Scripture: Ephesians 2 v 13 - 22.
We were once very far from God but He sent His Son, Jesus
Christ, to make peace by removing the barrier of sin by His own Blood. He
abolished the law of commandments that were written against each of us to
reconcile us to the Father and destroy our enmity against Him.
Satan turned us into enemies when he held us hostage. He
conned us into many foolish lusts with false promises. These deceptive sins are stored in our
subconscious memories - this happened during the "Six Days" we were
held captive, in which time God created the Earth and everything in it as a
place where the souls of men could be fully manifested.
The subconscious brainwashing and fearful memories had to
be overcome and removed by the sacrifice of Jesus. He took on the whole bundle
of evil that was laid on us so that we could have authority over it. Jesus was
the Chief Cornerstone of the new creation. He was the firstborn of those who
would be born again. He was the prototype of the ones who would follow Him and
become like Him. In the world people slavishly follow every trendy celeb or
star, in dress, hair, mannerisms and lifestyle. They are living in a delusion.
Those who follow Jesus are living in reality.
Instead of abandoning us as hopeless losers Jesus became
the ransom that was paid to redeem our souls. His life for ours. No other god
or deity or celeb or politician has or will die in our place. Our King, High
Priest, Chief Cornerstone - our Lord Jesus Christ paid the full price of the
ransom so that by God's grace and favour we escaped death and destruction.
This scenario is played out in the world quite frequently
where terrorists hold hostages and make their demands. Governments state that
they will not be blackmailed by terrorists. In our case Jesus willingly offered
Himself in our place to release us from the ultimate terrorist and his demons.
Our arguments against Him; our hatred of God; our
blaspheming His name as a curse; our friendship with the world - was overturned
in one moment by the Blood of the Lamb as he hung dying. We had been completely brainwashed to behave
like that because our enemy knows what God will reject in us.
We were forgiven by the Father and our slate of offences
was wiped clean. We are no longer strangers or aliens but fellow citizens of
the Household of God. As soon as we are born again our heavenly citizenship is
restored.
We are spiritually built up on the foundations laid by
the prophets and apostles, and Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone of the
holy temple made up of our spirits for a dwelling place of God.
This is a building not of bricks and cement but a
spiritual dwelling in Heaven. We worship Him for saving us from satan's
clutches and cleansing us of all the evil he tempted us do.
Jesus says in Epesians 2 that we are seated in Him in
heavenly places on the right hand of the Father. Seated means our work is
finished. We have achieved salvation.