Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all
things have become new. II
Corinthians 5:17
Brothers and Sisters who Love the Lord,
‘Who are you?’ or ‘Who were
you?’
The answer to the first
question is wonderful. The answer to the second doesn’t matter any more for
those ‘in’ Christ. We hear many Christian testimonies from the perspective of
the second question detailing their sinful past and then they finish with how
God saved and forgave them and they are going to heaven. But have you heard a
testimony about
who they are?
In how many faith stories have you heard this? ‘I was lost in sin and Jesus saved me and forgave me, giving me a new life. I am 'in' Christ. Dead! Crucified! Buried and risen with Christ and I no longer live." Probably you have not, unless you are at a baptism where it is partially and quickly reflected on.
who they are?
In how many faith stories have you heard this? ‘I was lost in sin and Jesus saved me and forgave me, giving me a new life. I am 'in' Christ. Dead! Crucified! Buried and risen with Christ and I no longer live." Probably you have not, unless you are at a baptism where it is partially and quickly reflected on.
I have
been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life, which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
To
apply this truth requires taking up my cross
‘daily’, denying myself ‘daily’, and following ‘daily’, without insisting on
understanding everything. Roman’s 6 instructs me to live counting it true.
We
begin our Christian life with salvation truths, but we mature by growth truths.
We must move on past the second question to 'What is God doing in my life today? (growth truths) Always He is creating the likeness of
Christ in us. As we mature in our faith we find the first question to be
the important one, leading to the ever expanding truth that we are ‘in’ Christ
and He is everything. How did we get ‘in’
Christ?
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:13
When
we were born again, God put us ‘in’ Christ, knowing we could not do this
ourselves. We are as powerless to be removed, as we were powerless to put
ourselves in Christ.
My sheep hear My voice,
and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life
to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My
hand. John 10:27-28
Positionally in
Christ we are pure and holy and practically in Christ we are free from sin’s power and its consequences Romans 6:14 (but not its presence)
Who
am I ‘in’ Christ? I am God’s masterpiece! He has created
us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us
long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Do you believe it? Hear this my sisters
and brothers:
“On what ground is our faith tested? It is on the ground of our
very relationship with God and God’s attitude toward us. The concentration of
the enemy is upon that point- to interfere with our link with God.” FWG
‘In
Christ’ is the most precious phrase in the Bible. This
or its equivalent is mentioned over 130
times in the New
Testament.
The
Lord Jesus is our link with the Father. It will never be about us and what we
are in ourselves. Jesus is the answer to God’s absolute requirement for
holiness and payment of our sin debt. He is the answer to every accusation and
every attack of the enemy. Jesus knows our weakness, He knows all we try to
hide from others, He knows every struggle we face and remembers we are dust. He
is Peace, compassion, mercy and love. God is for us! He is the answer to
our loneliness and fears. He is strength in our weakness and joy amidst tears.
May be you need to climb up on His lap and let Him hide you near His heart.
Let
this thought explode in your heart and fill you: When God looks at us, He sees
us through His Son, His perfect Son. Our position is perfection, for we are
‘in’ Christ. We cannot even give God cause to love us. It is only our pride to
think we have anything to offer Yaweh, for He is Holy. But what causes my heart to tremble are
these four words…
“God opposes the proud” (James 4:6) but gives grace to the humble.
“God opposes the proud” (James 4:6) but gives grace to the humble.
I
need all the help I can get and I find even human opposition can be tiring, so I do not want the living God opposing me!!! Pride is ever at the door and there will never be a day I, in
myself, will find acceptance with God. The same truth that convicts me of my
sinful, hopeless condition, also, when
realized, sets me free and gives me absolute security in Christ. My
acceptance is not about me, but about Jesus!! How can anyone doubt a believer’s
security when once realizing his or her position in Christ? Infeasible! I am
dancing in awe of Him! Hallelujah!
God doesn’t see me through my past, He sees me through Jesus. LW
When
I am working on a sculpture, the day comes when I am done carving and polishing
the stone. It is finished. There is nothing more to do. Jesus said, ”It is finished” and He meant it! He did it all and
He is the same yesterday and today and forever!! We only need to receive what we need, not produce it.
Father God, Lord of all the angel armies, You who never change
and are not trapped in time, I bow and with tears of praise for putting me
safely, securely and forever ‘in’ Christ. My past no longer exists before You,
not even yesterday, thank You, precious Lord, for establishing me in such
amazing freedom and continue to establish Your word in me, as that which
produces reverence for You. I was dead in my sins and You made me alive
together with Christ. Forgiving all
my sin. I am so thankful my acceptance depends entirely on You! Thank you Jesus,
in your name I pray, standing cleansed and forgiven in Your sight. Amen
Much
love dear ones, I pray often for each of you, for He knows you by name,
