“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17 ESV)
All throughout the New Testament we are taught the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which is not just to forgive us our sins so that when we die we get to go to heaven, but that we might no longer live for ourselves but for him who died and was raised, and that our old life of living in sin will be put to death so that we can now walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands.
What’s it mean to be “in Christ”?
• Repentance towards God and faith in Christ Jesus (Ac 20:20-21)
• Faith in Christ resulting in righteousness & self-control (Ac 24:24-25)
• Crucified with Christ in death to sin (Rom 6:3-7)
• Raised w/Christ to walk in new life, not as slaves to sin (Rom 6:3-7)
• Dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:11)
• Obedience to Christ leading to righteousness (Rom 6:16)
• Set free from law of sin and death (Rom 8:2)
• Walk not according to flesh but according to Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)
• Minds set on God’s Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)
• Debtors not to live according to the flesh (Rom 8:12-13)
• By the Spirit put to death deeds of the flesh (Rom 8:13)
• No longer live for self but for Jesus Christ (2 Co 5:14-15)
• A new creation: the old life gone, the new life has come (2 Co 5:17)
• Crucified with Christ; no longer I live, Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20)
• Faith working through love (Gal 5:6)
• Faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1)
• In Christ might be to the praise of his glory (Eph 1:12)
• We are his workmanship, created for good works (Eph 2:10)
• Truth in Christ – put off old self, put on new self (Eph 4:20-24)
• Not living in sin, not making sin practice (Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6)
• Suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus (Php 1:29)
• Have same mind and attitude as Jesus (Php 2:5-8)
• Saved by Grace and called to holy calling (Eph 2:8-10; 2 Tim 1:9)
• Putting off the body of the flesh (Col 2:11)• He saved us and called us to a holy calling (2 Tim 1:9)
So, we are not “in Christ” via a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ, giving lip service only to our Lord while we continue to walk (in conduct) in sin and for self. We are “in Christ” via dying with Christ to sin and now living for him in righteous and holy living in obedience to his commands, by the grace of God, in the power of God, by his Spirit, in life practice.
If we profess faith in Jesus Christ, but then we continue to walk (in conduct) in sin, and not in obedience to our Lord, then the Scriptures teach that we do not know God, we are not in Christ, and we do not have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God. And if we profess that we do, then we are liars, and the truth is not in us. So please know what “In Christ” really means.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
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