ENRICHED BY THE GOSPEL.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich" (Cor 8:9)

"He was rich"

Christ left the splendour of heavenly glory, the worship of angels, the face to face intimacy with Father God so so that he could deal with the problem of the sinfulness of mankind.  That is why He came to this world 2000 years ago. 

"He became poor"

The Lord of glory while being fully God was also fully man.  He encouraged all the trials and suffering of man.  He was clothed in the grab of humanity and many a time had no place to lay his head.  He ultimately went to the cross and died there for you and for me and the sins of the whole world.  When he died he was placed in a grave made available by a friend.

Praise God, neither death nor the grave could hold him - he rose from the dead triumphantly on the third day and is now alive forevermore. (Rev 1:17 -18)

"We are rich now" 

As we confess our sins and accept with gratitude Christ's work on the cross, we become partakers of eternal eternal life.  We are enriched now with the presence an power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we have the wonderful intimacy with our Father God through Jesus Christ.  Moreover, we look forward to the glorious hope of being together with our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes we are rich beyond all measure because of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ!  Let us now share this glorious message to everyone we meet.  Let us enrich people as we have been enriched by the Gospel! 

Jonathan James.