Friday, March 7, 2014

What it Means For You To Be Blessed

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 
Galatians 3:14

You are "divinely or supremely favored" by God if you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, "enjoying special advantages and privileges."  Today.  Right now.  What are these privileges and advantages.  There are at least three.

YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Psalms 32:1

Do you know how good it feels to know that your sins are forgiven and forgotten as though they never happened?  How often have you just wanted to start over?  How often have you wanted a life with no regret?  This is the blessing you have right now because of Jesus:  His death erases all that you regret in your life.

YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S CHOSEN CHILDREN.
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.  Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.  Galatians 3:7-9

You are a member of the nation of God's children, chosen on earth.  You.  That means where you are is a protected place while you are there, so that if God wanted to judge or destroy your city, for example, he couldn't and wouldn't....because of you.  Remember Sodom and Gomorrah?  He didn't destroy it because Abraham's nephew, Lot, was there.  Now you, by faith, are a child of Abraham through faith in Christ, the descendent of Abraham.  You are one of God's chosen people, where you are, right now.

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO HEAVEN.
"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Galatians 3:14

Here is the ultimate blessing, the culmination of all the blessings, the zenith.  You have the very presence of God with you and in you:  The Spirit of God.  This is THE BLESSING, the highest favor and privilege and advantage you have.  Because your sins are forgiven and forgotten as though they never happened, and because you are one of Gods chosen children, you have access to heaven.  You can approach God, and God Himself will listen.

These truths aren't "new."  They are things I'm sure you already knew.  But how are they affecting you?

They affect me in that I feel free from my past and my regrets. Nothing is between me and God.
I know the scriptures are true for me as they were for Israel, as it is written,

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

God told Abraham that whoever blessed him would be blessed and whoever cursed Abraham would be cursed.  That means whoever was for Abraham, God was for him.  And whoever was against Abraham, God was against her.  Well now, I'm a child of Abraham, and the same applies to me.

And Abraham was called "a friend of God."  He had access to God's presence like no on else on earth in his time.  So do I.  So do you if you trust in Jesus.

This has to make a difference in your life today.  Before you leave home, you have a blessing to experience.  You can approach God as one of his chosen children with your sins forgiven and forgotten as though they never happened.  Do you realize how many people wake up with suicidal regret and hopeless powerlessness?  They feel cursed, like everything they think about will fail. Like the universe is against them.  And even those who think the universe is for them, those who are rich and famous and fortunate, are still suicidal.  They fear one thing more than anything: The loss of what they have.

But you, child of God, through faith in Jesus, have nothing to fear or regret.  You have special privileges and advantages, right now, before you leave your house, wherever you go. 

This is what it means for you to be blessed:
If you believe in Jesus,
God is for you,
and no one can be against you.
 


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