Lived so that we can triumph in his name.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. – 2 Corinthians 2:14

The apostle Paul was talking about his ministry in these verses and in the middle he decided to Give God thanks for his ministry, his relationship through Christ and the way that God was able to use him to help others.  Likewise we also need to be thankful to God that through Jesus we can minister to others who need to hear the good news of the gospel.

Give us authority and power in His name

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

He has given us authority to Go in His name and do his will.  We are to go.  Weather it is to go next door or to go to another country and make disciples.  It is the great commission and every Christians call.  We are not all evangelist in the formal sense but we all have gifts that we can use to fulfill the great commission.  As we go we have comfort knowing that Jesus is with us.

Came not to bring peace but a sword.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’  “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. – Matthew 10:34-39

Christian commitment may separate friends and loved ones.  In saying this, Jesus was not encouraging disobedience to parents or to cause conflict at home. Rather, he was showing that his presence demands a decision.  Because someone will follow Christ and some wont, conflict will inevitably arise.  Don’t neglect your family but remember how important your commitment to God is.

Came to set the captive & oppressed free.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-20

In Jesus saying this He was saying that he was proclaiming himself as the one who would bring this Good news to pass.  As we are living about 2000 years later, we see the impact that Jesus has had in our lives and in the entire world.  Think about all the people he healed of physical blindness, and how may spiritual eyes he has opened.  How many people have been bounded up and oppressed by the devil and through the power of Jesus they are now free.  This was what Jesus came to do.

He came to fulfill the law

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. – Matthew 5:17

God’s moral and ceremonial laws were given to help people love God with all their hearts and minds.  Throughout Israel’s history, these laws had been either misquoted and misapplied and by this time when Jesus arrived, the laws were turned into a confusing mass of rules.  When Jesus talked about a new way to understand God’s law, he was actually trying to bring people back to its original purpose. And as we accept Christ and live in Him, we are under grace and not a slave to the law again.

Show us how to have abundant life in Him (Abide in him)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

In contrast to the thief, who takes life, Jesus comes to give life.  The life that He gives right now is abundantly fuller and richer.  It is eternal yet it begins immediately at salvation.  Live in Chris is lives at a higher level; because of God’s forgiveness, love, and guidance.

Jesus Died to set us free from the penalty of Sin

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:1-4

Imagine that you are on death row and the judge suddenly declares you absolutely free to go.  The fact is that the whole human race was in line waiting to try to pay for their sins themselves until Jesus came to die for the world.  Without Jesus we would have no hope at all but thank God that he has declared us NOT GUILTY and has offered us freedom from sin and given us the power to do h