Pastor A

The blood of Christ; that is how much it cost to purchase redemption and make eternal life available. Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” The tremendous realization which overwhelmed Paul was expressed so well when he wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul went on to say in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;“

Every moment of Paul’s suffering was a moment of identification with Jesus’ suffering. Paul got into the habit of picturing himself crucified on the cross with Jesus Christ. He identified with that event because Jesus’ death on the cross made possible Paul’s spiritual life.

The Bible says that death cannot eternally imprison any believer. Why? Because on that first Easter morning, Jesus Christ defeated death. you can identify with what He did that day, because He did it for you. I Corinthians 15:12-34 states, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.“

Jesus Christ is the only person that has ever defeated death. We should be willing to identify with Him, no matter what the cost!

When we are identified with the living, victorious Jesus Christ, we are automatically separated from the world. The emphasis should never be placed on separation from the things, but on the identification with the Person.

One of the most basic laws of science states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This same principle holds true spiritually. When we turn to God, we automatically turn from that which is opposed to Him. However, when we turn to the world, automatically we turn from God. A bumper sticker gets the message across: “If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved?”

To be fair, there are also some Christians who make the mistake of emphasizing the positive element of separation and forget the negative aspect. The Word of God includes both. The Bible says, “Flee fornication… Abstain from all appearance of evil… be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Obviously, these verses can in no way be interpreted as positive statements. They represent the negative side of a powerful, life-changing doctrine.

Identifying with Jesus Christ is not easy. He never said it would be. Quite to the contrary, He said His disciples would be disliked and even despised. Real identification with Jesus Christ is identifying with what He did, with His death, burial, and resurrection.

In almost every account of individuals receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, God’s Word also mentions the baptism of the new believers. It is extremely important to understand the significance of this. When a new Christian submitted to baptism in those days, it often resulted in total alienation from his family. First-century historians recorded that many parents disowned their children when they were baptized. This was especially true in Jewish households.

Baptism in water is an act which openly identifies the believer with Christ. It is the first step of obedience we must take after our spiritual birth. Acts 8:36, “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Receiving eternal life is not dependent on our baptism, but our identification is.

The apostle Paul probably suffered more for his faith in Christ than any other man. He really went through the wringer: he was beaten with rods, imprisoned, subjected to hard labor, bullwhipped, stoned, shipwrecked, lost at sea, robbed, cheated, reviled, persecuted, and even left for dead. But did he gripe about all this? NO, in fact, he said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities…” II Corinthians 12:9

Paul did not have a martyr complex. He wasn’t hung up on self-pity because of all the things he had to go through. He knew well that Jesus had suffered much more. Daily Paul reminded himself of the price the Savior had paid with His own blood.

We will examine this aspect in greater detail tomorrow.