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 5:6 – What are the implications for my Christian discipleship?
Bible Focus:
"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:10-14
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?