My column last week pointed out that God views the “net worth” of every individual person according to an entirely different criteria than that of the world.
In the world, people tend to be viewed as “assets” and are valued according to what someone will pay for them (income wise).
Not so with Christians. They have been bought and prepaid for with the precious blood of God’s only Son, Jesus, making their worth to God of infinite value.
While the world’s “assets” tend to be physical/material, God’s “assets” are spiritual and are directly related to the value of Jesus Himself because the believer is viewed as “in Christ.”
So, what are the benefits and blessings that accrue to every believer? Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:21-23:
“So then, no one is to be boasting in people. For all things belong to you (believers), whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
Let’s unpack this mind-blowing “benefit package,” noting that each one is of eternal value:
The “lowliest” Christian’s inventory of blessings.
Paul or Apollos or Cephas (and all the Saints)
All the great Old Testament and New Testament saints belong to every Christian. No favorites, no factions or denominations, all believers are equal under the blood of Christ.
As written in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14: “For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
The World
Every born-again believer is a joint heir of Christ and therefore, one day in the future, will take possession of the world and all its treasures under the benevolent rule of Christ.
As foretold in Revelation 21:1-3: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth … And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them …’”
Life
The very highest form of “life” (in the Greek, “Zoe”) is life within itself, as God has it. Zoe life is the eternal life that Christ promised to give anyone who came to Him in faith.
This life is the present possession of every born-again believer and can never be extinguished, as John 10:10 promises: “I came so that they would have life and have it abundantly.”
All other life (in the Greek, “Bios”) is derived and therefore contingent life. Bios life is temporal and destined to die someday. As Vine notes, “While zoe is life intensive, bios is life extensive.”
Death
The ultimate terror of nonbelievers is physical death. In contrast, death constitutes the entrance into heavenly glory for believers.
Paul put it this way in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Because believers have eternal life, spiritual death (the worst kind) is no longer a threat to them.
Things Present
Oh, how we worry, even in the face of Christ’s comforting words in Matthew 6:31-33, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”
Things to Come
Similarly, Christ cautioned in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Therefore, let God be God, Sovereign and ever watchful over the life of every believer.
We Belong to Christ
Listen carefully. Ephesians 1:13-14 assures that every believer belongs to Christ: “In Him (Christ), you (believers) also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Wow.
And Christ Belongs to God
Remember these words from the lips of the Savior in John 10:29-31: “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Case closed.
How About You?
The world has historically been very callous about the value of human life. Not so with God, as written in Ephesians 1:17-19: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints …”