HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
“For ye are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3: 1-4).
Hidden with Christ in God! How safe is that, for time and eternity? You can't get anything better than that. The Holy Scriptures are sure and certain!
The Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are adopted into His Kingdom by Christ Himself according to His own pleasure!
St. Paul's epistles burst out with new and fresh meaning and life! Repeatedly, he puts forth the great truth that we are made one with Christ through the New Birth. He in us and we in Him.
WE ARE HEIRS OF GOD!
He states that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We have been adopted into the Kingdom of God through Christ's vicarious death, shed blood and glorious resurrection: “For we are members of His flesh, and of His bones.” (Eph. 5: 30).
Since we are members of His flesh and of His bones, we draw strength and healing from Him. He has no arthritis in His bones and no disease in His flesh, therefore I should not have any disease in my body. By faith in His finished work on Golgotha, I now receive healing in my body.
Since Christ is in me, I draw spiritual life from His Word and His blood, to live a pure life. By the same token, I receive His healing in my body, for by His stripes I am healed physically!
HE HEALED ALL THE SICK!
The Bible declares: “Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (heb. kholle) and carried our pains (heb. makob): yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53: 4,5)
“When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick:
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying, “HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND BEAR OUR SICKNESSES.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17); “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live righteousness: “BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.” (1 Peter 2: 24).
Seven hundred years before Jesus died on the cross, Isaiah looked forward to the Redemption His blood would purchase for us all. Many years after Christ's death on the cross, St. Peter looked back on that day and wrote, “By whose stripes ye were healed.”
Isaiah prophesied of Christ: “I the Lord that called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.
“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord; that is My name and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.” (Is. 42:6-8)
He spoke of the Prison House Satan who had enslaved the world. By sending His Son to be incarnated (God in human flesh) to atone for our sins, He condemned sin in the flesh and destroyed Satan's power over us! (Rom. 8:1,3)
Jesus said: “ No man can enter a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (Mark 3:27)
Our Lord referred to Satan, a strong man that is holding hostage many precious souls. Jesus is the stronger man who has destroyed Satan's power and authority over mankind, spoiled his house and freed his captives!
JESUS OPENS BLIND EYES!
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” (Acts 10: 38)
The Bible states: “And when he (Bartimaeus) heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
“And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise, He calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10: 47-52)
The Holy Bible says: “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
“Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.” (Ps.103:1-6)
WE ARE SECURE IN JESUS!
“No weapon that that is formed against thee shall prosper: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord.” (Is. 54: 17)
Believers in Christ are secure. No weapon arrayed against us will prosper. We are able to condemn any accusative tongue. Why is this possible? It is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And it's all because of Jesus Christ and His righteousness!
The Bible states: “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1: 30). Hallelujah!
THE MERCY OF GOD!
There is nothing as great as the mercy of God, and nothing as necessary in this world of sinning men and women as His awesome mercy!
The mercy of God is an Ocean Divine reaching from Eternity into time and from Heaven to earth. And into my earth... for I heard the call of the Holy Spirit and I responded to His Voice calling me in no uncertain terms.
I realized that I had to return to the God of my childhood. Satan was battling for my soul, but the call of the Holy Spirit was so urgent that I answered His call on my life. Jesus came with the balm of Gilead to reclaim me for Himself.
Like Adam, I had gone my own way, forgetting His graciousness. “Where art thou?”, He asked Adam. He knew where Adam was, but He wanted to hear him confess his failure. “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
THE WORLD STANDS GUILTY!
The whole world stands guilty before God. We had all fallen from being children of God to becoming slaves to sin, our own ego, and the Evil one!
In the sight of God we are all naked. He knows everything about us and He still loves us with an eternal love! How the heart of our Heavenly Father must have felt sorrow for the way foolish man, who been given so much, throw it all away after listening to the Lucifer, the Cosmic Liar!
In His great heart of mercy and grace He loved Adam and Eve and already had a plan to save them! How our sinful, foolish ways must be hurtful to Jesus Christ whose heart we often break by our pride, rebellion and destructive lifestyles, when He has so much better things for us!
The Bible states that He cares for us and watches over us. He sees the sparrow fall and He knows our frame. He is our Heavenly Father that waits for us to return home like the parable of the prodigal Son!
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
“But the father said to His servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry:
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found...” (Luke 15: 20-24). Why would He loves us when we are so indifferent to His call?
The Bible says: “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Is. 1:18)
Our Saviour invites: “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and He with Me.” (Rev. 3:20).
Why should we not answer the call and invite the Lord of Glory to come into our hearts, that we may be a member of His Kingdom? The prudent thing to do is to weigh your options and answer 'Yes” to is call!
The Bible says: “And the pharisees and scribes murmured saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” (Luke 15: 2). What a great relief to know that Jesus Christ receives sinners!
THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
That was the purpose of His incarnation, His vicarious death for us all, His resurrection, His glorious ascension and His outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Jesus said: I am come to seek and to save them that are lost.” (Luke 19:10)
St. Paul testified, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim.1:15).
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus represents how low God will reach to save the worst sinner!
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.” (1Tim.1:16)
“For this is good and accepted in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto all knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus:
“Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (2: 2-6); “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb.9:12)
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9: 14). “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb.10: 19-22)
CHRIST THE HOPE OF GLORY!
Without Christ I am nothing. Without Christ I would be lost. Without Christ there would be no hope. Without Christ there would be no world. Without Christ there would be no future. Without Christ there would be no forgiveness. Without Christ there would be no divine healing. Without Christ there would be no eternal salvation!
Without Jesus Christ's substitutionary death for us on Golgotha all hope would have been lost. The human race would have been iredeemamably lost throughout eternity!
Adam's sin of rebellion and high treason was unpardonable and such an affront to God, that only a perfect sinless human being's death could atone. God's Word stated: ''The soul that sinneth, it shall surrely die....'' (Ezek.18:20).
Jesus' vicarious, substitutionary death on the cross and His resurrection three days later, purchased our eternal salvation! Repeatedly over the centuries, Jewish Rabbis had stood outside the synagogue and made the 'Cry of the Synagogue'. With a loud voice he would say, ''Let one innocent come and make atonement for the guilty!''
No one stepped forward because all were guilty! Then one day, John the Baptist pointing to Jesus and said: ''Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.» (John 1:29).
Jesus of Nazareth was that 'Innocent One' and through His substitutionary death and shed His blood to meet the righteous demands of Divine Justice for the sins of the world!
Satan deceived the human race. Satan is a liar and a murderer. Satan is a thief, a killer and destroyer! Jesus Christ's substitutionary death for us all has destroyed Satan and his kingdom for all of eternity. Hallelujah!
CHRIST MY ETERNAL LIFE!
''These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glority Thee. As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.
''And this is eternal life , that they might know Thee the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.'' (John 17:1-3)
''Who is a Liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Whoso denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.'' (1 John 2: 22, 23)
''He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son, and this life is in His Son.
''He that hath the Son hath eternal life: and he that hath not the Son hath not eternal life.'' (1 John 5: 10-12)
An old Gospel song comes to mind:
''Without Him I can do nothing. Without Him I'd surely fail. Without Him I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail. So Iv'e asked Him to be my pilot. His Word my compass and guide. Till I've anchored safely in Heaven. For without Him I'd drift with the tide.''
GREATER IS CHRIST WTHIN ME!
The Bible says, ''Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
''Herein is love, not that we lived, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.
''And we have known and do testify that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God.
''And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE: and he that dwellth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love nade perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
''There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.'' (1 John 4: 4,6-10, 13,16-20). Amen.
