Episode 34: Christ the Power of God
If the Christian life is anything, it is the life of Christ lived in power in these vessels of clay, the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This may be firmly established from scripture, yet the experience of so many of us seems to fall short of knowing this power. Why is that? What are we missing? What is the way in to experience what God has provided for us in Christ our Lord? We need power to live in this sin-sick world and rise above its pull. Paul said that the gospel is the power of God to do that. Do we know what the Gospel really is? It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is God in Christ and Christ living His life in us. That is the “normal Christian life.” Do we know this in reality?
• Christ the Power of God (I Cor. 1:24, 2:2)
o The Christian life is not trying to live up to a certain standard
o The Christion life is living in union with the person of Christ
• Christ has already overcome all things
o We enter into His victory by union in the Spirit
o Faith (ceasing from our works and trusting unto obedience is the key)
• When we live in Christ, everything that He did is ours
o No condemnation (Romans 8:1-4)
o Dead to sin (Rom. 6:1-14)
o Delivered from the law (Rom. 7:1-6)
o No longer bound by the flesh (Rom. 8:9-13)
o Dead to the world (John 15:18-19)
• All of this is made real in us in experience as we abide in Christ
• Struggle comes when we try to attain by our efforts instead of abiding in Him.
• The power of God is experienced as we rest in Christ (Heb. 4)
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/christ_the_power_of_god.html
• Additional resources at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song “Will Your Anchor Hold” sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email David@AnchorOfTruth.com