There is a three-fold privilege that every Christian possesses. We are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, we are participants in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and we are a letter written by Christ to the world expressing His love for mankind. God’s goal is to re-create in us the untarnished image of God and through us bring others back to the saving grace of Christ. Let’s examine these three areas more closely.
Indwelt by the Spirit of Christ.
Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit was with them and would be in them. On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God was poured on all of the disciples and Peter gave a powerful message of salvation as God’s love letter to the people of Jerusalem. He made this promise in Acts 2:38, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit.” – GNT
The Apostle Paul wrote extensively about the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us in Romans 8. The Spirit sets us free from the Law of Sin and Death and puts us under the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. The Spirit dwells within us; if anyone does not have the Spirit, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9-11).
So it is clear that a true Christian is born of the Spirit of God and He lives within us who believe in Jesus. Jesus promised it, Peter preached it after he experienced it, and Paul wrote from his experience of it. Think about what a privilege it is for you as a believer in Jesus to have His Spirit living right inside of you. He directs your thoughts, calms your fears, encourages you, and forms the image of Christ more completely in you daily. But there is more.
We are Participants In Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection
Because we are born anew in Christ by His Spirit we share in His life. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5-6 that the Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. In John 1 we are told that Jesus is the Light of the World and His Light is our life. In John 10 Jesus told us that He came so that we might have abundant life. People outside of Christ don’t know what it means to be alive in the spirit because they walk in spiritual darkness.
But we are also called to share in the suffering and death of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” – NLT. This is the part that often makes us squeamish. No one likes the idea of suffering and dying. Jesus didn’t either, but He knew it was necessary to give us real life, eternal life. He looked beyond the pain and suffering and saw what was to come. Isaiah 53:11 speaking about the results of Christ’s suffering says,
“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.” – NLT.
Jesus commanded us to share the Good News of salvation and new life that can be found only in Him to the rest of the world. He also told us we would share in His suffering. The early apostles rejoiced that they had been counted worthy to suffer persecution for the name of Jesus. (Acts 5:17-42.)
Since that time, we have always faced opposition to the pure message of Christ. At times that opposition has been strong enough to result in civil punishment and even death at the hands of unbelievers or false Christians.
We are a Letter from Christ
God revealed Himself to us through the Old Testament scriptures, through Moses and the various prophets. But words were not enough for God to show us who He is and how much He loves and cares for us. So, God the Father sent God the Son, the exact representation of the Father to us. Through Jesus, we heard the words of the Father and saw His love and care demonstrated in the teaching and miracles of Jesus.
After Jesus ascended back to the Father in heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in and through us. In Acts 1:4-8 He told the disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Then, once they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit they would be His witnesses in this world. Today, through Christ living in us, we are His love letter to the world around us. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:3, “Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.” – NLT.
We are sent into this world. We are not to conform to its ways or adopt its attitudes and beliefs. Rather we are sent as witnesses to the world of Christ’s love and power. By our words, activities, and the very character of our being, we are a letter from God to the world. God wants others to see His love and holiness in our lives so that they may also believe in Jesus and be saved.
*Dan Wilt wrote these three ideas in The Seedbed Daily Text for April 22, 2024, titled “The Letters of Union and Love.” I would encourage the reader to reference that text as well at https://seedbed.com/?_fs=34368d28-26bc-4e86-a3eb-5004d391da65.
For New Living Translation (NLT):
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
For the Good News Translation (GNT):
Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Christian Hope for Today's World 