“In Christ” – Philippians 1:1
A dear friend used to relate the story of several Australian soldiers who were stationed near London during the war. One evening three of them decided to go for a walk, and as they walked a fog began to descend making it harder to see where they were going. So , they finally came to a lamp post and decided to stand by it and wait for the fog to lift as they were unsure of their surroundings and how to get to where they wanted to go. Later on a British officer passed them by and he noticed they had failed to salute him- his ego was hurt. So, he turned back and walked by them again- still no salute! So he turned back and this time when they failed to salute him based on his rank, he said “Don’t you know who I am?” One of the soldiers said to his fellow soldiers in jest, found great humor in saying, “He doesn’t know who he is and we don’t know where we are!” They all- except the officer- had a good laugh! But truth be known many of us who have been convicted by God of offending Him in our thoughts, words and deeds and have by His enabling turned and placed ourselves under the authority of the Lord Jesus to rule over us and rescue us from living lives in habitual rebellion to God- many of us “don’t know who we are , what we have or where we are? Consider with me the little phrase “In Christ.”
How many times have you read over the phrase “IN CHRIST”– and failed to see the significance? It’s easy to do….. hopefully the verses below will give you fuel for praise to God as you READ …. and Grace to accept the TRUTH from God of some of the Benefits from Him to you because of HIS KINDNESS and the sacrifice of His SINLESS SON. We read that Noah obeyed God – by faith- and built and ark and placed animals in it as God has said, then God shut the door- and the floods began to come and only eight were in the security of the Ark. “In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.” -{Genesis 17:3} People along with the animals who were inside the ark were safe, and secure from the destructive elements and floods that God used to judge the wickedness of people’s lives. All were destroyed except those who were “In the Ark.”
To be in submission to the Lord Jesus and been brought into a right relationship with God through faith, confidence, dependence on Him alone- which results in lives being changed and changing from the inside out. New attitudes, new ambitions, new allegiance-Jesus Christ Himself. It is in right relationship with God that we are in a spiritual way placed “In Christ”– Our souls are safe and His Word concerning us is true- we are secure in Him – No one can snatch our souls away from Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, neither things created, people, circumstances- nor sin itself .”But God being rich in mercy while we were yet sinners, ungodly, helpless , enemies of God the Scripture says- deserving of Hell we read these wonderful words, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9. Safe, Secure “In Christ” from the final judgement God will make on all those who have refused His offering of His Son as the Substitute for their sin and His Righteousness made available to all who turn and trust in Him- those outside of Christ face a terrible , frightening eternity. For those who have submitted to Him- they have security and surety “In Christ,” as did Noah and his family “in the Ark”
“In Christ” is one of Paul’s favorite phrases. In his letters he uses the term “In Christ Jesus” fifty times; “In Christ” 29 times and “In the Lord” 45 times. Being “In Christ” make a person acceptable to God{Ephesians 1:6} and “the beloved of God.”{Romans 1:7} and is the only way a person can be, and therefore should be the the source of Great Joy.
Consider with me “Where you are?- “In Christ”and from the Scriptures you can see some truth’s for you to Know and Enjoy. These are true for us positionally and available to us practically….. ENJOY and PRAISE Him for what it cost Him to make it so for – you…
“In Christ” – there is ETERNAL LIFE is found
Paul wrote to the Romans – Rom 6:23 –“ “For the wages of sin is death, But the Gift of God is eternal life IN CHRIST Jesus our Lord”
“In Christ” –there is NO CONDEMNATION;
Rom 8:1- “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are IN CHRIST Jesus”
“In Christ,” – there is a NEW CREATION;
2 Cor 5:17 “If anyone is IN CHRIST he is a new creation, the old has gone the new has come”
“In Christ,” – there is JOY/ GLADNESS;
Phil 1:26- “so that through my being with you again your JOY IN CHRIST Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
“In Christ” – there is ENCOURAGEMENT;
Phil 2:1 “Since and you have ENCOURAGEMENT from being UNITED With Christ”
“In Christ,” – there is RIGHTEOUSNESS;
Phil 3:9 – “ and being found in Him not having a RIGHTEOUSNESS of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith IN Christ- the righteousness that comes from God is by faith.”
“In Christ“ – there is PEACE
Phil 4:6 – “ And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds IN CHRIST Jesus.”
“In Christ,” – there is PROVISION
Phil 4:19 – “ And my God will meet All your Needs according to His glorious riches IN CHRIST Jesus.”
“THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE….”
