‘In Christ’

‘In Christ’

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:1

As the Apostle Paul writes the opening chapter of Ephesians, he repeatedly uses a phrase upon which we want to dwell.  In our text for today, he refers to those who are the faithful ‘in Christ Jesus.’  We find the phrase again in the text we considered yesterday.  There Paul speaks of all the ‘spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.’  He goes on to declare in verse four that, God has ‘chosen us in Him,’ that is in Christ ‘before the foundation of the world.’  He relates our ‘predestination unto the adoption of children’ as being, ‘by Christ.’ He goes on to say that He has, ‘made us accepted in Christ.’  He says that He will ‘gather together in one all things in Christ.’  According to Paul, it is ‘in Christ’ that we have ‘obtained an inheritance.’  We have trusted ‘in Christ.’  The Holy Spirit has sealed us ‘in Christ.’  In reality, this is but the tip of the iceberg as far as what we are and have ‘in Christ.’  For this reason, it is utterly impossible to make too much of Christ. All true exposition of Scripture points to Christ.  All practical preaching leads us to Christ.  We cannot overestimate His value or sing His praises too loudly.  ‘To Him give all the prophets witness.’  The Apostles ‘ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’  Today, look full in the face of the Altogether Lovely One.  All you need, you will find ‘in Christ.’

O, God of Grace and Glory,
we rejoice at all the wonderful things which You have bestowed upon us in Christ.
We praise You, that as we understand Him more,
we will more clearly understand all that we have in Him.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning