Identification, Part 2

 

From Curse to Blessing

When Jesus died on the cross, He took all the evil consequences due to the rebellion of the whole human race. One aspect of that has to do with curses and blessings. Because Christ was made sin for us, He was also made a curse. Why? So that we could partake of all the blessings.

 

From Sickness to Healing

Part of the curse that Jesus bore for us has to do with mental and physical sickness. Since He bore these things in His body, physical healing has been obtained for us. The fact that “we were healed” is always in the past tense. It has already happened.

 

From Poverty to Prosperity

Christians often have an incorrect view of poverty. Derek shows us that poverty is part of the curse. In fact, on the cross Jesus experienced absolute poverty: He was hungry, thirsty, naked and in want of all things. His suffering made way for us to receive the abundance that was due to Him.

 

From Rejection to Acceptance

Derek explains today the meaning of rejection. It is the feeling of being unwanted, unworthy and not really belonging. As the sin of humanity came upon Jesus on the cross, God averted His eyes. He could not look on sin. That was for our good—that we might receive God’s total acceptance.

 

From Death to Life

Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. This inevitable consequence was cancelled on the cross, as Jesus died in our place. When we accept this truth, we find that it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. He is resurrected—and so will we be. He died our death that we might have His life.