CHRIST IN YOU IS THE HOPE OF GLORY! LET US ENTER!
Ephesians 2:13 says this:
"But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been BROUGHT NEAR."
What are the implications for this as believers right "now" as the passage states, to live in nearness to Him Who so loved us and gave Himself for us? If He really does live 'in' us, which doesn't get any 'nearer' than that, how can we live 'in' Him who lives 'in' us? I think it would be a good thing to prayerfully reflect on some passages which I don't think we have understood very well, let alone actually attempted to practice, as obviously the early church did. They knew an indwelling Lord! He was the central focus of their lives together, in community, and I think we are going to see that in these passages in new and unexpected ways.
Some of the passages that speak of this immense privilege of entering into the joy of the Lord in the land of the living are Hebrews 10:19-25; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18,4:6-7; and I Peter 3:15.
Our precious Heavenly Father. Oh how we love You and thank you for placing us in Christ, in whom are all heavenly things, and then placing Christ in us. We pray that Father, you will open first our ears to hear just how glorious is this gospel of Jesus Christ to us and in us. And then in our hearing Father, may you then open our eyes to see this utter blessedness in which You have granted to us in placing Christ in us as our indwelling Lord, Savior, Teacher, Friend and soon-coming King! The world is famishing not because they haven't heard our doctrine, but because they haven't seen our Lord in us, together, as Your community expressing Him in Spirit and in Truth. Oh Father, when Christ is truly living in us, we become living epistles. If the world can't 'read' Christ in us, we perish as Your church! Oh our great and glorious God, let us know Him, who lives so near! The glory of God was in this place and we knew it not. Plant in us ears to hear and eyes to see. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Living in the Nearness of Christ
1 Cor 12:13 ‘For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.’
Christ has been brought near and we are one. The work has already been done and we are equipped to do His work with power. It is all because our precious Lord has removed the wall that kept us from communing with God and with one another. The plan of God through the New Covenant brings all men together as one and there is no longer a struggle because we are united and functioning as one in the body where Christ is the head. The veil of entry into the temple, before our God has been torn and access to Him is no longer restricted. All men are welcomed into the Kingdom of His Grace.
The basic understanding of the infilling of the Spirit in all believers from the moment of belief is the beginning of maturity. Unfortunately this is not well understood therefore some never know the peace and love that come from the power of His indwelling. For those who do, the Spirit is released, to accomplish much. In this state the believer has no anxiety, no worry, no despair. God does everything as the feet and hands, eyes and ears, nose and mouth, heart and lungs move in a coordinated manner. There is an unequalled and never ending movement within the body that functions without effort because everything is automatic, the head directs the body. We as believers cannot neglect the body otherwise we are inefficient and functioning as separated from the body, accomplishing very little for the Kingdom of God.
Dear Lord,
We come near this morning in Your body. We are all one unit made up of all kinds of people with different gifts, different color skin, different gender. I am amazed at how you use what we know to expand our understanding. I thank-you for the gift of Your Spirit who lives within us, Your body. Transform us today as we begin our work for You. Cleanse us Lord, feed us and lead us. We do not even have to think about our movements because You control all we do, see and touch. Come Lord and open our understanding of the mystery of Your infilling, Your presence. The time is now to work in this world of flesh because the day of salvation is now for those who are far away. Let us become an exact representation of You to the world, a fully functioning body, not neglected but fed by Your word and Your precepts.
Lewis Sperry Chafer penned the following:
‘These marvels of grace constitute that ‘good work’ which He has but begun in those who trust Him. To this much more is yet to be added according to Phil 1.6 “He that began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Love to my brothers and sisters, in the Name of our Lord,
Linda