In Christ

In Christ

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

Paul grasped the progressive nature of the Christian life. In the fourth chapter of Second Corinthians he outlines the difficulties which he faced in the ministry, due to the fact that he was beset by many personal and circumstantial hardships.  He closed that chapter with a forward look. He continues in the same vein into the fifth chapter where he points toward the blessedness of being with Christ. In an almost seamless progression of thought, he brings us to consider our current spiritual state and condition. In our text for today, he declares,’Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’ In a few deft strokes of the quill, Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, touches upon the broad panorama of the progression of our spiritual journey. He begins with the indication of our position in Christ. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ.’ Our position, as redeemed people, is ‘in Christ.’ Think of it in this way, please. God instructed Noah into the ark. God shut Noah in the ark. God preserved Noah from wrath by the ark. We are in Christ. God instructed us into Christ. God has enclosed us in Christ. God has preserved us from wrath in Christ. There is, positionally, no safer place to be in all the earth than ‘in Christ.’ Paul, before he would speak of anything else, sets down the virtue and value of our positional righteousness. We who are bought with the precious Blood of Christ, are today, ‘in Christ,’ and no one in heaven, earth or hell can remove us from that position.    .

Our Holy and Righteous Christ,
‘We stand upon Your merits,
We know no safer stand,
not even where Glory dwells in Emmanuel’s land.’

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice