If Anyone Is In Christ

2009-04-18 19:49

Death is outside Christ Jesus, life is in Christ Jesus. There can be no obedience outside Christ Jesus, and there can be no disobedience in Christ Jesus. Sin is disobedience, and the wages of sin is death. Righteousness is obedience, and the wages of righteousness is eternal life.

Therefore, it is written, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:17-19).

Although all people on earth have been born of God, some will be in Christ, and others will be outside Christ, by the foreknowledge of God. The Lord said, "but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:26-29). Therefore, those who will be outside Christ have been born only of the flesh, but those who will be in Christ have not been born only of the flesh, but also born again of the Spirit.

The Bible says about those who are born again of the Spirit, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24). And also, "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).

Those who of God are in Christ Jesus have been born again from above by faith and united with him. Therefore, the Bible clearly says about those who are in Christ, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13).

No one can be in Christ Jesus except those who are born of God, and no one can follow Christ and be united with him except those who are in Christ Jesus. So the Bible says with the word "if", "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:5).

And also, the Bible clearly says about those who are in Christ Jesus, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:14-17).

Anyone who is in Christ confesses, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20).

Only those who are found in Christ Jesus produce the righteousness of God and are saved. It is written, "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).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Amen. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ..." Thank you, Lord.