“In Christ” and because of His work on the cross as our substitute. Taking our sin and shame and bearing it , He satisfied the Holiness, and justice of God and three days later God raised Him from the dead to show His sacrifice on our behalf is finished- complete, sufficient to satisfy all that God needs for sinful people to be made right with Him and before Him to be declared not only “right” from God’s perspective based solely on the work of Jesus Christ alone. Not only are we forgiven but we are made sons and daughter and totally and unequivocally “accepted in the Beloved- Ephesians 1:6. And God makes us heirs with His Son and bids us come and dine, participate as His children of the blessing , benefits indeed privileges which are found “In Christ!” But as wonderful as all these are what is more wonderful is that 24/ 7, 365 days a year we have ” PERMANENT access to God through the blood of the Lord Jesus and we can….. “know Him.” Eternal Life is not merely future bliss, but a present reality and the great reality which few truly enter in- it seems is to “Know Him”. Listen to the words of Jesus
“This is eternal life to know You, the true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”- John 17:3
“IN CHRIST,” –alone is the ability to KNOW THE ONE TRUE GOD.”
Eternal life is knowing- God ! Wherever you are you can grow to know about Him through His Word by His Spirit and you can come to know Him experimentally in the details of your life. As the song writer said ,”the greatest thing in all the world is knowing, You…I want to Know You Lord….the greatest thing in all the world is knowing You.”
It was on the road to Emmaues when two of the Lord Jesus ‘ followers walked away sad and discouraged having known of the Resurrection of Jesus, but the Lord “beginning with Moses and the prophets opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…. And revealed Himself” {CHECK VERSE FOR ACCURACY!!!!}. He arose to justify us…He arose to Glorify the Father… He arose from the dead to allow us to….Know Him. And when He revealed Himself through the Word of God…their hearts burned and they went back approximately seven miles to Jerusalem to tell His disciples… Jesus is Alive! This is eternal life that we might know You, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent!”. So find yourself His Bible…. Ask Him to make Himself known to you through His Word. Find others to help and encourage you concerning Him- and if there are any doubts always go back to His Word as it is true! God sent His Son to die and raised Him from the dead that you might, AS HE SAYS IN JOHN 17:3 – “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”- THAT you and I might – KNOW HIM. God wants you and me to Know Him. What love, what grace. HE DESIRES YOU. HE SOUGHT YOU OUT… TO KNOW HIM AND ENJOY HIM- NOW!!
“SAINTS ALIVE!” “In Christ- the repentant believers are “SAINTS.” The “SAINTS” are In Christ- Not in a statue! Some teach a “saint” has to have had an exemplary life and done some miracles- NOT SO Scripturally. These people were RECIPIENTS of the MIRACLE OF GOD- the – the grace of God in the New Birth and we are “In Christ ” by God’s doing – listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 1 :27-30
” It is because of GOD that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” .”saints” ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SET APART BY THE SAVIOR BY GOD’S DOING BASED on nothing or no one outside of Himself- It is all of Grace- His kindness… There are LIVING breathing people who are SAINTS…IN CHRIST.- Our soul’s are SAFE AND SECURE WITH HIM….. ARE YOU “IN CHRIST?”
Phil 4:21 –“Greet All the SAINTS IN CHRIST Jesus.”
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. FAMILY
“saints”– God has more “saints”… Plural…in every generation… God is working. “SAINTS” are those who are set apart for the Savior are not to live in iscolation but in sharing life together. Gathering together to “stimulate one another to love, good deeds and encouragement and all the more as we see the Day Approaching”- Hebrews 10:23 ??. When Paul wrote from prison where other followers of Christ were detained he wrote to the church at Phillipi.
The word “church” speaks of “called out ones”. Called out from a life under satan’s lies and bondage, called out of a world view that does not live to honor God… but not merely,” called out” but” called into” a relationship with Him and His people. Again a hymn writer says it best – “O How marvelous, O how wonderful is My Savior’s love to me. O how marvelous , O how wonderful is My Saviors. Love to me”
Thank God for His kindness at great personal expense to make it possible to Know Him, to know the privileges and to…pass them on to encourage His people. Anyone you can think of who might benefit from what you have just read? Then call, email, tell someone…pass it on …
Thank God if you are “In Christ”– in a right relationship with God by His doing and again go back and look at the verses and see the BLESSINGS for you NOW!!!!
BLESSINGS TO THOSE WHO ARE “IN CHRIST”– Remember Whose you are and where you are- in relationship with God through Christ and now safe and secure is your soul “In Christ”. Jesus said in the Gospel of John these assuring words27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than alld]” >[d]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”- John 10:27-20
Who are you? A follower of Jesus! Where are you? “In Christ!”– Safe and secure my soul I know to be , Safe and Secure because of the Blood shed for me. Safe and secure My Savior to Know, Safe and secure may my heart overflow- with songs to Him who has made it so!”