There are many references to our union with Christ in the Scriptures. For example, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Paul also says in Ephesians 1:3-4, “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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” He later states that we are His workmanship created in Jesus Christ to do good works (Eph. 2:10). Those who are dead are called “the dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16), and our resurrection will be in Christ (1 Cor. 15:22). The other aspect of this relationship is that Christ is also in us. Paul says, “To [the saints] whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Jesus also gives us the analogy of the vine and the branches, which shows us that we are in Christ and that Christ is in us (cf. John 15:4-5). It is clear, then, that Scripture teaches that we are in union with Christ, and that Christ is in union with us. However, it is important to understand the meaning of our union with Christ. …show more content…
First, we are declared righteous before God. Paul says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). We no longer are condemned by our sin; instead, we are righteous before God because we are in Christ. Second, we live in the power and strength of Jesus Christ. Paul makes this clear when he says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh, and he asked God to remove it, but God responded and said His grace was sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses so that the power of Christ rests in us (2 Cor.
In the beginning, Creation was oriented to worship but, by the Fall, this relationship was broken. Thereafter throughout history, God has worked to rebuild this relationship. Salvation history includes the familiar stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and ultimately Jesus. By the true sacrifice of Christ, we can come to understand the fullness of what our relationship with God can be. Jesus is the exemplar of what it means to be related in love. He is the one whom Mrs. Turpin strives
...ectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Cor. 10) The plea for unity is not one that is born out of his own will or imagination though, Paul connects unity within the church to Jesus Christ, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” (Phi. 1:27-28). Within The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, Hugh J. Michael expounds further upon this passage, “The words rendered like one man literally mean ‘with one soul.’. . . The member are not only to have one spirit [pneuma] : they are to fight side by side with one soul [psyche].” (66) This teaching of Paul to the Philippians is no small topic and it bears much weight. Paul does not simply aim for the church to be of one body, but to exist and function with one soul without division.
Human identity can be summed up by looking at it from two perspectives. Who we are in our natural state and who we are in Christ. Mankind in his natural state is driven by his sin nature. Romans 1-8 perfectly lays out who and what we are in our natural state. It also lays out who and what we are in Christ. “For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.” (Romans 3:9 NIV) In Romans 1:29-31, Paul gives a long list of wicked behaviors that are still prevalent in today’s society, which lets me know that we, in our natural state, are the same as we always have been. There are no exceptions to the rule, besides that of Christ. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (3:23) Paul emphasizes in Romans 1-3 how people have tried to free themselves from their sin nature by depending on the Law to no avail. The Law could not bring about justification (Acts 13:39), produce righteousness (Galatians 2:21), produce life (Galatians 3:21), bring about perfection (Hebrews 7:19) or free the conscience from a knowledge of sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). (Johnson, 1896) The fact is that God’s standards are perfect and we alone can never live up to them by any religious act or moral behavior. The good news is that God knew all of this. He knew that by our strength alone, we could not overcome our own sin nature. He sent us a perfect sacrifice to permanently fulfill the Law. That sacrifice was his only Son, Jesus Christ. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:25) Through faith in Jesus Christ, the grace of God has been given to us. Now, rather than being bound we are made free. Instead of unrighteousness abounding in ou...
Part of developing and ensuring this true connection involves developing a genuine I – Thou relationship with them, rather than an I – It relationship. And although we are all connected intimately with one another through God, we must have an understanding and a love for one anothers 'otherness' – the part of each of us that brings so much uniqueness to us as individuals.
By redemption, Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God from whom we were estranged because of sin.
and the resurrection of Jesus is said to be the sign that we have been
This passage of scripture in Romans is giving its audience confidence in their faith. It is stating that Christians are justified by their faith and therefore have access into God’s undeserving grace. This passage also draws the audience’s attention to the fact that since they are justified through faith, they should rejoice in their sufferings because each individual produces endurance. The trials and sufferings one faces in their present situation is just preparing them for the more difficult sufferings to come. How one endures their current challenging situation contributes to the making of their character. The character and endurance then yields hope. This hope does not bring same onto Christians in light of the fact that God has poured His love into their hearts through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, this passage in Romans is expressing to the audience that since they are justified through faith, they have peace in God. They should not be uneasy about the trials and sufferings in life, but instead rejoice because each new trial will cause the next to appear less challenging.
The Church is the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “Yes, he has put all things under his feet and he gave at the top of all, to head the Church which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills him even completely. “. The Body of Christ is composed of all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture of the end of time.
While the New Testament reaffirms monotheism (cf. Mark 12:29; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6), it harmoniously demonstrates a distinctive unity between three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6; Revelation 1:4–5a).
Through Christ, we are resurrected to a new life which is eternal, holy, and fully conformed to the image of Christ; therefore, in perfection with God and one another. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” Rom. 8:22-23. I look to the resurrection of Christ as a depth of the power of love which is beyond understanding. The good news is that I will share in that same gift of resurrection. In truth, Christians have in baptism, experienced a taste of resurrection in Christ.
Christ said, “Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” The key point here is the shared glory; Christ said the glory we shared. Looking at Isaiah 42:8 God said, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” When Christ stated that he shared the glory with God, he was declaring that he was with God and that he was God. This points back to the first few verses of John when he said, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
During this devotional, I spent time reflecting what makes up the "body of Christ" to me. I hear a lot of Christians use this term but never have really pondered on what it means to me. Christ gave his life for us, and continues to live within us if we accept his presence into our heart. There is much judgment throughout life, not only to Christians but to every person and body. God says that we would be judged as Christians and held in a spotlight for our actions. Becoming the body of Christ first takes place when you accept him into your heart. Secondly, you come together with other Christians to form a body of Christ. When this occurs, you allow unity and make up a church body or a body of Christians to form and stand accountable for the righteousness of Christ. When you allow yourself to become the body of Christ, you have a stronger desire to treat life, others, and your body according to his will. To feed the body of Christ, you must intake the word (holy bible) to increase spiritual growth. The body as whole has similar beliefs and goals.
This knowledge of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father as two separate beings brings a greater understanding of what they have done for us. Jesus taught the apostles that He could only do as He’d seen His Father do (John 5:19). As Heavenly Father’s children, this scripture teaches us so much about our Father’s identity! Heavenly Father may have once done just as Jesus Christ did for us—He atoned. He understood perfectly Christ’s struggles in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He also experienced the Creation process for Himself. He lived on an earth like we do now. He knows what it’s like to be human because He lived it first.
Thoughts run through every human beings mind constantly, and some of those thoughts can torment even the strongest of people. When someone is struggling with sin, they can have thoughts like, “I am ashamed and a disgrace to God.” “God cannot ever use me because I am a totally mess up.” When people fall into sin, they can believe God is going to punish them, and they willingly take abuse from others believing it is what they deserve. They are weak and vulnerable because they fell into sin, and into condemnation.
Once we confess Him as Our Lord and Savior and Believe in Him then we are not dominated by the sin nature any longer. Sure we will fail from time to time because we are human and not God, and that’s when the devil tries to step in and confuse us or tempt us with something that Lord has delivered us from. Always remember this scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Very Clearly He says He will make our way of escape. Isn’t that great? One time after I was just delivered from alcohol I met a person who invited me to ride 4 wheelers and hang out, so I thought yes that sounds fun because my son was 12 at the time and loved riding his 4 wheeler. He used to ride a lot before I had chemo treatments. I would take him and my girls sometimes too with other friends and family members so I wanted him to continue to do what he loved doing as a kid, even when I didn’t feel like