We are united with God in Christ

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,[a] not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Collosians 2:6-12.

Christianity is not a list of things to do—it is faith that Christ has done everything we need to be right with God—and he did it on the cross. “When we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). God reconciled the universe through Christ, “making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20). If we are reconciled through him, all our sins are forgiven (verse 22)—reconciliation, forgiveness and justifica¬tion all mean the same thing: peace with God.

The story doesn't end with the crucifixion. Friday was dark, but Sunday morning things brightened up considerably. If Jesus had just been killed, then it would have just been another example of a great human teacher being crushed by the status quo. He would have been no different than Socrates, Gandhi or Martin Luther King. His death would have little meaning. But Sunday Morning, the tomb was empty. And for 40 days afterward Jesus was seen by more than 500 people (I Corinthians 15.6).

Just as the crucifixion is historical fact, so is the resurrection. Jesus lives today. And he has a gift of eternal life available to everyone. And not just eternal life, but eternal relationship with God. Imagine, being on intimate terms with God, able to live in his presence and walk with him daily here on earth, but also to live forever with him in heaven. What would you pay for that opportunity? Well, it's not for sale. The price has already been paid.

Peace and Love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)