If I Don't Become One with Christ through Faith

2008-08-10 00:02

If I find myself one with Christ by faith in Christ Jesus, his death becomes my death and his resurrection becomes my resurrection, and I am not in the flesh but in the Spirit with Christ, living a new life.

This is the same as the mystery of precious faith in which Christ the firstfruits became one with God. 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 makes me gain Christ and be found in him. I died with him to the law and live with him to God. This grace and truth is the best gift given to all people on earth by His only begotten son.

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). In this gift, there are the death of my old self and the righteousness of my new self, which can never be done by myself. Those are evidences of the gift of God that are done and revealed only by the precious faith in Christ Jesus.

We can know it by the Holy Spirit, the gift that is given to those whose sins have been wiped out by dying with Christ by faith. It is written, "Peter replied, '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 that we become one with His only begotten son, the Word who became flesh and was sent into the world. Therefore, Christ himself is the salvation, and the salvation gained 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 Christ and me become one is done by faith in Christ Jesus, this prayer will come true, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).

Our Lord said about the will of God that was done in heaven, "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 become one with Christ by faith, I cannot be found in Christ. If I am not found in Christ, it is false that I am a child of God.

Just as there is seed, fruit, in seed, there are children of God in Christ. Just as seed and fruit are one, Christ and the children of God are one. If seed does not bear 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 Peter 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 himself. 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).

He will endlessly prolong the day he will see his seed in himself. "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.