If We Don't Unite With Christ Through Faith

2008-03-22 20:25

If I, through faith which is in Christ Jesus, find myself united with Christ, his death becomes my death, and his resurrection my resurrection. Now that I am not in the flesh but in the Spirit with Christ, I live a new life.

This is the same as the mystery of precious faith; Christ, the firstfruits, has already been united with God through faith which is in him. It is written, "Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:57). And also, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22).

The Bible says about it, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be 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 and is by faith." (Philippians 3:7-9).

God gave me grace and truth so that I may gain Christ and find myself who died with him to the law and was raised with him to God. This is the best gift of God that is given to all people on earth through His only begotten Son, Jesus, whom He loves.

It is written, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). There are the death of my old self and the righteousness of my new self in this gift; they can never be done by myself. They are the evidence of the gift of God that is accomplished and is made manifest only through the precious faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We can know it by the gift, the Holy Spirit, that is given to those whose sins are wiped out by dying with Christ through faith. It is written, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39).

The salvation is to unite through faith with God's only begotten Son whom He sent into the world, that is, the Word who became flesh. Therefore, Christ is the salvation, and the salvation obtained through faith is the gift of God. It is written, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8).

Therefore, the Bible says, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

When the will of God to make me unite with Christ is accomplished by faith in Christ Jesus, this prayer will come true, "...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).

The will of God was done in heaven, as the Lord prayed, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." (John 17:5). And also, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22).

Therefore, if I don't unite with Christ through faith, I cannot be found in Christ. If I am not found in Christ, it is a lie that I am a child of God.

As there is seed, fruit, in seed, there must be the children of God in Christ. Therefore, as seed and fruit are one, Christ and the children of God are one. If seed does not produce seed, it is not true life. It is written, "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Corinthians 1:23). And so, whoever is not found in Christ is not a child of God.

Therefore, the Bible predicted that Christ would see his seed in him. It is written, "Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand." (Isaiah 53:10).

The day when he sees his seed in him will be long endlessly. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24). Amen. Thank you, Lord.