David uses this session to reveal more of how Christ goes ahead of his followers in four different directions.
First, Jesus goes before us into the Throne Room of heaven, opening a living way for us through His blood so that we can follow Him boldly into the Holy Place (Hebrews 10). From there he also intercedes without ceasing.
Second, Jesus is also the “first fruits” of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). He has gone ahead of us into the future to bring it back to us. So that now we can reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in him as if we were already raised from the dead (Romans 6).
Third, in Christ's triumph over sin and death, he became the eternal heir of all the promises of God (Romans 8). Thus, through him we may enter into those promises, as in him they become our inheritance as well (2 Corinthians 1). Because he already reigns on high, as we set our hearts on what his kingship is all about, we get to share in all the resources of his Kingdom (Colossians 3).
Finally, the supreme Christ goes ahead of us and prepares the way for us to have a ministry to the world for His sake and His gain.
The Christ Institute Sessions
Video 5:2 – How does Christ go before me into the Future?
Bible Focus:
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:4-11
After Completing Your Video:
Pause: Spend a minute in silence, reflecting on today’s teaching. What was the most meaningful part for you? How did it speak to you?
Reflect: In what ways did today's teaching video give you greater reasons to put your hope in Christ alone -- for your life, for your church, for your generation? As well as for eternity?
Apply: What is one insight about the glory of Christ you gained today that you would like to share with one other believer before the day is over, in order to help that person gain a little bit larger vision of the greatness of Christ, too?
Pray: What would you like ask the Father to do in your life by His Spirit that would deepen some facet of your relationship to His glorious Son?
