Monday, April 07,
2014, 8:49 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “His Tender Mercies.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 8 (NASB).
How do we become “In Christ Jesus”?
Therefore
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not
do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the
flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not
walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
There is no condemnation (no guilty verdict; and no damnatory
sentence of eternal punishment in hell) for those who are “in Christ Jesus.”
So, how do we get to be “in Christ Jesus”? Well, first of all, we must
understand that, as humans, we are born into sin, bearing the image of Adam,
and separated from God. We are destined to die in our sins, to remain eternally
separated from God, and to face eternal punishment in hell. Then, we must know
and understand that God sent his Son Jesus Christ (God the Son) to earth in the
likeness of sinful flesh to be our sin offering, though he remained sinless. In
his death on a cross (in his crucifixion) he put our sins to death, nailing
them to the cross with him, burying them with him, and conquering them through
his resurrection. He died for the sins of the whole world.
Yet, not all are saved. We must individually make the
decision to accept God’s invitation to his great salvation by faith – a faith
which is a gift from God, I believe, as is God’s grace to us in providing the
way of salvation (See Eph. 2:8-9). By faith we appropriate to our individual
lives what Christ Jesus did for us on the cross in dying for our sins. In other
words, this faith willingly agrees to allow the Spirit of God to transform our
lives out of the darkness of sin into the light of Christ and his salvation,
which he provided in his death. This faith cooperates with God’s work of grace
in our lives in turning us away from living for sin and self to lives which are
given over to Jesus Christ and to walking in his righteousness and holiness
(See Ac. 26:16-18; Eph. 4:17-24; Ro. 6; Gal. 2:20; Tit. 2:11-14 and 1 Jn.
1-5).
What does “In Christ Jesus” look like?
For
those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For
the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and
peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not
subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those
who are in the flesh cannot please God.
However,
you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells
in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to
Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the
spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised
Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
So
then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to
the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if
by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…
For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us…
If we are in Christ Jesus, we do not live (in lifestyle; in
daily practice) according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit of
God. We have our minds set (firm; determined; resolute) on what the Spirit
desires, not on what our sinful flesh desires. We know and experience God’s
life and peace within us. Although our bodies may see death, we will live on
forever with God in glory. We submit to God’s law (his precepts; teachings;
instructions; his word). We desire to and live to please God. We are controlled
by the Spirit of God and not by the sinful nature. Our spirits are alive
because of Christ’s righteousness. We are obligated to not live according to
the flesh but according to the Spirit, and so, by the Spirit, we put to death
the misdeeds of the body. As well, we are led (directed; managed; guided) by
the Spirit of God. And, we share in his sufferings. God, in love, predestined
us to be conformed to the image (likeness) of his Son, Jesus Christ. [See also
Ro. 6; 1 Jn. 1-5]
What are some of the benefits and/or blessings of being “In
Christ Jesus”?
In
the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to
pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the
Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And
we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose…
What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who
did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not
also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s
elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at
the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate
us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is
written,
“For
Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But
in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When we are “In Christ Jesus”:
·
The Holy Spirit helps us in our times of
weakness
·
He intercedes for us when we don’t know what to
pray
·
In all things God works for the good of us who
love him
·
With God on our side, no adversity can prevail
against us
·
God’s grace will be more than sufficient to help
us through everything
·
Nothing can separate us from God’s/Christ’s love
·
In all tribulation, distress, persecution, etc.
we are able to overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved (loves) us
His Tender Mercies
/ An Original Work / January 26, 2014
Fear not! I’m with
you.
Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you.
Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide
you;
Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep
you
With Him always.
Walk in His footsteps.
He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love;
Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you.
Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies
Now you will see.
Fellowship with Him
Throughout the day.
Tell Him your
heartaches.
He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort.
He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll
strengthen,
True to the end.
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