^{God Has Done Great Things}

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the Head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

When you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.  Colossians 2:8-14

If we read those Scriptures carefully we realize that the elementary principles of the world are made clear as to what they are, when we read the next sentence:  For in Him (Christ) we have been made complete – HE’s the Head over all authority and rule – then He made us something RELIGION could never make us:  New creatures in Christ. 

God actually PERFORMED a true action on us.  We were circumcised spiritually in our hearts, a/k/a “born again” of God’s Spirit.  Our spirits were united to God through One Holy Spirit.  We are living in vital union with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  (All found in the Holy Scriptures!)

God started out with our being dead.  (Funny, in the kitchen I start out with dead meat too! Have never cooked a live chicken!) He says we were dead in our spirit (though alive physically) – we were incapable of EVER being holy, EVER being righteous.  We could “try” and pull off spirituality (which the world does through religion) but it’s not real – it’s not the true transaction and it is not according to Christ, as the Scriptures says.

God has given us forgiveness of sins but again, more than this – we are PART OF CHRIST!  This is a great reality.  (Ephesians 5)

One of the most interesting studies of science is molecular biology.  These scientists study DNA – one of the 3 major macromolecules essential to all forms of life.  This is what we call genetics.

So in true contrast to God’s Word, God’s reality, God’s action to us and in us – we are part of God’s gene pool through Jesus Christ.  The Word of God truly declares this.

In essence, we are doing more than just learning how to walk – that’s like a baby being born into this world, and all the focus the parents have on that child is for them to learn how to walk.  That’s sad.  There is SO much more to a baby, or a child than learning HOW to walk.

There’s his/her heart, their entire being in relationship to the parents – their formation, their understanding, their maturity, their participation in life.

We were placed into the Body of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  We were made sons and daughters of the Living God – we were placed as a member to function – not be paralyzed – we are real members too.  God is having relationship and fellowship with us as sons and daughters – Christ is being formed in us, dwelling in us bringing forth fruit and life.  He desires for us to participate in His LIFE!

Understanding the greatness of Jesus Christ and our being in Him is one of the great battles of this life – Satan wars over our knowing the TRUTH of Christ and our oneness in Him.

Just because there are many distractions, many lies, and wars against the very life-giving, life-freeing Word of God does not mean we cannot know the Truth – God grants it to us.  It is His will.  We simply need to allow Him to renew our minds.  He says He will and that in doing so, we are transformed from faith to faith, glory to glory!

God says for us to examine our lives here on earth, to see if we are going the religion route or the faith of His Son route.  Those are the two roads.  Galatians 2:20.

“Thank you, dear Father God for the GREAT things you have done to save us.  May we surely appreciate and take into our hearts more deeply and richly these great Truths.  Amen.”

Sue Gaither