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Day 3 - Christ as My Righteousness Makes Me a Son and an Heir
The purpose of righteousness, or “justification” is not merely the forgiveness of sins. God did not create the universe to forgive sins. God created the universe to produce sons and heirs (Romans 8:19). As a result of justification, our position has changed. We are no longer in Adam, but in Christ, and we are no longer ‘heirs of wrath’ but heirs of God (Ephesians 2:4-7, Romans 8:17)! We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and He is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:11). All that the Father has is His, and now He has given us His Spirit to manifest what is to us, that is to share it with us as fellow heirs of the unsearchable riches of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).
God's intention in bringing us to sonship is to show forth the "exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ in the ages to come", and for this purpose, He has seated us in the heavenlies in Christ after raising us up together with Him (Ephesians 2:6-7). We are no longer with the dogs under the table eating the scraps; we are seated in the heavens at the table of the King, members of the household of God (Luke 16:22-23, Ephesians 2:19).
Today, it is not yet manifested what we shall be, but we know that when we see Him, we shall be as He is (1 John 3:2). We have been justified, and we have been glorified (Romans 8:30). The principalities accuse us, and the world does not recognize us, but we are without accusation before God. In fact, He is our advocate, our propitiation, and He shuts every mouth (1 John 2:1-2, Romans 3:24-26).
No wonder Paul prayed that we would have a "spirit of wisdom and revelation, that our hearts would be filled with light, and that we would know what the hope of His calling is, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:17-19). This power raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of God in the heavens, far above all rule and authority, and every name that is named in this age and the age to come, and has made Him Head over all things to the church, which is His body, "His Fulness" through which He fills all in all! (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Verses
- "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Romans 8:19
- "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7
- "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," Hebrews 2:11
- "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
- "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" Ephesians 2:19
Prayer / Confession
Father, I thank you for justifying me through Christ. I am grateful that you did not only forgive my sins but made me your son and heir. I am no longer an heir of wrath but an heir of God, and I am a joint heir with Jesus. Thank you for giving me the unsearchable riches of Christ as a fellow heir.
Father, I am thankful you have brought me to sonship so that you can show forth the exceeding riches of your grace in kindness toward me in Christ in the ages to come. I am no longer with the dogs under the table eating scraps, but I am seated in the heavens at the table of the King, and I am a member of the household of God. Thank you for justifying me and glorifying me. I am happy that I am without accusation before you, and Christ is my advocate and propitiation. Thank you for shutting every mouth that accuses me.