Maintaining the New Relationship after Christ Mediation

By Aniefiok Moses, PhD, MTh

Scripture Reading: Psalm 113: 1-9

Text Roman 8: 1-3; 5: 1-6

Introduction

From Thursday 9^th April 2020 and throughout this retreat, we have heard that the relationship between God and man was severed after man through Adam’s disobedience, sinned against God (Genesis 2: 16; 3: 1-24). However, after the fall of man God made a different plan to bring man back to himself, hence, he sent his son Jesus Christ in the form of man to pay the price of sin. Therefore, Jesus qualified as a perfect mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2: 5). God is ever thinking and planning for good for man. From our scripture reading (Psalm 113: 6-8), the bible stated that God was not only mindful of our spiritual life but also our material welfare to raise us from poverty and dust to riches and glory so that we can now sit with the princes of heavenly beings. Indeed, we are moved from poverty, needs, garbage dumps to king’s palace, to reign with Christ forever. What a marvelous we serve or should serve. Praise be to God, Hallelujah. This message focuses primarily on how we can live the new life with God after we have been reconciled back to him through Christ mediation.

The Plan for Redemption through Christ Mediation

• Sin separated man from God, but Christ paid the price for our redemption (1 Corinthians 6: 20; 7: 23), so that we can serve God.
• There was need for forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10: 12), and Jesus qualified by being sinless (blameless) Luke 23: 14-6; to be a sacrificial lamb that bridged the gap.
• Jesus qualified to be the custodian of the will/inheritance (Galatians 3: 16) as the ordained seed of Abraham. Therefore as the testator, he died for the will to be effective (Hebrews 9: 16). Those admitted into God’s family by adoption (Galatians 4: 5-7; Romans 9: 4-5) through which have access to God’s promises of forgiveness of sins, Holy Spirit and all his gifts, eternal life, material blessings and riches, etc.
• Our relationship with God is sustained through the continue intercession of Christ (Romans 8:34).
• We thereafter have continued peace with God (Romans 5: 1).
• Therefore, the testator, who died passed on the benefits of the new covenant to us (Hebrews 9: 15), and he himself enables us to keep the new covenant by faith, not by law, but by knowledge of renewed relationship ignited by love (Hebrews 8: 10), thereby we are transformed into God’s image (which was our original status) from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3: 18), as planned by God from the beginning.

• Jesus death remove curses from us (1 Corinthians 5: 21).
• Thence we in Christ have moved higher above principalities and power through the working of the mighty power of God (Ephesians 1: 18-23).

The Beginning of Believer’s New Life

• The believer’s new life begins when one is born again (John 3: 3, 5-6). Afterward, we are begotten into the family of God by faith (1 Peter 1:3-5) and kept for salvation. Old things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and we begin to enjoy new life in Christ (Romans 6: 4-14; 7: 1).
• Notwithstanding, believers still wrestle with old nature. But thanks be to God that we have a righteous advocate (1 John 2: 1), who still mediate for us. But we must continue to put on the new man and live the new life (Ephesian 4: 22-24).
• We must also learn and endeavor to keep God new commandments (1John 2:8).

New Life in Prophesies

• Prophet Ezekiel prophesied about the need for a new heart for those who wish to live the new life (Ezekiel 36: 23-30; Jeremiah dwelt on the new covenant (Jeremiah 31: 27-34); Isaiah spoke of those who will receive new name (Isaiah 62: 1-8); and in Revelation, John prophesied about the new heaven, earth and Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 1-7; while he further spoke of new name (Revelation 2: 17) and new song (Revelation 5: 9).

The Characteristics of the New Life

• It is a spiritual experience – John 6: 63. The spirit quickens our mortal body and sets it on fire for the kingdom lifestyle.
• It is a definite experience through the conviction of sins and realization of the price paid for our redemption.
• Jesus is the only one who can make us fit for heaven’s new birth and new life.
• We are not saved by our own righteousness but by God’s mercy, grace and regeneration of the spirit – Titus 3: 5.
• It is a lasting experience that leads to eternal life.
• There is a change in our position from slave to sin to sons, and from being separated from God to constant fellowship as the enmity between us and God has been removed. Our names are now written in the book of live – Revelation 20:15.
• There is change in our relationship – we now have peace with God –Romans 5:1.
• There is a change in our attitude, as we are sealed against Satan manipulation – 2 Corinthians 1: 22;John 6: 27; Romans 4:11
• We now live by faith –Romans 1: 17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2: 20; 3:11 & Hebrews 10: 38.
• There is a change in our destination – John 5:24, from death to life.

Expectation from the New Life

• We must honor God (1Samuel 2: 25, 30), if we expected to be honored.
• We must study God’s word to show that we love it and understand it (2 Timothy 2: 14-15)
• We must praise and worship God continually (Hebrew 13: 15; Romans 15: 11; Ephesian 1: 6,12 & 14; Hebrew 2: 12; Revelation 19: 5).

Conclusion

2 Peter 1:4-11

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

NIV

Since we are in Christ and shared position (Ephesians 2: 6), and Christ is in God (John 14: 10), we can trust that the power that kept Jesus (Romans 8:11) from falling is able to keep up and make us succeed in this new life. We can move up with power and desire to know the power that is able to sustain us to the end like Paul (Philippians 3:10-11). We cannot afford to be separated again from God because Jesus will not die again for our mediation. We are expected to make great efforts to remain in newness of life and make our election sure (2 Peter 1: 5-8).

From now on, i) we must learn to appropriate God’s word for our benefit, read and study more often to understand how to relate with God, and to discover what the word is saying about our lives, our businesses, our families, etc.; ii) we must discover the power in the word and use it when talking to God in our prayers; iii) we must speak the word over ourselves, our lives and families; iv) we must believe God’s word wholeheartedly; v) we must speak positively about ourselves and families; vi) we must praise God and pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) for wisdom and direction (Ephesians 1: 19-20), with thanksgivings.

Prayer

LORD, we thank you for your word and also thank you that you worked the plan for our redemption through your son’s mediatory role. Grant us the power to walk in newness of life and full access to your inheritance, through Jesus name our Lord, Amen.