Study 10 – In Christ

Just as Adam is the head of one race of people, so Christ is the head of another totally different race.

The effect of their actions on us is clearly stated in Romans 5:18: 'Just as the result of one man's trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.'

When we are born again, a radical change takes place. We are taken out of Adam and placed into Christ. A glorious illustration of this transaction is found in the Old Testament.

Isaac and Rebekah had two sons: Esau and Jacob. When Isaac was old and blind he wanted to bless his well beloved son Esau whom he loved more than Jacob. He told Esau to go out, hunt some wild game and prepare him some tasty food.

After Isaac had eaten, he would bless his son. But while Esau was out, Jacob put on his brother's clothes, pretended to be Esau and stole the blessing (Gen. 27).

Jacob clothed himself in Esau. He hid in the favourite son and approached his father.

That's what happens to us. We hide ourselves in God's well beloved Son, Jesus, and approach the Father. But there is a difference. Jacob went trembling to Isaac hoping that he would not be found out.

We, however, are not hiding by our own cunning. God has accepted us and placed us in the Son He loves. Jacob stole Esau's blessing but God has 'blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ' (Eph. 1:3).

God does not want us to fear that He will find us out because the closer we get to Him, like Isaac smelled the fragrance of Esau, so He will catch the fragrance of the Son He loves.

If you are a Christian, 'you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God' (Col. 3:3). Whereas once your association with Adam condemned you, now your association with Christ justifies you (Rom. 5:16).

You are 'in Christ', and if anyone is in Christ he is not a sinner, 'he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' (2 Cor. 5:17).

As Martin Luther says, 'Christ took our sins and the sins of the whole world as well as the Father's wrath on His shoulders, and He has drowned them both in Himself so that we are thereby reconciled to God and become completely righteous.'

To Meditate On

God is on your side.

'Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Rom. 5:1).

'God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things … by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross' (Col. 1:19, 20).

To Consider

If you are a Christian, you have peace with God.

DO YOU live with a strong sense of this peace? If not, ask God now to reveal to you the reason.

When He answers, act on what He says.

Food For Thought

Jesus calls us to remain in Him (John 15:4). The New Testament writers often use the phrase, 'in Christ' or 'in Him'.

DISCOVER how wonderful it is to be 'in Christ' by looking up and making notes on the following Scriptures:

Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Cor. 1:21; 2:14; 5:21; Eph. 1:3,4; Phil. 3:9; Col. 1:28; 2:6, 10; 1 John 2:5, 6; 3:6; 5:11.

To Do

God has 'committed to us the message of reconciliation' (2 Cor. 5:19). In other words, He wants us to work with Him at breaking down barriers that separate people from God and people from people.

ARE YOU DILIGENT in your witness for Jesus? If not, pray now for boldness and for opportunities to speak for Him.

Are there any unresolved disputes between you and others? Swallow your pride and get them sorted out.

Be Inspired

New hope. New attitudes. New feelings. New direction. New destiny.
The newborn shakes his head, blinks, looks around at his first glimpse of new life, and he can hardly believe it. And the world? Why, of course, it rushes on. Unconcerned, busy, preoccupied; it has to 'stay on schedule'. Someone's eternal new birth has occurred. Although it doesn't attract a second glance from those standing around, God's kingdom is being silently enlarged.
CHARLES SWINDOLL

'For all of you who were baptised into Christ have been clothed with Christ' (Gal. 3:27).