Tag Archives: Christ

“In” Christ!

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A constant theme throughout Paul’s writings is that we are “in Christ” now that we are saved.(Romans 6:11) And “In Him” we have been made complete.(Colossians 2:10)

“In Him” we now possess all the benefits related to God’s purpose for us. He can’t give us any more than what He already has “in Christ.” But what we do with this treasure makes all the difference, because our choices ultimately determine our fruitfulness—that is, whether or not (and to what degree) we bring glory to God through our lives.(John 15:8)

Created for God’s Use

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Everything we were ever created to be is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. Coming to the realization of who we truly are in Christ is the first step toward discovering His purpose for us because it lays in us the sense of self-worth needed to confidently step out in serving Him. And the better we get to know Him personally, the more He can impart His will to us.

So first and foremost is the need to develop a lifestyle of communing with God, because the intimacy essential to discovering His will can be achieved in no other way. But I want to emphasize that prayer is a two-way street—we speak and we listen.

Doesn’t it stand to reason that if God has in fact prepared good works for us to walk in He would need to let us know in some way what they are? Look at all those people in the Bible whom God chose to use in one way or another. Not only did they hear from God, but they clearly discerned what He was saying to them. Even if their revelation might have been a bit murky in the beginning, what He wanted eventually came to light as they went about trying to obey Him.

Law of the Spirit

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“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2) is an unalterable spiritual law. In Christ we are no longer condemned for sin. Rather, sin itself has become the culprit worthy of condemnation

The bottom line is that we need to start behaving like dead men—dead to law, that is (and as a consequence, dead to sin). This extraordinary life as believers is all about faith in what Jesus has done, regardless of the weakness of our flesh. Paul’s admonition in Colossians 2:6 says it all: “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

When we were steeped in sin, we freely received God’s gift of grace. Now that we are saved, our job is not to try to appease Him by attempting once again to keep the law, but to live out our lives daily walking in the grace He has so abundantly provided. Only then can we enjoy the confidence that we are truly living a life of godliness.

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

An Empowered Body

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Paul tells us in Romans 8:10-11, “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

How can our body be spiritually dead because of sin and alive at the same time? Does this merely refer to our glorified bodies when resurrected? I think that may be part of it, but I believe it also means that our physical bodies are being made alive in the here and now. How? By being given the capacity to fulfill our purpose here on earth, in our flesh, by the power of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. It’s His power that makes it all possible!

Born Again!

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The new birth is God’s vehicle for entrance into our spirit. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”(1 Corintians 15:42-44) Christ’s death on the cross—His sacrifice for our sins—paved the way for each and every person on earth to experience His indwelling presence. But though He offers it as a free gift, it doesn’t just happen automatically.

We may receive His gift only by our willingness to turn from our own selfish desires—our sin—and then put Him in charge by making him the Lord of our life. If you haven’t already taken this step, do it now! God will keep His word, and will allow you to enter a life you never dreamed possible. Only through the life-giving power of the Spirit will we ever be able to experience the interaction of the elements of our nature as they were always intended to be.

God never meant for a single one of us to forge a life devoid of His presence. Only in Him can we ever arrive at the zenith of God’s purpose and plan for us—this great gift of all-embracing personhood in Him. For those of us who have entered into the very life of God through Jesus, it’s easy to see those who don’t know God as stumbling through life much like zombies (the living dead, right?).

The Mind of Christ

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My child, I have given you My Spirit so that you may know the things freely given; spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. I have given you the mind of Christ. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? The temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Be set apart from this world so I can use use. Walk according to My Spirit. I will lead you in My path of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 1 12 &16, & ch 2 vs 16 & 17

The Good News: Part 4

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He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose me in Him before the foundation of the world, that I would be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:3-4). In Christ I am a new creature, the old things have passed away; new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So now I can lay aside the old self and put on my new self, which has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:22-24). I am now in the process of being brought into a true knowledge of God, being radically transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2). This is God’s mystery, hidden from past generations but now manifested to His saints—Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27).

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

The Good News: Part 3

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God the Father has rescued me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life 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).

My old self was crucified with Him so that my body of sin might be done away with, so that I would no longer be a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). I have died and I am freed from sin by being released from the law to which I was bound (Romans 7:4-6). Since Christ is in me, though my body is dead because of sin, yet my spirit is alive because of righteousness (Romans 8:10).

Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself

God’s Mystery Revealed

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Christ’s gospel holds marvelous privileges for us as God’s children, doesn’t it? But the sheer scope of the gospel can’t help but raise the question as to how Jesus applies everything He’s accomplished to our lives. Sometimes we excuse ourselves from the pursuit of the whole truth, thinking it’s just not realistic to fully comprehend it. Didn’t Paul himself say, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him?” Ah, but we tend to forget that the very next verse plainly tells us that we can: “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 12:9-10)

            The fact of the matter is that the “mystery of Christ” was never meant to be undiscoverable (Colossians 2:2-3). Just as in a good novel, the mystery is always solved at the end (the Greek word for mystery in fact means that we can expect to uncover what’s hidden). And God knows that until we really get it we have little chance of emerging from what can only be described as a state of stunted growth. So what do you say? Why not go for it!

(Excerpted from “Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself”)