“Men have a great deal of pleasure in human knowledge, in studies of natural things; but this is nothing to that joy which arises from divine light shining into the soul. This spiritual light is the dawning of the light of glory in the heart. There is nothing so powerful as this to support persons in affliction, and to give the mind peace and brightness in this stormy and dark world. This knowledge will wean from the world, and raise the inclination to heavenly things. It will turn the heart to God as the fountain of good, and to choose him for the only portion. This light, and this only, will bring the soul to a saving close with Christ. It conforms the heart to the gospel, mortifies its enmity and opposition against the scheme of salvation therein revealed: it causes the heart to embrace the joyful tidings, and entirely to adhere to, and acquiesce in the revelation of Christ as our Savior.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

I must say that this entire week has been strewn with a bombardment of obstacles and storms which could shake the very depth of my faith and drive me to my knees.  There is no doubt left in my mind the importance of this series nor that I have angered Satan through this and my earlier declaration of faith as God suddenly had fulfilled a promise He made 33 years ago.  Shortly after that promise fulfilled, He had awakened once more a dream within me that I had long ago laid aside.  I was marveling so much in the joy of these that my rejoicing must have angered Satan further; yet, I know that even then nothing occurs in my life without passing through the loving hands of God.  So whatever obstacles and storms must come; let them come, because in the midst of that storm will shine forth God’s rainbow of hope.  He will be my strength, my hope, and my joy overflowing.  So with that, let’s press on with Living In Christ; which is our only hope within this world.  Knowing who we are in Christ is absolutely essential to our being able to stand.  Thus far we have said that the positions we hold as a Child of God are: Saints, Blessed, Chosen, Child of God, Redeemed(Risen), Enlightened, Beloved, and New Creation.  Are you beginning to realize the impact this truth, when embraced, can change your Christian walk.  Whichever conflict you may face and whatever fiery dart is thrown, you can stand in the center of your room, raise your arm high and shout, "I Am A Child of God or I AM Blessed or I AM Beloved"   Are you beginning to see how this works?  So let me give you the last four that I will be listing for you; though, I do believe that who we are in Christ is an inexhaustible list which I will be continuing to seek to grasp for the remainder of my Christian life.

Ephesians 3: 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Position #9:  Heirs of Royalty  We are the heirs of Royalty.  Our Father is the King of Heaven and Earth.  He owns all the cattle on a thousand hills.  That means we have nothing to worry about or fret over when the economy has turned upside down.  Our Father knows what we really need, just rest on that knowledge that He will work it out.  One other point of this, as heirs of royalty the world is watching our every move and our every move reflects good or bad on our Father.

Position #10:  Prisoners. Paul refers to himself as a prisoner of the Lord and I do believe that Paul is referring to the fact of being a prisoner of love.  Christ’s overwhelming love for me has captured my heart.  Much like the words of a song that Dennis Jernigan sings "When I fell in Love with You"  which I recommend you buying and listening to each word.  "I heard your love song from the cross, then I fell in love with you."  That kind of love has made me a prisoner of love for Christ and I will follow Him where ever He leads. 

Position #11:  Servants  Not only are we royalty, prisoners of love; but we become servants (out of devotion) for our heavenly Father and servants, thereby to all whom we meet or work for.  Only as humble servants can we proclaim the name of Christ to a world in need of Him.  Unless we learn to proclaim the truth of this position, this can be one of the hardest because by nature it goes against the human heart’s self-centered nature.  Only in Christ can we truly live forth this positional truth.

Position #12:  Faith filled  Our Faith even must begin and end with God.  It grows as we learn more and more of Him. Romans 10: "17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." God allows just enough trials and storms to grow up our faith as He did with the apostles.  He is the author of our faith.  Romans 12: "3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  So, if your faith is shaky; ask as the the father in  Mark 923 "said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  Remember this, great faith comes from having seen God’s Mighty Hand work through Great Trials.

So, dear Friend; it is my sincere hope that your knowing these 12 positions that are yours in Christ will help you face whatever trials are before you with confidence, boldness, hope and joy rooted in Christ Jesus. 

We will be continuing this series with the next step being what should our lives look like when we are Living in Christ and later end with  how to Abide in Christ and utilize all this knowledge to strengthen each other along this glorious journey.

