Sunday 9th August 2015 - United with Christ - Nick Nicholson

Who am I in Christ? Eph 1 v 1-11 Passion Translation Everything heaven contains has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful Heavenly Father, the father of our Lord Jesus - all because he sees us wrapped up into Christ! Need to remember that Paul had been to heaven where God reigns so he knew what heaven contains! We are citizens of heaven resident on earth! Philippians 3:20-21 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. When we pray to our Father - let your Kingdom come and let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven we are praying as citizens of heaven resident on earth. Ephesians 2:4-7 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:13 Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus - you have actually been united to Christ! Ephesians 2:18 And now, because we are united to Christ and to each other, we both have equal and direct access in the realm of the Holy Spirit to come before the Father. 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (The Voice) 16 Because of all that God has done, we now have a new perspective. We used to show regard for people based on worldly standards and interests. No longer. We used to think of the Anointed the same way. No longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun! 18 All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him through the Anointed. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him.