Have you seen the hit show, Finding Your Roots with Henry Lois Gates, Jr.? It’s a fascinating show where he traces the
historical family tree of famous people and surprises them with the results. For example, Condoleezza Rice, 66th
Secretary of the United States, found that her maternal roots are from the
Tikar people in Cameroon. On another
show, Professor Gates revealed to Ben Affleck that surprisingly, he and Matt
Damon are cousins, 10 times removed!
My wife worked for months on both of our family trees and
discovered some remarkable facts. My
last name should be Smith instead of Maulding.
One of my great, great, grandmothers, last name Smith, had children out
of wedlock and took on the name Maulding.
On my wife’s side, she may have traced her roots all the way back to an
Englishman, Rowland Taylor, who was burned at the stake for his unwavering
faith in Christ.
Yet, here’s a reality check for all of us when it comes to
our roots. All of us have a great,
great, great, great…grandfather whose name was Adam. We are all related to him and to each
other. This is significant because in
God’s economy, He not only views us from our biological roots but also from our
spiritual roots. Let me share with you
what I mean.
You were biologically in Adam when he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good
and Evil, but more importantly, you were also spiritually in Adam. That means a few significant things. When he sinned his first sin, you sinned for
the first time, also. When he died, you
died spiritually and became a spiritual zombie.
(Romans 5:12) Therefore, just as
through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death
spread to all men, because all sinned. (Ephesians 2:1b) And
you were dead in your trespasses and sins.
So, because of our roots, we all showed up on planet earth with a much
bigger problem than simply needing forgiveness. We showed up spiritually dead.
Here’s the good news.
When you believed in Jesus Christ for your salvation, God took you out
of Adam’s family tree and relocated you into Christ’s family tree. Your roots are now found in Christ, not in
Adam! This phrase, “in Christ” or its
related form is used 165 times in the New Testament. In Ephesians alone, it is used 36 times. There are fantabulous benefits from having
our roots in Christ.
Your identity in Adam, as a sinner, died with Christ on the cross. (Romans 6:6) That same identity was buried
with Christ and left in the grave forever.
He’s not going to get up out of the coffin! (Romans 6:3-4). When Jesus rose from the dead, God created a
new identity for you in Christ which is the deepest essence of who and what you
are. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Your new creation identity came with the guarantee
that you are 100% righteous. (2
Corinthians 5:21) Your identity in
Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, where you are
unconditionally loved, accepted, forgiven and blessed forever! (Ephesians 2:6)
The next time you have thoughts from the enemy which tell
you how inadequate, inferior or messed up you are, remember your roots are now
in Christ!
Believe it! It's the Gospel.
Live Free In Christ, Believe it! It's the Gospel.
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2014 Mark Maulding
