THEME: CELEBRATING OUR JOYS AND HOPE IN CHRIST (PART 1) 

Thanks be to God for the Joy of Salvation and Hope of Glory in Jesus Christ. Both constitute great investment of divine love, mercy and power in the human estate. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  In Christ Jesus, Man is elected unto a New Life not only of victory over sin, death and Satan, but also unto a life of the fullness of divine nature with all its joys, powers and treasurers. 

The Divine Nature which is the height of inheritance in Christ Jesus delivers man from the trajectories of the Fallen Nature, Human Weakness and Frailty and Spiritual Powerlessness in Man’s encounter with the spiritual, elemental and physical environment in nature, Man has had difficulty with dominion of the earth. 

It is this aspect of the human tragedy that has led the peoples of the world throughout the ages to bow to and worship snakes and stones, rivers and trees, hills and mountains, dwarfs, mermaids and fishes, marine spirits, angels, animals and birds, sun, moon and stars, the so-called gods, goddesses and deities, idols and images and oftentimes fellow human beings of position, place and fortune, or men with alliance with the spirits and powers of darkness. 

The Human Fallen Nature has exposed man to a bundle of problems such that many and all so overwhelmed succumb to all manner of bondages and indignities at the hands of spirits and powers, fellow men and women and Societies with structures and cultures of captivity and depravity, degrade and desecrate the human race.  Evil people delight themselves with evil spirits and their evil ways, delight in and engage in fellowship with demons and familiar spirits, witchcraft and sorcery. 

Thus, religion and culture, tradition, customs and social construct in many a place are a reflection of the human fallen nature and weakness, bondage and captivity at the hand of the devil, wicked spirits and men. They have set up systems of exploitation, manipulation and oppression robbery, destruction and death (John 10:10; Eph. 2:1-3). 

It is a fact, is it not, that Satan in desperation over his rejection and sack from the joys of heaven and presence of God would go every length not only to deceive and enlist men in rebellion against God and disobedience of Him but also to prevent man from enjoying fully the even lowered level of Life, Liberty, Joy And Glory of fallen man. 

As is well known, and the scriptures have confirmed this, Satan takes advantage of human weakness and sin to rein terror, wickedness and death upon man. The truth is that there is a ceaseless and unabated war between man and Satan. 

Yet when men in fear, ignorance and helplessness submit to Satan’s reign and rule he has nothing to offer but the perpetuation of the Human Fallen Heritage of weakness and guilt, condemnation and curses, sin and death and the provocation and intensification of Divine Wrath and Judgement.  His agents and emissaries offer no more than debauchery and death. 

For this cause Christ came to save man from sin.  For this cause, He made the supreme sacrifice, offered His holy sinless blood on the cross for atonement once and for all for all sin, condemnation, curses and death.  He has come to reconcile man with God, cancel and deliver man from the operation of Divine Wrath and Judgement. 

Christ by His sacrificial death and atoning blood and resurrection has also set in motion the release or deliverance of the spirit of man from condemnation to controlling spirits and forces of darkness, captivity and bondage. Christ has placed man in life, love, light, liberty and peace with access to the heavenly court of divine presence and mercy seat, his providence and the goodness and fullness of joy in Him. 

Not only that, through the new birth (John 3:3-5; 1:12-13) Christ Jesus imparts His divine spirit nature, graces, authority, wisdom and understanding, attributes, powers and glory into the Human Spirit System (John 1:16). 

Thus, by the salvation at the cross, by the new birth and resurrection spirit, Jesus Christ raises man to a new level of spirit nature.  Man Born Again is no more a living soul in the image of God. He has become a Divine Person with access to the graces and fullness of divine nature.  This is the Heritage of Sonship in and with Christ – Divine Graces, Riches, Eternal Life and Glory. 

It is this whole heritage of the riches of God in Jesus Christ that the Church celebrates every day and everywhere.  Christ Jesus the Saviour and Redeemer, the Second Adam and Hope of Glory is the centre, spirit, purposes, glory and reality of the Christian Faith.  To grow and mature in Him and Bear the Fruit of the Divine Nature is the Open Door and Greatest treasure in the faith. 

It is this that the Apostle Paul refers to when he says with joy and hope that he counts all things, all honor, all knowledge, all power, all riches, and all human glory but dung in his bid and goal to win Christ.  To Win Christ is to Enter, Settle, Rest in and attain the fullness of the divine nature through the Open Divine Spirit Door in and of Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:7-15). 

This is the upward call which Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit yearns.  It is a height of spiritual perfection to be fully identified with Christ in the fellowship of His suffering, conformation to His death and His resurrection.  Paul yearns to attain and put on as a Spirit Person perfection and glory in the fullness of the stature of Christ. 

This also is the Open Door and ultimate Goal set before all Christians.  We yearn for the New Heavenly Body, free from corruption and mortality, limited powers and glory. 

This is the Joy of Salvation, Resurrection and Hope of Glory Christians everywhere celebrate.