Your Benefits Package
Craig W. Hagin
The third chapter of Acts records the healing of a man who had been lame from birth. Every day this man was carried to the Temple and laid by the gate called Beautiful. There he begged for money from those who passed through the gate to enter the Temple.
One day, when the lame man saw Peter and John, he asked them for alms. Peter replied, “ . . . Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Peter took the man by his right hand and with a firm grasp raised him up. Immediately strength came into the crippled man’s lifeless legs, and he began walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3:1–10).
Peter was able to perform this miracle because he knew who he was in Christ. He followed Jesus’ command to go into the world, preach the Gospel, and lay hands on the sick. And he expected the sick to recover (Mark 16:15–18).
Do you know what you have in Christ? Do you know all of the rights and privileges that are yours as a born-again believer? Unfortunately, some Christians don’t. And because they don’t know what they have, they never use what is theirs.
Have you ever known someone who accepted a job but never took advantage of the benefits package that came with it? That is, they never took a vacation or used the health benefits or took advantage of any of the other perks that came with the position. You probably have never known a person who did that, because most of us are quick to use the benefits that are ours.
Well, when we were born again, you could say that we received a salvation package. Of course, spending eternity in Heaven after we die is a major part of the package. And that is what many Christians focus on. But there is so much more to salvation than just escaping the flames of hell. Here are a few of the many benefits included in salvation.
Healing Belongs to Us
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus bore the wounds on His back that brought us healing. First Peter 2:24 says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye , were healed.”
We Were Given Authority in the Name of Jesus
No other name is higher than the Name of Jesus. Philippians 2:9–10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Born-again believers have the right to use the Name of Jesus.
Provision Is Promised to Us
God wants to be our source and promises to provide for all of our needs (Phil. 4:19). Instead of looking at how much money we make, we need to look to God. And when we do, we will never go under, no matter what is happening around us.
Jesus Is Our Friend
Friends are not always loyal, but Jesus promises never to leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He is a friend who sticks closer than any brother. And He will always be there for us.
The Holy Spirit Abides in Us
When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He did not leave us without help. He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). The word “Comforter” comes from the Greek word paraclete. This word can also mean “Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener,” and “Standby.”
We Have the Word of God
Although portions of the Bible were written more than 3,000 years ago, the Word of God contains solutions to any problems we will come up against. When we don’t know what to do or who to turn to, we can look to the Word for guidance, comfort, assurance, and so forth.
Prayer Changes Things
There is power in prayer, and our prayers can change circumstances and move mountains. I’m reminded of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain. There was a time when no one would have thought that one day you could freely cross from the eastern to the western side of Berlin, or that the Iron Curtain would be dismantled. But through the power of prayer, the face of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union was forever changed.
These are only a few of the many benefits we have in Christ. But let’s not stop here. Let’s continue studying the Word of God and discover everything that is ours. Then let’s become doers of the Word (James 1:22) and take advantage of everything we have in Christ.