IT IS LEGAL

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” – Ephesians 1:7

LIGHT FOR NOW: All that was purchased in Christ for us is legally ours.

It is important to know that until one becomes conscious and well-armed with the revelation of the legal and vital aspects of our salvation, there will be haziness in our teaching and a lack of firmness in our thinking and living. The legal side of our redemption is what the Father did for us in Christ, and it is in the past. Apostle Paul illustrating this in Romans 4:25 said, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”. This fact is also affirmed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. These two references perfectly illustrate to us what the Father did for us in His redemptive work. The vital aspect of our redemption refers to what we really have now in Christ and what the Holy Spirit is doing in us today as affirmed in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus….”, Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”, and our theme text Ephesians 1:7. If we only had the legal side of the plan of redemption, it would lead us into formalism where our sense knowledge would rule. And vital revelation alone will lead into fanatism, magnifying experiences above God’s word. When we understand both the legal and the vital aspects of our redemption, we will be fully aware of the fact that in Christ, the work of redemption has been perfectly completed (legal) and based on that, all that are Christ’s are ours(vital). We should know that all that is legally ours could become vitally ours by the ministry of the Spirit through the word in us; hence, Apostle Paul would say, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….” (Colossians 3:16)

Having the revelation of both aspects of our redemption will help us to know and function in our place of sonship; we will learn to take our place in Christ; we will enjoy our privileges, and the vital side then becomes our every moment reality. It is very important that we recognize the fact that all that has been wrought for us in Christ in His substitutionary sacrifice belongs to every believer. And the very background of this great substitutionary work is the fact that He absolutely conquered the forces of darkness before He rose from the death. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). He was not only crucified, but in Romans 6:8 it says, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him”. We were crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20); we were buried with Him (Colossians 2:12); we were made alive with Him (Colossians 2:13) and we were justified with Him (Romans 3:24). In these scriptures, we get a living picture of the entire substitutionary work of Christ, in which we have a perfect identification – It was done for us! Now we can see the background of our vital union with Christ; we can understand what it means to have Paul say, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). This is the resurrection life in us displayed; the Holy Spirit working in and through us by the word. The nature of the Father (Zoe) has swallowed us up; we are immersed and overwhelmed in the reality of whom and who’s we are. All that was purchased for us in Christ is legally ours for our daily walk. And as we daily display the virtues of this life, all the Father would say is “These are my beloved sons, in whom I am well and perfectly pleased and satisfied”. Glory!

INSTRUCTION: You need to know the legal and vital aspects of your redemption.

PRAYER:  I affirm that I am firmly established in the knowledge of the legal and vital aspects of my redemption. I am conscious of who and whose I am in Christ. Glory!

QUOTE: All that Christ wrought in His substitutionary work belongs to the believer.

DAILY READING: MORNING: 1JOHN CHAPTER 2; EVENING: 1JOHN CHAPTER 4