There are moments when I am writing what I feel to be an important series- (one that God has laid heavily on my heart), that suddenly my own mind and heart becomes bombarded with Satan’s flaming arrows of doubt, fears, and frustrating lies.  Perhaps, I like many dear Christians called to perform a ministry find that by the very nature of it we must be constantly open to empathy and to introspection.  Both of which lay us open to the bombardment of arrows.  I have begun to learn that when these attacks seem to be of a nature most furious, that I must be in the midst of writing something that is very damaging to Satan’s cause and thus I must press forward.  Additionally, I am learning better how to fight this battle for joy in Christ; regardless of the raging storms that surround me.  Thus was my state of mind yesterday morning.  The arrows seemed to enter from every side.  "You are a fool if you think God can use you-look at you.  Don’t you remember all the failures strung along the path?  All the desires now laying dormant along the roadside of your past." fired from Satan’s lips.  "You are an idiot with money, why would God ever provide for you?  Look at all the money you have given away in the past.  You really think God cares?" as Satan presses on in his accusations.  "God doesn’t even sell your books.  Why do you think that is?  Because my child, you don’t matter; how stupid can you be to think God could love or bless you with anything?  Look at you."  I suddenly realized that I must be in the midst of a very important series, I then prayed to God, "Daddy, I need you now.  I picked up my shield of faith and my sword of truth. To Satan I replied, "So what if I am a fool who has failed in the past.  I am a Child of God and my Daddy, paid the dearest price for my purchase as Christ’s blood was shed to cover my sins and because of that I am covered by His righteousness.  I have been declared a saint because of the righteousness He has chosen to impart to me in exchange for my failures and my sins.  You are right I deserve nothing; yet, I am chosen by the most High God and the Blessings I have no money could ever purchase.  So you had better run away now."  Then miraculously Satan fled. 

Knowing the scripture and understanding who we are in Christ is paramount to our being able to fight to hold firm to our Joy in Christ, our Hope in Christ and to march forward into battle in this world so filled with trials, pains, and tribulations.  That is why Paul was so diligent to teach this very thing.  I urge you to reread Ephesians 1-2 and yesterdays blog.  I am including these scriptures here for those who may not have it available otherwise. 

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

In part 2A we looked at four positions held because we are in Christ (hidden in Him by faith unto salvation, covered by His robe of righteousness).  Those four were:  Saint, Chosen, Blessed, Child of God.  Now lets explore four more positions which are ours because of the saving work of Christ on the Cross.

Position #5:   Redeemed (risen)  Our own sin and sinful nature made us dead to God.  Our spirit without the redeeming work of Christ is unable to commune with God’s Spirit and our soul is eternally dead to the presence of God.  To help explain, there is arguably no such thing as darkness.  There is light and darkness is the absence of light.  The same is true, as God "breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul"; therefore, a soul’s life is dependent upon God’s Spirit Indwelling.  God is life and the absence of God is death (in reference to the soul).  The same is true of evil in regards to the world.  God is righteousness of which there is none without Him.  Therefore, the absence of God is evil.  Look now at these verses, Ephesians 2: "4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

Note that we are already raised from the dead and seated in heavenly places together with Christ.  We are already raised from the dead state in which He found us.  We may spiritually go "boldly unto the throne of grace that we may find mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"  The grace I need for the next minute or the next 5 minutes to face whatever I may need to face is already promised because I have been redeemed and risen from the dead.  This is very important because I must realize that God has not only provided the grace for my salvation 53 years ago, but has provided the grace to sustain me while growing me up all of these years, and has already provided the Future Grace that will continue to hold me and transform me into the likeness of Christ where I may enjoy the fullest benefits and riches of His Love, Joy, and Glory.

Position #6:    Enlightened.  Without the light of God shining into the darkness of our heart through His word, we cannot come to know Him.  Yet, once we accept Christ as our Savior and as we seek His and savor Him, we are enlightened more and more with the knowledge of Him and of all that we possess in Christ. As God’s glory is so great that we cannot in our current state see it fully, this is an ever growing, illuminating process.  If you had spent your entire life in darkness and suddenly were exposed to the brightest of lights, you would be blinded by the light.  Thus in the Christian walk, we are step by step given more and more revelations of who God really is and the fullness of the Grace He has bestowed on us, if we seek Him with all our hearts.  This enlightenment leads to our learning more and more how to live out this new life found in Christ.  That enlightenment shines down the light of God into every crevice of our spiritual heart until no darkness remains.  The completeness will occur when one day we stand before Christ, but crevice by crevice God transforms our darkness into His brilliant light through the work of the Holy Spirit, through prayer, and through studying His word.

