I was reflecting on Wednesdays reading in Matthew about Christ's baptism and the connection with Paul's insistence about how we are "In Christ".
Throughout the book of Ephesians and throughout Paul's letters Paul insists that if we are redeemed then we are 'In Christ', which means what is true of Christ is true of us. Because we are saved by Jesus Christ and as Paul wrote 'hidden in Christ' then we have all the blessings that Christ has. So when the Holy Spirit descends and God pronounces on Jesus 'this is my beloved with who I am well pleased" we can also know God speaks those same words to us.
Because of Christ we are beloved--- greatly loved by God. And in Christ God is even well pleased. We have a hard time thinking God is pleased with us. Usually in our sin we think the opposite. But what a wonder to think that God is well pleased with his creation. He created you and he doesn't make junk. Though tainted masterpieces we are still masterpieces and God is well pleased by his creation.
And God is well pleased by his redemption. He is well pleased by the work of salvation in Jesus Christ. He is well pleased by grace and agape love. And those are ours through Jesus Christ. So rejoice in the fact that even though you sin and you stray you are beloved!
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