For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
When Jesus died on the cross, He took the place of sinners. He came as man’s substitute. The whole world has been saved from the punishment of sin, but God’s interest wasn’t just to save man from the punishment of sin, but to save man from the life and nature of sin.
The death of Jesus Christ settled the charges against us, but it didn’t make us one with God or reconcile us to God! It didn’t bring us into friendship or relationship with God. It didn’t give us eternal life. Only when we confessed the Lordship of Jesus over our life believing in our heart that he rose from the dead, we entered into a relationship with God. In Romans 10:9-10, Bible says; anyone who confesses the Lordship of Jesus and believes that God raised Him from the dead shall be saved.
Our individual confession of His Lordship, and belief in His resurrection, “activated” our salvation; it gave us eternal life, and brought us into oneness with God. We were awakened to the fatherhood of God, to the recreation of our spirit; to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and the efficacy of the Word of God.
Christianity doesn’t begin at the birth of infant Jesus in manger or His death on the cross; but at His resurrection from the dead. Because He lives, we live today in His Name and we are the sons of God. 1 John 3:1 says; “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
Confession:
I’m born of God. I’m brought into oneness with Most High because Jesus Christ is my only Lord. The gift of eternal life is mine. I live on earth, demonstrating God’s power and glory, bringing many to light of His glorious Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