Position #7:    Beloved.  What greater demonstration of love could God have demonstrated to you than that He would send Christ, His beloved son to die on the cross in your stead.  Imagine this for a moment, Christ is the beloved son of God of whom He is well pleased; yet, He loved you so very much that He was willing to pour out all of His wrath against sin upon this His son so that He might be able to declare you (with your self-centered, covetous, sin-filled heart) as righteous saint and to adopt you into His family to take part in the inheritance of all His riches.  What kind of love would love you so much?  A love that goes beyond anything that you could ever imagine.

Position  #8:   New Creation  "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)  Because God has called you His beloved and provides the enlightenment needed to transform your heart, and has provided you the only means of redemption–raising you from the dead to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.  He has made you a new creation in Christ and has provided everything needed to live forth that life he has created you for in Christ Jesus.  This new vessel that He has created from the impure lump of clay that was you can now boldly live forth the good works He has preordained in you.

Now, dear Christian, let me ask you "Where is the strength to make you bold?"  Please read this poem I wrote several years ago and I hope it helps you to understand who you are in Christ.  If you do not know Him, my prayer is that your eyes are suddenly enlightened enough that you ask Him into your heart today.

The Grace in Which I Stand

Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold

Where is the faith to make you bold

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

To follow Him in liberty

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So for His work my passion warmed

So for His work my passion warmed

So in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

The following song is perhaps one of my favorites and I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPyLcY6Zv4 (Preview)

I cannot tell you much about age 5, there are only a few memories; yet, one memory stands out clearly.  One Sunday morning Dr. M.R. Dehaan was preaching as I heard his voice over the radio.  I was in the kitchen entrance and facing the light switch.  Since mom never used time outs for punishment, I cannot tell you why I was there facing the light switch.  I cannot tell you how a 5 year old could be filled with shame and guilt, knowing that I was unworthy of Christ; yet,  I remember that overwhelming feeling of unworthiness and need to have God in my life. Dr. DeHaan as he was well known for was explaining that the blood of Christ was shed to cover our guilt and sin and when the invitation came to ask Christ to come into my heart, I accepted Christ as My Savior.   It has taken most of my Christian journey to begin to understand what it meant to be in Christ.  I desired with all my heart to please Him.  I wanted to gain His love and somehow felt that each time I had failed Him that perhaps He had saved me; but maybe I would never be good enough to earn His love.  It was all that I desired.  Still, each time I failed I feared His wrath would  be poured out on me.  I knew my salvation was by Grace, but believed that I still somehow needed to work diligently to gain His pleasure.  That lack of understanding as to what it means to be in Christ became my stumbling block over the years.  Still, it was His love and His Mercy which ever so gently began a work in me to transform me into the likeness of Christ–one glory at a time, tiny steps toward changing my heart, revealing to me the fullness of love that He had always had for me.  As Christians too often we go about our journey without fully realizing who we are in Christ.  Because we do not recognize the positions we hold as part of being the chosen bride of Christ, we go about our walk with the hesitancy, stumbling and falls that one sees in a small baby learning to walk.  In fact I watch little Haley as her legs wobble beneath her.   Her hands reach out to hold herself up to grasp hold of anything within her reach to steady that walk.  How much like many years of my Christian walk, reaching, grasping to hold on to anything that could steady my walk and never fully recognizing the depth, the breadth, the heighth of God’s love that was holding me firm or the magnitude of all that I truly possessed as a result of my being In Christ.  It is for that reason that I want to share with you from the Word of God, what positions are yours because you are in Christ.  Only then can you boldly walk forth and live out the life that you have in Christ with confidence and strength of spirit.  If you do not know Christ as your Savior, my prayer is that you will see His Glorious magnificence and will ask Him into your heart today.

As we looked at Paul’s final visit to the elders of the church of Ephesus, we saw many characteristic fruits that were displayed in Paul’s life as a result of Paul understanding and living forth his life in Christ.  That phrase "In Christ" is first used referring to the ministry of Paul in Acts 24: "4 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ."  Yet that same phrase occurs over and over within the letters of Paul.  This was the key pivotal truth of the gospel that there is no salvation through any other means but in Christ and Christ alone. Romans 3: "24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."  Yet, as Paul knew the positions we have as a result of our being in Christ were much more than just a key to get us into heaven–it was our very being, our joy, our hope and the only means that we have to live out this glorious gift that we have received.  That is why Paul always taught the young believers about what great and mighty positions they possessed through faith in Christ.  Were I to just list them, I fear you might as I did some time ago not grasp their significance; therefore we will go through them with a little more depth.  Let us go to the book of Ephesians and begin with Chapter one while exploring the first 4 positions we hold as a result of our being in Christ. 

