In Christ

Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

There is a name that has been spoken for two thousand years. To some it is a curse word, others have tried to make that name nothing more than a lie, or a prophet, or a just a man. The world has tried to minimize this name in every way possible. There is no other God whose name is used as a swear word. Yet, in countless hospitals, patients and even doctors bow their heads and speak His name. At the bedside of children across the world, weary Moms pray for healing in His name. In prisons, hardened men and women kneel before Him and seek His help. Even the sun and the stars declare that He is Lord. There is no other name like Jesus.

All of Heaven marvel at His glory, there has never been anyone like Jesus. When there was no way, Jesus became the Way. When there was only death, Jesus became Life. When lies and deceit had encompassed the hearts of men, Jesus became Truth. Forsaking the splendor of Heaven, stepping down from the throne of God, forever changing and taking on a robe of flesh Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father and became Emmanuel, God with us. There is no other name whereby men might be saved. Jesus took the stripes, Jesus took the nails, Jesus stood condemned, Jesus carried the cross, Jesus was spit upon, pierced in His side, and it was Jesus and Jesus alone that died for our sins.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53.5)

Isaiah the Prophet lays out before us two very distinct parties in the above verse, Jesus and You. Everything that He endured was for you. Every stripe upon His back was for you. Every wound, every bruise, every pain, every step up that hill was for you. This is the truth that upholds the blessings of our life. We were condemned but Jesus died. We had disobeyed but Jesus paid the price and everything that we are, everything that we have, everything that we will become is all because we are “in Christ.”