivotal that one understands that healing, restoration or deliverance are not part of the package of the new blessings that the resurrection of Christ Jesus made available because they were possible even before the coming of the Lord Jesus. However, it was not possible for people to have the newness of life before the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And so, part of the blessings that were made available after the resurrection of Christ Jesus is – Newness of life.
When Jesus said in Mark 16:15 that “…Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel…” He was actually saying, go into all the world and preach the new blessings. The gospel is the new blessings that were made available by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A person becomes a Christian by confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in their heart that God raised him from the dead; this subsequently means that Christianity was not possible before Jesus’ resurrection because salvation can only be made possible through believing and confessing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Let us look at more of the blessings that were made available after the resurrection Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:27 NLT tells us that; “ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you..." It is clear to us that God had wanted us to know the blessings produced by the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is Christ in us the hope of glory. Because Christ lives in us, we have become one with him in spirit which is revealed in 1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT “But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
There is also another remarkable blessing about the life that we live now that we are born again; we have eternal life which is the life and the nature of God 1 John 5:11. Not only do we have eternal life, but we have also been ushered into a place called Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. What a remarkable blessings the resurrection of Christ Jesus has produced, it is even more amazing that these blessings have now been made available to the Christian.
Jesus did not come so that we may continue in the old life. No! He came so that we may have a new life. As a born again Christian, you already possess these new blessings. All you need to do, is to simply have this reality in your consciousness and continue living by it. Hosea 4:6 says; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. You do not want to live an ordinary life when these blessings have already been made available to you. This consciousness can only come through meditating on the word of God. Through meditation, you will receive a specific word for that specific situation you desire to change or want to see materialize. Thereafter, when you have received that word, you then begin to speak it forth.
Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV says that God has said it so that we may boldly say it. This scripture gives us an example of what God wants us to do with His word. The scripture does not suggest, “…he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” so that we may boldly say that he will never leave us nor forsake us. He has said it so that we may boldly say; “…The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Therefore, go ahead and boldly speak the new blessings that were made available to you. Do not frustrate the new blessings by speaking words that are inconsistent with the new life that you now have. When you are born again, you need to celebrate these new blessings, because they are your present hour realities, you do not have to pray to God to give them to you. They belong to you already! Glory to God.
You now have a new life; Christ lives in you; you are one with the Lord; you have eternal life and you are in a place called Christ. It is unacceptable for the born again believer to experience certain things in their life that are inconsistent with God’s Word because that is not the life that was designed for them. Be conscious of your new life in Christ and walk in the reality of it.
Confession
I am the symbol, and epitome of God's grace. His blessings are evident and manifest in my life! All grace abounds towards me because my life is the glory of God. Hallelujah!
SCRIPTURES TO PONDER ON
Romans 6:4 (NIV)
Colossians 1:27 (NLT)
1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)
1 John 5:11 (KJV)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)