To Encourage You

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace”

Colossians 1:27 “. . . Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Two of the phrases used in the Bible to describe the wonderful unity of the believer with Christ is to say that we are “in Him” and that He is “in us.”  What awesome realities these two little phrases portray. 

First, when the Bible says that the believer is “in Christ” it is referring to the reality that whatever Christ has done, whatever He is, and wherever He is, we are included, because we are “in Him.”  For example, when Christ died, we, and all the sins that hung over our head, died with Him. When Jesus rose from the dead, we rose from the dead. When Jesus ascended on high, we ascended on high, and we’re seated now with Him in glory because we are one with Him (Ephesians 2:4-6).  Although we may not have experienced all of these things in all their fullness at this moment, they are certainly true because of the union we have with Him.  As to WHO He is, we are like Him.  Because He is righteous, we are righteous (Romans 3:21-22). Because He lives, we live also (Romans 6:11). Because He is holy, we are holy (Ephesians 1:4). Because He loves, we love (1 John 4:19).  All of these things are true because we exist in such a wonderful intimate union with Him. We are “in Him.”  Praise the Lord. 

But then we are told that Christ is “in us.”  What a breathtaking reality this is.  That means that although you and I are alive as believers, i.e., we breathe, think, and take in nourishment with our natural bodies, there is a sense in which “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  That means that when we do anything in obedience to Christ, it isn’t just us that is doing it, but Christ acting in and through us.  When we visit the sick, it is actually Christ reaching out to that sick person to offer His comfort through us. When we give to a need, it is actually Christ meeting that need in and through us.  When we pray for others, there is a sense in which Christ is praying through us as the Holy Spirit empowers us to pray with His wisdom and heart of love.  And whenever we share the gospel with someone, it is actually “God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).  This is such a wonder that it is almost beyond one’s ability to put it into words. But it’s indeed the truth, because Christ lives “in us.” 

So if you are a believer, do you think about this much?  If not, might I encourage you to do so, for it’s one of those truths that the Lord would have us to dwell upon.  Paul knew this, and He longed that the believers to whom he ministered would realize these breathtaking realities as well.  You can hear this in his prayer recorded in Ephesians 3:14-19: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every familyin heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  And that’s exactly what God would have for us – to know what it is to be “in Christ” and what it is for Christ to live “in us.” 

What miraculous and wonderful gifts God has blessed His children with.  No wonder He has told us to “meditate in his word day and night” (Psalm 1), for it is only as we do this that we can even begin to fathom the wonders of all that He has done for us. How wonderful is a love like this!