My Rest Stop three weeks ago (Living Out of Being In Christ Part 1) presents the foundational meaning of the New Testament's emphasis of being in Christ. What a most wonderful phrase that is, depicting our intimate union with Christ!
My Rest Stop two weeks ago (Living Out of Being In Christ Part 2) focuses on the descriptive reality of being in Christ. In that Rest Stop, our union with Christ is biblically described as spiritual, literal, living, organic, personal, and unbreakable.
Last week's Rest Stop (Living Out of Being In Christ Part 3) presents the objective, completed truths of being in Christ. These truths are so foundational for understanding our relationship with, and security in, Christ Jesus.
This week's Rest Stop (Living Out of Being In Christ Part 4) focuses on the subjective, experiential realities of being in Christ. What a wonderful adventure walking in union with Christ is!
SUBJECTED, EXPERIENTIAL REALITIES
OF BEING IN CHRIST
Note: I am again indebted to Martyn Lloyd Jones in his recorded sermons regarding our union with Christ. Dr. Jones
preached at Westminster Chapel in London from 1939 to 1968.
Some believe that the historical event of the resurrection means that Jesus is alive and, therefore, can now help and comfort us in our earthly struggles. This is indeed true, but it is soooo much more profound than such "separation" thinking.
The most tremendous biblical truth is that our "union" with Christ changes everything! In this union, Christ is not just our helper, but much more, He is our very life!
As a result of this union with Christ, our old identity has been crucified with Christ and we are now and forever new creations in union with Christ! And we now can experience the following subjective, experiential realities.
Fellowship with Christ
"Fellowship" covers it all. In a real and vital union with Christ, we have a real and vital fellowship with Him each day, and indeed each moment.
Our relationship with Christ is not one where we only walk with Christ near our side, but is one in which we walk in Him with Him in our hearts!
God is faithful, by whom you were called
into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(1 CORINTHIANS 1:9)
Transformed into the image of Christ
Because we are joined to Christ, we come like Him! We don't gaze at Christ from a distance, but through the intimacy of our union with Him.
But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory,
just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2 CORINTHIANS 3:18)
The hearing and learning living truths
Those who are separate from Christ may listen to His words, but they never hear His words. His words are "spirit and they are life" (John 6:63) and can only be heard through union with Him.
I'm reminded of the Pharisees who were only angered as they listened to Jesus. But they never heard His heart.
We can only learn of Christ if we are taught in Him, and not just by Him. We can learn a lot of information by listening and being taught by experts (e.g., scientific facts, poetry, etc). This is obtaining information from the outside.
However, we have not learned Christ in this way! If you have heard Christ, you are in union with Him, and so you are learning from the inside!
The life of Christ is in us! It is not theory, but is life-imparting teaching. The Spirit of Christ does not just utter words to you, but imparts life to you, building you up in Christ!
But you have not so learned Christ,
if indeed you have heard Him
and have been taught in Him,
as the truth is in Jesus.
(EPHESIANS 4:20-21)
The grace of bearing spiritual fruit
In union with Christ, you have become usable to God. Instead of striving to work for God according to your best fleshly efforts, you can "present the members of your body as instruments" for God to work through you (Romans 6:13).
God in Christ is the source of all you need. You appropriate these riches of Christ by faith through your union with Him.
Jesus said, "I am the vine (the life and source),
you are the branches (connected to Me).
He who abides in Me (in union with Me), and I in him,
bears (not produces) much fruit,
for apart from Me (being your source)
you can do nothing."
(JOHN 15:5, amplification by Gregg)
Victory over sin
Through your death in union with Christ, you have been taken out of the realm of law where sin had dominion over you.
For, the law told us what we ought to do but gave us no power to do it. As long as we were under the law, we were under the strength of sin. 1 Corinthians 15:56 says, "...the strength of sin is the law."
However, praise be to God that Galatians 4:4-5 says, "Jesus was born under the law...to redeem those who were under the law." Romans 6:14 promises, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
Now with this realization, because of your union with Christ, "by the Spirit, put to death the (sinful) deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13).
Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body,
that you should obey it in its lust.
(ROMANS 6:12)
Fellowship in Christ's sufferings
Our Lord was "a Man of sorrows acquainted with grief" in this world (Isaiah 53:3). That was because of sin in this world. Because He saw the enmity of the human heart against His Father, it pained and grieved Him.
Martyn Lloyd Jones so poignantly notes: "There is no more delicate test of our relationship to Christ and out union with Him than the extent to which you and I know something about this suffering."
There is much more to say about suffering with Christ, but for now, hear the heart of Paul in union with Christ in the following verse:
I count all things loss...
...that I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death.
(Philippians 3:10).
CLOSING
There are many other wonderful realities to experience through our union with Christ. However, during this Thanksgiving season, I close with one final reality.
I am truly thankful for what Christ has done, and is doing, for me and in me. And I realize there was a time before I knew Christ that I was not thankful for Him; indeed I chose to be His enemy.
But thanks be to God that through my union with Christ, the old un-thankful Gregg was crucified and buried with Christ, and the new thankful Gregg rose with Christ.
In everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in (union with) Christ Jesus for you.
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:18).
