"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
This lesson is likely very difficult for many people to accept.
Jesus did not just die for us, although He certainly did:
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2: 13)
and also
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1: 15)
Jesus did not just die as us, although this revelation is crucial (based on the Cross, and an important understanding on which the Christian life hangs!):
"4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 4-6)
Jesus rose from the dead, to demonstrate that we are fully justified:
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
We cannot talk about our sins paid for unless we accept also the gift of righteousness which accompanies it. They are two redeeming sides of the same redemption coin.
He sits at the right hand of God the Father, not just because He is the Son of God, which has always been the case. but because all our sins were purged:
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1: 3)
He then released His Spirit into us, that He would live in us, and working in us, we live because of Him:
"33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Part of the love that He has for us goes beyond the fact that He died, but that He rose again, that He lives after the power of an endless life, and this life we have received, that He may live in and through us, too!
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Christ is in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27), and He is working in us (Colossians 1: 29)
Jesus is our life (John 14: 6), and He invites us to live through Him.
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