In Psalms 89:11 we read, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all it contains, You have founded them.” (NASU)
In Psalms 24:1-2 we read, “The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. (2) For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.” (NASU)
Even we ourselves are NOT OUR OWN, WE BELONG TO GOD. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (20) For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (NASU),
This Principle, (THAT GOD OWNS EVERYTHING AND WE OWN NOTHING) is absolutely critical for us to understand and for us to unconditionally accept as TRUTH! We cannot be in a “RIGHT RELATIONSHIP" with GOD without this TRUTH abiding and working within us! GOD has "HIS HANDS" in and on everything. HE is in FULL CONTROL OF ALL THINGS. HE is at WORK in every situation, every second, of every day! Philippians 2:13-14 states, “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (14) Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” (NASU) Verse 14 describes the attitude that we are “NOT TO HOLD” regarding this truth. For us to function in our relationship with “THE GODHEAD” (each member of The Trinity) in the manner that GOD desires (and in a manner that is best for us), we must resolve to be content with this TRUTH in our hearts and minds every day!
O.K. GOD OWNS IT ALL. Then, what can we call “ours?”
Yes, there are some “things” we can really call “ours.” For all of us who have made the decision to ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD, WE CAN CLAIM SEVERAL THINGS AS TRULY “OURS!” Here are a few.
1. Our Salvation – Yes, our Salvation is truly ours. It is a Precious Gift to us from God Our Father and from Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. It is “ours” Forever!
2. The Promise of Eternal Life – yes, we have this “Sure Promise” from God and from Jesus Christ.
3. We have Position – Yes, God has placed us in these Positions.
A. We are “Born Again” into God’s Family
B. We are “Adopted as Sons” (or Daughters) by GOD, Our Father.
C. We are “Joint Heirs” with Jesus Christ of all that Our Father God Possesses.
D. We are “Forgiven” of all our sin by God Our Father (Because of The Complete Payment for Our Sins by Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary!)
E. We are “Cleansed” of All Sin– By God Our Father.
F. We Receive the “Infilling” of The Holy Spirit as GOD within us (Permanently).
G. We are “Sealed” by God with The Holy Spirit (Permanently)
H. We are “Saints – Declared Such by God Our Father.
I. We are Declared “Righteous” by God Our Father.
J. We are “Justified” – Declared “JUST” by GOD Our Father.
K. We are “Sanctified – Cleansed of Sin by God our Father
L. We have The Promise of “A NEW IMMORTAL BODY.”
4. We have the Sure Promise from GOD that we will one day be
“GLORIFIED” – made “JUST LIKE JESUS!”
5. We have THE PROMISE OF A MULTITUDE OF BLESSINGS.
These are a “sampling of what we truly “possess” and are able to “Call Our Own.” However, just because we possess these things and positions in Jesus Christ does not mean that we always “Act” in a manner that we should. For example, we are “THE VERY RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.” Since we are still in these “Human Bodies of Flesh,” we rarely “ACT” in a manner that shows our ”POSITION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Still, we are “RIGHTEOUS!” WHY? BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED US “RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
When we read in James about praying the Prayer of a “RIGHTEOUS MAN” WE CAN PRAY SUCH A PRAYER FROM OUR “POSITION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” WE ARE “RIGHTEOUS” EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T ACT LIKE WE ARE RIGHTEOUS. AGAIN, THIS IS BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED US “RIGHTEOUS.” HE HAS DONE THIS ON THE BASIS OF JESUS CHRIST PAYING FOR ALL SIN, FOR ALL MANKIND, FOR ALL TIME UPON THE CROSS OF CALVARY! WE ARE RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST “PURCHASED” US AND WE ARE NOW “IN” JESUS CHRIST – WE ARE IN HIS BODY – THE CHURCH! BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS RIGHTEOUS – WE ARE RIGHTEOUS!
THIS REASONING APPLIES TO ALL THE ABOVE LISTED “THINGS” WE POSSESS AS “OURS” BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF GOD OUR FATHER AND THE PERFECT SACRIFICE OF OUR SAVIOR AND LORD - JESUS CHRIST!
ONE LAST POINT – THIS APPLIES ONLY TO YOU IF (AND THIS IS A MIGHTY IMPORTANT “IF”) YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR COMPLETE FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND, YOU HAVE ACCEPTED HIM INTO YOUR LIFE AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD! YOU HAVE AN ABIDING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST THAT WILL LAST FOREVER!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Pastor J. Gilbert Hammond