Ephesians 1:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Position #1:  Saints.  Because we are redeemed by the blood of Christ, we have been declared Saints.  Our sainthood was purchased by Christ.  Just as Paul wrote in Romans, Christ by paying our penalty for sin not only cleansed us of our unrighteousness but also clothed us in His Righteousness–declaring us to be saints (sanctified and filled with righteousness).  So you might say, then why do I fail so much?  Partly because you don’t believe it or grasp it.  We choose so often to believe the other truth of "I am but a sinner saved by grace".  We hold onto that concept of I am a sinner so we say  “what does it matter whatever I try I will fail, so might as well not try anyway.  It does not matter if I sin, because grace has saved me and it will not change my getting into heaven.” WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.  The truth is I am a saint named so by Christ and until I recognize that, hold firm to that truth, believe that truth I will never allow His power in me to live a life reflecting that truth. 

Position #2:   Blessed.  I am blessed with all spiritual blessings–joy, hope, faith, laughter, love, and peace are mine.  Some might want to claim wealth, fame and the name it claim it game.  But what we have is much greater than any counterfeit possession or counterfeit joy.  Our spiritual blessings include all that which is in heaven and earth.  An overflowing fountain of praise and worship to God, our Father and to Christ our Redeemer which fills us and overflows.  Have you ever felt overwhelmingly moved at a worship service?  Well that is nothing, absolutely nothing to compare with what we actually possess within us and what we will know when we stand before Him with His Glory, His Love, and His Joy.

Position #3:   Chosen.  Look at this and I wish I could on paper reflect the rising inflection of my voice as I tell you with abounding hope and joy "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"  He chose me. In love, He chose me.  I will not tell you that I understand all there is to predestination; but I can say without a doubt and with utter amazement–He chose me.  This unworthy, sometimes foolish, sometimes self centered, wretch that I am–He chose me.  How did that little 5 year old understand her need of salvation, unless God revealed it to me.  So once more–He chose me and He has never let go of me.  That changes everything.  Every day I must fall down before Him who loved me so and sing as the words of the song sung by Phillips, Craig, and Dean in "Your Grace Still Amazes me".  Listen to these words,  "Your grace still amazes me, your love is still a mystery, each day I fall on my knees because your grace still amazes me."  When I realize that He chose me how could I not fall prostate before Him and offer Him all of my heart, my mind, my life so that He can use it as He wills. 

Position #4:   Child of God.  I was adopted into His family as His child and joint-heir with Jesus Christ.  That is no little deal.  I was picked up off the street, chosen and carried into the Royal Palace of the King of the Universe, the Creator of all and am called His Child.  Look at who my Daddy is?  Romans 8: "14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."  So why would I ever want to put back on my filthy robes and eat out of trash cans again when my Daddy has everything I could ever need.  Metaphorically that is exactly what we do when we fail to recognize our position as a child of God and dig around in lusts, greed, desires, and lasciviousness searching for joy when we already possess it in Christ.  All we really need to do is sit quietly at the feet of our Father, learning of Him, talking with Him to experience full joy and possess all that we need.  What do I really need besides Him? 

These 4 positions are only a few of those we will discover and claim through this series; but, let me ask you a question. 

Dear Child of God–Chosen, Blessed, Saint; why would you ever be downcast?  Why would you ever accept defeat?  Why would you ever chase after futile desires when you have everything you desire In Christ?  Do you know who you are in Christ?  Then, rest in these truths and let them fill you so that they will overflow like fountains of life spilling forth for a world who needs Him to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXVUYC_ykwE (Preview)    "Your Grace Still Amazes Me"

