MONDAY, AUGUST 7
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
2 Corinthians 4:10

"…the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body."

SANCTIFIED BY CHRIST’S HOLY LIFE

Forensic justification or positional sanctification causes us to be dead to the old man and the sinful flesh. Without the resurrection of the Saviour Jesus Christ, we shall be condemned in our sins without any justification or true holiness. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (1 Cor 15:17). Knowing this truth, we shall turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, humbly believe on Him and live by Him moment by moment each day to bear good fruit, just like the branches living by the vine (John 15:5), and living by the Lord. "…he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" (John 6:57). Knowing this truth, we shall not be deceived by those who preach a false gospel, who do not truly believe the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s Word. Without justification which comes by faith in Christ alone, no one can ever live a true sanctified Christian life!

Although we have been reconciled, justified and cleansed by Jesus’ precious blood, we still need the Lord Jesus and His holy life to sanctify us progressively from our sinful flesh and to help us do God’s Word and will each day. Truly, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10). That was how Paul experienced the Lord’s deliverance each day. "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…" (Rom 7:24-25). Paul also experienced Christ’s life in him. "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" (Gal 2:20), and "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (2 Cor 4:10). No one is able to overcome the law of sin (one’s sinful nature) and death (the penalty of sin) without the death and life of the risen Christ. It is only when we live in the risen Christ and live by the Holy Spirit can we be "free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2). Are you?

THOUGHT: No life from the risen Christ, no true sanctification!
PRAYER: Lord, I thank Thee for living in me with Thy holy life.