In Touch - June 21, 2007

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

            A person’s attitude toward Jesus Christ tends to fall into one of three categories. First, some people don’t believe He’s God. They reject, ignore, or diminish His character and lifesaving work, claiming He was simply a “good” person. Second, others may intellectually acknowledge Jesus is God’s Son but have no personal relationship with Him. Third, His true followers believe in their heart that Christ is Savior. As a result of genuine faith, believers become part of His family.

            Ephesians 2:1-2 says that before salvation, we’re spiritually dead. During this time, we live according to our sin nature. Those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus remain in that state. But when someone places faith in Him, spiritual birth takes place. Then, he’s made alive in Christ and becomes a new creation. The new believer no longer lives according to the “flesh.”

            Our position in the Lord affects everything about us, including our attitudes, emotions, conversation, and conduct. The culture’s ungodliness no longer fits our character. As believers, we’re to grow in Christlikeness. We’re to embrace ideas, thought patterns, and activities which are pleasing to God, while rejecting all others.

            Jesus willingly took our sins upon Himself. He experienced divine wrath in our place. God accepted His death as full payment for our sins. Ephesians 1:20 says the Lord raised Jesus from the dead to a position of divine glory. His Spirit now lives within us. Understand who Jesus Christ is. Let that knowledge strengthen your commitment to be like Him.

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