Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone - Part 496

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39). 

This revelation becomes more significant when we realize that God loved us first. Indeed, He loved us even before the foundations of our world was created. I the Lord your God have become your Saviour. Even in the Old Testament this revelation was evident. Isaiah 43:3 for example states "For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour."  

When the Word became flesh -- Jesus -- it was with one intention. That is, to redeem men and women from their fallen state. Jesus was tempted just as we are but He never succumbed. The reason for this? Because Jesus - God in the flesh - knew that all the vials of our sin being poured out on Jesus would  drink the cup right down to the last dregs willingly, knowing that death was imminent. And being man's only hope for salvation, He endured like a lamb being brought to the slaughter.

He opened not His mouth. He loved us so much that He became cursed for us. "For cursed is everyone that is hung/nailed on a tree." This body of Jesus was the only body inhabited by God Almighty. Jesus' body now accursed, left God with no fleshly earthly body to indwell. His own body was now cursed because of sin so that we could be reconciled in His now cursed body. In reality, we were made alive -- quickened -- because He took our place on the cross. He shed His blood so that our sins would be forgiven.

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone. But if the seed dies (as He died) it brings forth much fruit. In other words, Jesus was the only "begotten" son of God. Now, as a consequence of His sacrifice, we can become the sons of God having received of God the same spirit that was in Jesus. In fact, when you ask Jesus into your life, Jesus abides in us. His spirit indwells in our prone to sin bodies.

But Jesus knows our weaknesses. That is why He is our High priest. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He knows how to succour us. He is more than able to quicken. His ear will always be attentive to the shedding of the blood by His own holy spirit. Be still and know that I am God. This is my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So as a consequence, what does the Word ask us to do. To continue steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). "Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19,20). Stand in the offering plate!