IN CHRIST
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
—Ephesians 1:3
THE CHRISTIAN lives in two spheres: the earthly and the heavenly, the visible and the invisible. Physically we are on earth in a human body, and so we struggle with sin, doubt, disease, fear, etc. But spiritually every believer is seated with Christ in the heavenly places and possesses all the riches of Christ. That’s why Paul wrote in Colossians 3:2-4, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” The goal of Christian maturity is that our earthly condition would more and more reflect our heavenly position.
BUT OUR TEXT says that the spiritual blessings apply only to those in Christ. The “us” that Paul refers to when he says “who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” refers only to those in Christ. This is a theme Paul refers to 12 times in the book of Ephesians. What does it mean to be in Christ? How do I know if I am in Christ? When the Apostle Paul says, “in Christ” he means “union with Christ.” To be in union with Christ means you have been personally and savingly united to Jesus Christ by true faith, which the Holy Spirit has worked in your soul. You are now a branch engrafted into the vine, Jesus Christ (John 15). And you are not in Christ because of something you did. Being a member of the church doesn’t necessarily mean you are in Christ. How do you know if you are in Christ? Well, do you trust Him alone for the salvation of your soul? Do you believe that apart from Christ you have no hope of being reconciled to God? Do you believe that He died for you and imputed His perfect righteousness to you, and that you have no righteousness in and of yourself? Does your life show forth thankful obedience?
WELL, YOU WOULDN’T believe these things unless the Holy Spirit has worked faith in your heart (1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7). Everyone who truly trusts Christ has been united to Christ and therefore is “in Christ.” Your being united to Christ is evidenced by your trusting in Christ. And when you are in Christ, Christ’s riches are your riches, His resources are your resources, His righteousness is your righteousness, His position is your position, His privilege is your privilege, His possession is your possession, His practice is your practice. Are you in Christ by true faith? If so, then you say with the Apostle Paul, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Friday Devotional: February 21, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less
PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS
“…in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works…”
—Titus 2:7
THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES that true faith and good works are as essential to each other in the Christian life as the body and the spirit. Apart from the spirit, or the “breath” of life, the body is dead (James 2:26). So also, apart from the evidence of good works in the life, faith may be considered as dead faith. In other words, professed faith without God-glorifying good works is not the true faith that is kindled in the heart by the Holy Spirit. Not only is a believer to stand confidently on God’s Word amidst trials and temptations (James 1), but the believer must also serve his brothers and sisters in Christ (James 2; 1 John 3:16-18).
BELIEVERS ARE TO ACCEPT all members of the “household of faith” (Gal. 6:10) without favoritism (James 2:1-13) and to aid the family of God with a faith working through love (Gal. 5:6; James 2:14-26; Eph. 4:28). And so, the Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” And again, in Titus 3:14, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”
WE ARE REDEEMED by the perfect law-abiding righteous life and sin-toning, guilt removing death of Jesus Christ alone, but we are redeemed unto a life of good works for the glory of God (Eph. 2:10). As the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” A life of self-sacrificial service unto God is manifest by a life of good deeds rendered unto mankind in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, which in turn brings glory to our God. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
Tuesday Encouragement: February 18, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less