What does it mean to be In Christ?  How would that change our actions, our choices?  We know that it is our only hope of glory is Christ abiding in us (Colossians 1:27), having taken the filthy rags of our sins, covering us with His righteousness so that we might be joint-heirs with Him.  Salvation is that, Christ in us; yet, then what does it mean for us to Abide In Christ and to live out that Christian life for all to see.  I wish that I could tell you that from the day Christ came to live in my heart 53 years ago I never failed in this Christian walk.  I wish I could tell you that my life has always exemplified Christ in all that I have done or said; but that would be a lie.  I can tell you that there has never been a time that God let go of my hand.  Ever so gently teaching, transforming, and changing this heart so that I could grasp the truth of His magnificent grace, mercy, and love.  Learning to Abide in Christ is pivotal to our Christian walk and to our living out our Christian walk. Acts 17: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being.  This the Apostle Paul knew so well and this he taught throughout his missionary journeys,this he emphasized throughout his letters, and this was the life he lived.  So, let me begin by introducing to you, Paul the missionary first and then begin to unravel this mystery of how to Abide in Christ, to live In Christ.  Lets look at 5 fruits of Abiding in Christ shown in Paul’s words to the elders of Ephesus before his departure.  Paul had come to Ephesus where he taught them of Christ.  He returned to the church there shortly before returning to Jerusalem where he knew that he would most likely be imprisoned or killed.  

Acts 20: 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Fruit #1: Serving the Lord.  Being God’s servant, always ready to bow down before Him and to go where ever God would bid Him go.  Listening for His voice.  Responding with, "Yes, Lord and Master of My Heart and Soul.  Here am I send me." 

Fruit #2:  Humility.  Paul knew that it was by grace and grace alone that he was saved.  He counted not himself worthy; rather, he knew of his utter unworthiness and for that reason desired, loved, sought and served Christ with everything within him.  Paul knew that only when abiding in Christ, he would be able to bring forth fruit.

Fruit #3:  Boldness.  He knew that his life was in peril where ever he went; yet, he taught the truth of Christ and Salvation, holding back nothing of the truth, teaching loudly, publicly as well as individually from house to house.  He was preparing to return to Jerusalem where God was sending him though he had already been advised by the spirit that he would be imprisoned or killed.  Boldly, he followed after Christ.  Think about it.  Had Paul not been willing to go and be imprisoned, we would have never had the incredible letters written to the churches by Paul, from prison.  One servant, willing to go boldly where God lead him wrote 13 (and possibly 14-if you consider Hebrews as Pauline) books of the New Testament as he allowed the Holy Spirit to write through him. 

Fruit #4:  Faithfulness which he counted more precious than his own life.  He would rather die than to disobey or sin against Christ.  He carried forth the mission God gave him to teach, to preach, and to testify of the gospel of Grace of God and salvation in Christ.  He would rather die than to defame the name of Christ.  His testimony was too important, the kingdom of God was too important for him to defame the name of Christ in any way by following after any lust or the desires of a covetous self-exalting heart.  He died each day to those desires, those sorrows, those temptations that were ever present.  He died daily to self so that Christ might live through him and be displayed to the world.  Oh, that everyone of us see the effects that our sin and self centered hearts has on our testimony for Christ and take up battle against it everyday.

Fruit #5   Joy Yes, Paul had learned that the only true Joy is that which is found in an intimate relationship with God.  All other joys are mere counterfeit joys which at the end of the day lay in a heap of rubbish, burning. 

Learning to live "In Christ, Abiding in Christ" is of utmost importance to each and everyone of our journeys.  Please join along with me as we explore the magnificence of this way of living as we learn what it means to be In Christ. 

I pray with all my heart that you listen to the following song and words of John Piper.  I encourage you to follow John Piper on youtube, twitter and at desiringgod.org.  The following link, I know will bless you as it did me.

 

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY

GOD’S PLAN OF LOVE

Oh, Love Divine, what greater thought

That you should suffer, bleed and die

To pay my sin, my freedom bought

Though I screamed Crucify

With every action of my life

I cast aside your pleading cries

I caused you pain, I gave you strife

And chose to follow after lies

I could not see your beauty then

As now I see your face

Your light shone forth, e’er so dim

That I might see Your Grace

You drew me out, you pulled me in

That I might then seek you

You covered then my ugly sin

Your righteousness to view

Such love Divine, pursuing me

Your Joy and Hope to share

How could I run, How could I flee

Naught else could e’er compare

Unto the hope I find in You

As now I turn to seek your Face

Your Glory shines and lights my view

You guide me on at gentle pace

Transforming thus my wretched heart

Unto the one You knew I’d be

Your joyous love ne’er to depart

For all eternity.

-Effie