Christ for Us

The apostle John wrote, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us (1 Jn 4:16).” God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). He remembered us in our low estate (Ps 136:23), while we were helpless (Rom 5:6), hopeless and godless (Eph 2:12).

We have had good news preached to us (Heb 4:2), by His gracious sending of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit testifies to us of Jesus Christ (Heb 10:15). The Son of God gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed (Titus 2:14). This is our God, for whom we have waited that He might save us (Is 25:9).

Now, if God is for us, who is against us (Rom 8:31)? God chooses our inheritance for us (Ps 47:4). We have obtained this inheritance (Eph 1:11), evidenced by the pledge, the Holy Spirit, given to us (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14). Therefore, we give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Col 1:12), which is eternal (Heb 9:15), imperishable and undefiled and will not fade way, reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet 1:4).

Christians are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), who redeemed us (Gal 3:13), and gave Himself for us (Gal 5:2), rescuing us from the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), setting us free from slavery to sin (Jn 8:34; Gal 5:1; Rom 6:6, 16–20).

God has not destined us for wrath (1 Thess 5:9); so Christ has become a propitiation for our sins (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10), absorbing the wrath of God, in our place of punishment. Jesus also delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10), on the awful Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1–17; 1 Thess 5:1).

In the predetermined plan of God (Acts 2:23), Jesus Christ volunteered to come for His chosen people, to save us from our sins (Mt 1:21). He took on flesh for us (Jn 1:14). He lived in perfect compliance to the Law of God for us (Mt 5:17; Heb 4:15). And God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, and He died for us so we will live together with Him, forever (1 Thess 5:10).

With the requirement of the Law fulfilled in us (Rom 8:4), Christ now appears in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:24). Knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18), we have this hope set before us (Heb 6:18) that all things are freely given to us, who are in Him (Rom 8:32), who intercedes for us (Rom 8:34).

God the Father and God the Son have poured out the Holy Spirit upon us from on high (Is 32:15) and into our hearts (Rom 5:5). The indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Jas 4:5) is working in us (Heb 13:21), equipping us to do God’s will, according to His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). Christian, this is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27), who also reveals to you the things prepared for you (1 Cor 2:10), which are not to be compared to this present suffering (Rom 8:18).

Now He who has prepared us for immortality is God, who gave to us the Spirit, as a pledge (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). The Holy Spirit is not a Spirit of timidity (2 Tim 1:7); but we boast in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:31), who has made us adequate as servants (2 Cor 3:6), bearing witness of Him to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Our mission is to go in faith (Mt 28:19–20), knowing God will open up to us a door for the Word (Col 4:3). We pray and preach (Acts 6:4) that the elect might be brought to God (1 Pet 3:18). We suffer, as did Paul, for the sake of the elect (2 Tim 2:10), joining in the sufferings of Christ’s affliction, on behalf of His body, His church (Col 1:24), which is the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Rom 8:26), even as He guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13), and directs our steps (Prv 3:6), giving us beautiful feet as we go (Rom 10:15). Our message, preached in the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:24) is “Christ for us.” This is Gospel. It is from God, through God, and to God (Rom 11:36). Thus, it is the power of God unto salvation, for all who believe it (Rom 1:16–17). We believe it because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38), who has caused us to be born again (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3).

The life giving Spirit of God (Job 33:4; Jn 6:63; 1 Cor 15:45), given to us as a gift (Acts 2:38; 10:45), is He who gives us the gift of faith (Phil 1:29), producing our faithfulness, as a fruit of His work (Gal 5:22). Justification and sanctification both belong to the Lord (Rom 3:26; 1 Thess 4:3; c/f Jon 2:9).

Friend, you are reading of the mysteries of God’s salvation of His chosen people (Rom 11:5; Eph 1:4–5). You either assess them to be foolishness (1 Cor 1:18) or glorious (Gal 6:14; 1 Tim 1:11). I only ask you to consider how the Bible already knows your response to the Good News about God’s only begotten Son (Jn 3:16)! I implore you to search the Scriptures for yourself, which is the common neglect of those who are perishing.

Christian, Christ Jesus is for us. Rejoice! His love for us — His beloved people — is unfailing (1 Cor 13:8), and it is everlasting (Jer 31:3). He is working everything, everyday, and in every way for your good (Rom 8:28). Your victory is manifested in every thought, word, or deed done in faith (1 Jn 5:4). He is always leading us in His triumph (2 Cor 2:14), even when we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23:4).

The realization of the person and work of Jesus Christ is the God-glorifying revelation being applied to souls around the world, today. To know God, by knowing Jesus Christ, is to know your salvation. To have this knowledge means you have His Spirit in you (Jn 14:26; 16:13). There is joy in knowing more of Him. With every increase in knowledge, you will rest in the same glorious conclusion: “Christ is for us.” Hallelujah!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 17, 2022