Believing on, yet being in…
As discussed yesterday believing on Christ speaks of our dependency upon Him. This presupposes we have come to understand that without Him we have, as they say, “nothing upon which to stand” or, as one might also say, whatever it was we may have thought sturdy soil previously we have now come to see in the light of eternity to be utterly “groundless.” We must rest all our weight fully upon Him.
Yet, we find also a complementary truth also in scripture – perhaps almost a paradox. It is that when one believes on Christ he finds himself thereafter to be in Christ. Paul writes, “in Him [Christ] we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28).
In fact, just skimming through the New Testament we find “in Christ” we have no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), we are being sanctified [made holy] (1 Cor. 1:2), established (2 Cor. 1:21), we triumph (2 Cor. 2:14), see clearly (2 Cor. 3:14). “In Christ” we become a new creature: old things are passed away and all things become new (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15). “In Christ” we receive spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3), we are raised up and made to sit in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). “In Christ” we find consolation and comfort (Phil. 2:1l, boldness (Philemon 1:8) and every good thing (Philemon 1:6). “In Christ” we die and are made alive (1 Cor.15:22), we rise from death (1 Thess 4:16) and are gathered together in one (Eph. 1:10).
Then will be fulfilled Christ’s prayer for all believers…
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
Just as “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (1 Cor. 5:19), so we labor toward “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14) as Jesus prayed “that the world may believe” (John 17:21).
For not only do we find the believer is in Christ, but also, “mysteriously” as the Apostle suggests, we find that Christ is in us! “…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. …this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:26-27)
More tomorrow…
To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.
thebrokenrunner 