PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

Someone had the audacity to tell me…you are going to shocked… that I am…opinionated.  I told them I am not opinionated, I just am right.  Through circumspection, I have matured and now realize that yes I am opinionated.  I just have the right opinions.

And I would like to share an opinion with you, and then back that opinion up with facts hoping that you too will agree that I have the right opinion.

What am I talking about?  It is my opinion that there is no greater prepositional phrase ever spoken by humanity or by the Holy Spirit than the simple two-word, two syllable phrase, “in Christ.”

The phrase “in Christ” is written by divine inspiration 88x in the Bible, several times in Ephesians 1.  The term “in Perry” is written by divine inspiration 88x in the Bible  fewer than the phrase “in Christ.”   That puts all of us into perspective, doesn’t it? 

“In Christ” is about my translation, my position, and my relation. Think of the power in that thought.  I am translated from out of Christ to be “in Christ,” so that I my position is now “in Christ” which makes my relation to God solely “in Christ.” 

Being “in Christ” gives me my identity, my goal, my purpose, my everything. 

Being “in Christ” defines me, defines my hopes, my dreams, and even explains my lack of fear and worry. 

Being “in Christ” can encourage me and even chastise me when I realize I am not living up the ideals of that glorious description.  If I am “in Christ” I need to live, hope, dream, like I am “in Christ” which can only be done if, notice the prepositional switch, if Christ is…in me.

There is exclusivity to being “in Christ.”  The term does not belong to just anyone.  Are you “in Chirst?”

There is universality to being “in Christ.”  The term can belong to everyone, regardless of status, position, nationality, race, gender, age, or any other demarcation that human beings have separated into.

In Christ:

• What we do
• What we are
• Who we are
• What we have
• What we need
• Where we are
• What we will have

 All of those are answered “in Christ.”  So simple, yet so sublime.

What We Do

• (1 Corinthians 15:19 NASB)  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
• (1 Corinthians 16:24 NASB)  My love be with you all in Christ…Amen.
• (Ephesians 2:10 NASB)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ … for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
• (Philippians 3:3 NASB)  …worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ … and put no confidence in the flesh,
• (2 Timothy 2:1 NASB)  You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ ….
• (1 Peter 3:16 NASB)  and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 

What We Are

• (Romans 6:11 NASB)  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ ….
• (2 Corinthians 1:21 NASB)  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
• (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB)  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
• (Galatians 2:16 NASB)  nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ …, even we have believed in Christ …, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
• (Galatians 3:28 NASB)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ ….
• (Colossians 1:28 NASB)  We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 

Who We Are

• (Romans 12:5 NASB)  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• (Galatians 3:26 NASB)  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ …. 

What We Have

• (Romans 3:24 NASB)  being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ …;
• (Romans 6:23 NASB)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ ….
• (Romans 8:39 NASB)  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ ….
• (2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB)  But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
• (Ephesians 1:3 NASB)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
•  (Ephesians 2:7 NASB)  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ ….
• (Philippians 2:1 NASB)  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
• (Philippians 4:7 NASB)  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• (1 Timothy 1:14 NASB)  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ ….
• (2 Timothy 2:10 NASB)  For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ … and with it eternal glory.

Where We Are

• (Ephesians 2:6 NASB)  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ …,
• (Ephesians 2:13 NASB)  But now in Christ … you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

What Will Happen

• (1 Corinthians 15:22 NASB)  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
• (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NASB)  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
• (2 Timothy 1:1 NASB)  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
• (1 Peter 5:10 NASB)  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

All these blessings, responsibilities, promises, are found in Christ ALONE!

Tags: Article

This entry was posted by PHall on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Bible. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.