IN CHRIST

      Most believers remain earth bound in their view and concept of the Christian life, few have spiritual wings to be free as they are tethered to this world in deed and thought.

     It seems, by observation at least, mans accumulated purpose is simply to establish a cultural and a personal reality which suits his expected or perceived present circumstance and worldly needs, in order to please himself or others. Christian are no different in this propensity. But is this God's way, His desire for His Children? "The carnal mind [a mind absorbed by personal and world issues]is enmity against God" Rom. 8:7.

      If a man were really spiritually free what would his relative functional world perception/actions look like? Actually, outside of his inner spiritual concept, probably not much different than those who remain earth bound. Why? Because inherent within the fall of man is his obligation toward sin, "sin is in the flesh". This is our, both Christian and secular mans, unescapable condition. Then where is the peace and joy that is promised by God to His believing children to come from? And why make any effort to rise above the carnal worldly and traditional position most Christians have found their present comfort in?

      The answer is found in the acquiring of the biblical promised spiritual emancipation we all should be seeking of course. Which is discovered first by our weakness and desperate need then a openness to His Spirit, followed by knowledge in the the gathering of a intelligent faith. This sounds simple and direct enough but very few bother to put forth a effort toward these vital and Godly ideologies with their divine spiritual freedom in mind. Why?

      Because they remain satisfied to be earth bound, self-centered, enthralled and occupied by what they see and feel all around them. Seeking fulfillment in the temporary comfort of self-centered feelings, captured. It is simply their self imposed preferred world view, what they know. But God's Word in no way supports this common view, for He declares; "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then we also appear with Him in Glory" Col. 3:4.

     But surely we cannot be with Him in the apprehension of our mutual glory without also having His attitude, gaining His insite. That of His own presence before the Father and us inclusive in His place with Him. "God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship [like mindness] of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" 1 Cor. 1:9. Yes this important message [Col. 3:4] is equally a future promise [in glory] and a present position [Who is our life] according to God's Word. But in order to see its fulfillment in the now we must be looking down from Him, God's perspective. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Phil. 2:5. However most are looking up from themselves, their own mind's perspective. So how and where will we find Him in order to have His view?


      God....has made us alive together with Christ and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Eph 2:4-6. Note we are together with Him, according to the Father. Where? In heaven. This can only be learned as a spiritual faith reality from the Word. We were dead [sin restricted in the fallen Adam race] and now we are alive [in the new spiritual Christ identify or new creation], but only "in Christ". Found in Him by faith, His view revealed.

     In other words we are in Him a new creation [have gained a new mind] by a spiritual all new perception based entirely on the [our] reckoning by faith of the Word's narrative, as to our status before God represented by His Son; this is also God's reckoning. We are there in heaven with Him or so God says "we are citizens of heaven". If this is true then we must redefine ourselves within our very conscience as to our Christian existance. We are to stop praying and lookin upward toward Him from ourselves, ever asking for relief and blessings, and come to see downward from His throne with the eye's of Word based faith. But How can we do this we might wonder?

      The revelation by Paul from the Father tells us. Therefore we must discover what he [Paul] means when he tells us over one hundred times we are in Christ. "For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him"  2 Cor. 5:21. By this new realization, from the Spirit, we will rise above the mere existence in the world of experience and good works where most Christians trod. Our thoughts therefore must change based upon His Word.

      The real life difficulty for us will be to find rest in His full provision for us as ones "in Christ" because of our old identity or thinking. So to pave the way, first must come great need, then a diligent pursuit, and finely a full reliance upon faith in His word by the knowledge of it, or new thoughts. This will make our way clear to see His life. Few will go there however as feelings [present old thoughts] and compliance with the world drowns out their desperate need, and apathy and present circumstances satisfaction hold then down. But for those that have the sacrificial desire [a individual personal approbation steeped in weakness and need] for the discovery of what it means to be "in Christ" there will be a great reward. That of eternal freedom known here and now!

      In order for us to understand what it means to be "in Christ" we turn to Paul's mind as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word. What does in Christ mean? In Christ Jesus' Words, [John 15:4] He says we are to abide [in thought and concept] in Him. In context in the Greek mind this would mean we are to be fully encompassed, as within a sphere, within Him, a part of Him, partakers making up the whole of Him. This is our present position in God's mind even with no actions of our own. Second Paul uses a certain word as description of our divine status and presence before God; that of being "in Christ" [within His sphere] which connotes the exclusivity of our identification in Him. That word is Pleroma.

      In Colossians we find a Greek word that cannot be translated in the usual sense, as it is relegated to the philosophical [as in search for the truth of life] realm. In English we call this the Pleroma of God. The thought, as expressed by Paul is: In Christ we have the Pleroma [fullness] of God....the idea is that all this fullness dwells in Christ Jesus and may [does] dwell in us by His Spirit and by our dwelling [seeking Him for life's identity in our understanding of who we are] within Him, His sphere of living Spirit. Or "the law of life in Christ Jesus".

      I hope this explanation takes some of the mystery out of the positional and identification  doctrines [Rom. 6,7.8] to make you curious enough to contemplate and perhaps even desire a freedom that only comes by faith in a understood truth. God has made it simple in concept we make it difficult by our action and self-centered expectation's. Rest in the truth my Christian brothers and sisters, He has made our way easy and light. We now may cease from worry and strife as well as alignment with the world. Wait upon His Spirit in your weakness to fulfill your new desire for life with unending joy found only within His sphere, "In Christ".