Over the past three weeks, Derek has been showing us how the concept of identification is the key that opens up for us a full understanding of the purpose of the death of Jesus and so enables us to enter into all that He obtained for us through His death.

The wisdom of this world, as Derek well knows, will never take the place of the hidden wisdom of God, which will only come when one becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. Then the door will open up for us to search out this hidden wisdom.

Derek shows us today that we are also identified with the ascension life and ministry of Jesus in heaven. When Jesus ascended to heaven He entered into two unique ministries: where He rules as King and intercedes as Priest. In this way also, we are invited to identify ourselves with Jesus.

As Derek proceed with his teaching on our identification with Christ, he points out that the Father sent Christ. The Father gave Jesus the words to speak and God performed His works through Jesus. To see Jesus was to see the Father. In the same way, Jesus has sent us out.

Yesterday’s message presented the heart of the gospel, found in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. What is our Christian experience? Paul tells us that God has made us alive, God has raised us up and God has seated us with Christ. Through our identification with Jesus, we are born again to a living hope.

The absolute heart of the gospel is this: First, Christ died; second, He was buried; and third, He was raised on the third day. There is one outward act required by God that enables us to be identified with Jesus in these three phases: the act of baptism in water. Have you been baptized?

Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. This inevitable consequence was cancelled on the cross, as Jesus died in our place. When we accept this truth, we find that it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. He is resurrected—and so will we be. He died our death that we might have His life.

Derek explains today the meaning of rejection. It is the feeling of being unwanted, unworthy and not really belonging. As the sin of humanity came upon Jesus on the cross, God averted His eyes. He could not look on sin. That was for our good—that we might receive God’s total acceptance.

Christians often have an incorrect view of poverty. Derek shows us that poverty is part of the curse. In fact, on the cross Jesus experienced absolute poverty: He was hungry, thirsty, naked and in want of all things. His suffering made way for us to receive the abundance that was due to Him.

Part of the curse that Jesus bore for us has to do with mental and physical sickness. Since He bore these things in His body, physical healing has been obtained for us. The fact that “we were healed” is always in the past tense. It has already happened.