All Doves:
The greatest advice an old worn out pastor can give is that everyone be "IN CHRIST". If I am right, there are only two weeks left to post on Five Doves before we hear the Trumpet Call. If I am wrong, then we have more time to get ready for the next phase of our life and more opportunity to help others come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I'm 78, but during the Millennium, I will be but a youngster that has 900 years of the new life "in Christ". Revelation 20 states six time we will have lives living that long.
The words "In Christ" occur in 224 verses of Scripture in the New Testament, while the exact phrase is found 78X as such beginning in the book of Acts. Romans 8:1 and 8:2 is perhaps the greatest comfort for the believer: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
In my posts I use the phrase "Christ Jesus" and other times I use "Jesus Christ" and this is not by accident. If you note here in Romans 8:1-2, Paul writes using the term "Christ Jesus". Using an analogy think of how the world uses the term B.C. and A.D. Most people simply use the expression or term "Jesus Christ"; however, Paul throughout his epistles uses both expressions. Paul's rational is not by accident, it is his way of referring to the Lord before His death and after His death. I thought I would share that little but interesting detail from the Word of God.
The 8th chapter of Romans puts the capstone on the doctrinal portion of the book. Vividly setting forth the life of triumph, the chapter begins with "no condemnation" and ends with "no separation", and in between there is "no defeat". The work of the Holy Spirit is introduced. The Holy Spirit is referred to 19X in Romans 8. The dominant theme is the victorious message of deliverance from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. My point of my post "All Christians sin but NO Christian lives in sin" helps to frame our understanding that is often clouded by those that want to place a believer back under the Mosiac Law. There is no reason for those who are in Christ Jesus to serve sin as if they had never been pardoned and never been liberated from the prison-house of sin.
The deliverance from condemnation and the bondage of legalism is achieved through the operation of a new law, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus", which is more powerful than the law of sin and death. Those who are "in Christ Jesus" have escaped the realm of the Law's condemnation and have a vantage point from which they can subdue the flesh.
The believer is positionally "in Christ Jesus" as a result of His union with Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection -(Romans 6:1-13). Notice three ways in which believers are "in Christ":
1. By birth as we were in Adam, we are born again in Christ -(1st Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12-21);
2. Vitally, as the branch is in the vine -(John 15:1-7), or as all members are in the body -(1st Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23);
3. By faith -(Ephesians 3:17; Galatians 3:26,27).
One of the most important things the believer can do is to remember "in Christ" we are part of a new creation. Our old Adam was part of the old creation that was spoiled by the fall. By our second birth -(John 3) we are now part of the new creation -(2 Corinthians 5:17).
You probably are asking how did I get to be "in Christ"? That's our first question as a new believer. How did this happen to me? How did this come about? You are thinking to yourself, I am still me, but there is more at work than you may realize. It is a miracle transformation, the new birth.
Man's Part = FAITH -(Galatians 3:26)
God's Part = BAPTISM -(Galatians 3:27)
When I was saved God baptized me (immersed me) into Christ Jesus. This is not water baptism as so often understood. It is a real baptism that happened the moment I was saved as God immersed me or placed me into His Son, thus IDENTIFYING me with Christ. This is my POSITION, and my STANDING "in Christ". The act of water baptism is an outward act of an inward commitment, which serves to register with us in our memory through out our life and serves to bring back to memory the meaning of that event. It serves as a reminder of our transition from sin and death to eternal life throughout our earthly life.
I'm going to teach this series in short segments so that the reader can feast at the table of endless spiritual bread.
Next time we will look at who am I and what am I in my new position that I am in. In this series I will be staying in the 8th chapter of Romans.
Blessings to all "in Christ",
Pastor Bob