Complete Through Christ IN Us

Read: Galatians 2: 20-21

“God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery – the mystery, which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.” - Colossians 1:27

In the perfect balance of the Trinity, God is three separate entities – the Father, Son and Spirit - who all dwell within each other in a spiritual union. God sits on His throne and Jesus sits at His right hand; however, we forget that by the Spirit, the fullness of the Godhead also dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:17).  When we repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we connect in a spiritual union with the entire Trinity (Galatians 2: 20-21). Even when we realize this fact, however, for some reason, we continue to view God as “up in Heaven” and separated from us down here on the earth.

If we view our lives as separate from Christ, we feel forsaken when we endure our trials. However, our whole attitude and outlook about life change, when we come to realize that Christ is in us (Colossians 1:17). We no longer face adversity unaided. We are now assisted by all the power of the Godhead, which dwells within us (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, we no longer live alone, but Christ lives His life in us and through us. This means that we can do all things through Christ who empowers us from the inside out (Philippians 4:13).

John explained, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (I John 5:12). This is what Christians mean when we say we are “Born Again”. A person without the Spirit of God has a spirit, which is dead in trespasses and sins. It is only when we are born again of the Spirit of God that He breathes His life into our spirit and regenerates us (John 3:6). We are then "born from above" (John 3:3,7). The full power of the Godhead dwells in us from that moment of Salvation.

God does not visit us occasionally, nor does He listen to our prayers from His throne in heaven. He took up permanent residence in us the second we asked Him to forgive our sins. He possesses us - body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God does not only reveal His Son to us, but in us as well, because Christ “is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).

How does this transforming manifestation occur? Christ converts our natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14) into a spiritual being (1 Corinthians 3:1). He changes us from "children of the devil" (1 John 3:10) and "sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2; 5:6), to "children of God" (Romans 8:14,17; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26; 4:6,7; Hebrews 2:10; John 1:12; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1,2,10). The Trinity’s presence and function within us now identifies us as Christ followers (Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16).

We are in Christ and He is in us. Biblical evidence reveals that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means that the unregenerated “old man” (Ephesians. 4:22; Col. 3:9), who is worthy of eternal death, has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). Now, with Christ living in us, we become a "new man" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).

From this point on, when we perform the good works, which God prepared for us before time began (Ephesians 2:10), this is actually the Trinity working in us and through us. We are now pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:21). Our life manifests as a living letter of Christ, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, on the tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Him (John 17:23). Born Again Christians are in Him as well, and He is in us (John 14:20). This means that the Father and the Spirit are also in us.

Within each of us is God’s Divine power, which delivers and defends us. We do not need to feel fearful when a friend turns against us, when a mate leaves us, when a child rejects us, when our boss dismisses us, when our transportation breaks down on us, when our body gets sick, when the pantry is empty and when there is no more money in the bank.

We only need to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and to rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). We have a mighty fortress deep within our spirit, in which we can hide and feel safe, until we connect with His Spirit and gain the strength to face our trials. Then the Trinity, dwelling within us, triumphs over every negative circumstance in our life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we are complete in every facet of human existence because You dwell within us (John 14:17; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:5). We will never be worthy of your sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. However, Your power and might manifest in our lives, which make it possible for You to dwell within each of us. Now, we ask You to use us, body and soul and spirit, for Your glory on the earth.

Thought for the Day:

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, dwells in every Born Again Christian.

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The Reason for the Season

There is an unusual point to this message; but first, bear with me as I build a foundation.

Did you ever notice that Jesus did not tell us to celebrate His birth? In fact, for most of the church’s history, Christmas was a minor holiday, if celebrated at all. Maybe this is because Jesus told us to commemorate His death, burial and resurrection. This is why we have communion services in our churches. I believe He did this because He wants the focus of our Christian message to center around salvation through faith in Christ’s blood atonement, rather than on his nativity.

I am not proposing that we stop celebrating Christmas or that we should do away with the nativity set. I collect unusual nativity sets. Some I even keep out all year around in order to praise God for sending Jesus to save us from the penalty of our own choices and for giving us His resurrected life. In fact, I love the festivity and anticipation in the air at this time of the year. People smile more often, have a song on their lips, and act more generously toward one another. St. Nicholas was a kind and giving man and I love that people always focus on sharing with one another, especially with those less fortunate.

For most people, however, Jesus is no longer the reason for the season - if He ever was. Christmas is more about getting than receiving. It emphasizes a secular Santa, rather than Jesus, our Christ and Savior. Even some Christians put more emphasis on Santa and presents than on Christ.

Let’s face it, in reality most of the aspects of the season are pre-Christian. In order to make Christ more relavant to their world system, the Catholic church used the December 25th Roman holiday of Natalis Invicti, which is the festival of the birth of the invincible sun, as well as Saturnalia. The German mid-winter festival celebrations actually used evergreen trees and holly as symbols of eternal life. This is where we get that famous song, “O Tannenbaum.” 

The most central and recognizable symbol of Christmas today is the Christmas tree —and it has nothing to do with Christianity or Jesus. It is purely a symbol taken from the ancient German mid-winter festivals. Some people even claim that the practice of cutting down trees and taking them home to decorate them is actually condemned by God in Jeremiah 10:1-10.

When we insist on putting Jesus back as the reason for the season, today’s society thinks that we are seeking to assert our cultural superiority over everyone else. They resent us for hijacking their ancient celebrations and for pushing our views on an America that has moved toward religious pluralism. They even mock us, because we insist that Christmas is Christ’s birthday, when everyone knows that December 25^th was probably not the exact date.

Every year Jesus recedes further into the background of human consciousness. At best, in their thinking He was a good man, a prophet or historical teacher. So, this is what I want to suggest. Let us make Jesus the reason for EVERY season. Make Him the focus of every day in which we live. Share, without apology or fear, what He did for us with His life, death, burial and resurrection.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we often make causes out of issues that You do not even care about. Teach us to live our lives in such a way that everyone will see our faith in and love for You. Move in their hearts so that they will join us in glorifying You with their lives.

Thought for the Day:

Make Jesus the center of your focus every day of the year.