What We Have Now in Christ‏

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:15)

The one who is trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord has many wonderful possessions which cannot be seen with our physical eyes, but which are as real and permanent as if we were already in heaven. Many of these (only a few of which can be listed here) are noted by the present tense of the verb "have" (Greek, echo).

First of all, as our text indicates (and these are the words of Christ!), we who believe in Him have--right now--eternal life. Our sins have been taken care of by the sacrificial death of Christ, "in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7; see also Colossians 1:14). Our sins will be remembered against us no more, because we have already been eternally redeemed. Then, also, in spite of all our sins and failures, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

One of the great resources we now have, but use so seldom, is the capacity to "think God's thoughts after Him." "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Having the mind of Christ should keep us from sin. Nevertheless, "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Not only do we have an advocate defending us, but we have a priest as our mediator. "We have a great high priest, . . . Jesus the Son of God" (Hebrews 4:14).

Finally, we already "have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). And all this is only the beginning! "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard . . . the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). HMM

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INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org

March 4, 2008