Faith in Jesus is to be positioned ‘in’ Christ
To be part of a family is a gift, and to be privileged to have a father and a mother who cares for you is a beautiful place of honor. Sometimes in today’s society, this privilege and honor are not enjoyed as they should be because of the decisions made. Oftentimes, that decision is out of the control of the children, because they become the byproducts of their parents’ poor decisions. As we consider that sadness and the way decisions can destroy the home, as well as the relationships, let us also pause to see what God offers to all who choose to believe in Jesus, the Son of God. The apostle Paul wrote to explain the place, the position, and the right one received, when he chose to believe ‘in’ Jesus.
“And I will be a father to you,
(The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 6:18 NASB)
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”
When a person gives his heart to Jesus, he becomes a child of God. No longer will a person be alone, or an outcast, or an orphan, or a person without an eternal resting place, for the Lord Almighty says that He is now the person’s Father, and the person has now become a son or a daughter to Him. Stop to consider the enormity of God’s promise.
- When someone is lonely, invite them to draw near to Jesus.
- Whenever a friend is hurting, lead them to Jesus.
- Where a person is lost and does not know Jesus, tell them about His love.
When a person gives his heart to Jesus and receives His forgiveness of sins, then he is ‘IN CHRIST.’ No longer do you know ‘of’ Jesus or ‘about’ Jesus because you are now ‘in’ Him.
Someone might read that previous sentence and protest, saying there is no difference, that to be ‘of’ or ‘about’ or even ‘with’ Jesus is the same as to be ‘in’ Jesus, but it is not. These beautiful words, these prepositional words, are chosen for a reason, for to be ‘in’ someone is to be invited ‘into’ a presence, to take up residence, to enter ‘into’ a relationship. Whereas, to know ‘about’ a person is to know the facts, and to be aware ‘of’ an individual is to understand some interesting details. For example, if we travel ‘with’ someone to a destination, then we may go together, but that does not mean we will be able to enter ‘into’ the residence once we arrive. We have only come along for the ride; we did not receive the invitation to attend once we arrived. There is a stark difference.
Someday, we will each pass away, and when we do, we will go into our chosen eternity. Those who are ‘in’ Christ will be ‘in’ heaven, for where the Father is, so is the Son, and where the Son resides, so does the Father. The Bible is clear about that. Jesus said these words to His disciples before His death on the cross.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
(The Gospel According to John 14: 18-21 NASB)
After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me;
because I live, you will live also.
In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in me, and I in you.
He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father,
and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
- While we wait for that day, we will never be alone, for we are ‘in’ Christ.
- As we await our death day, we should not fear, for we are ‘in’ Christ.
- During tough seasons of life, we should be comforted, for we remain ‘in’ Christ. &
- Daily, we can approach the throne of God and ask Him anything for His glory, for we reside ‘in’ Him though His Son Jesus.
It is a privilege, an honor, and a calling to be ‘in’ Christ, one that is given to all who will receive God’s offer to be saved. It is not inclusive but exclusive, and it is not for just a few but for anyone who chooses to believe ‘in’ Christ Jesus as their personal Savior.
Yes, it is a decision to be ‘in’ Christ. However, some choose not to believe. Those who are NOT ‘in’ Christ, who have not chosen to receive God’s perfect gift of His salvation will not be invited ‘into’ heaven. The Bible is clear about that, as well. The apostle Paul writes to the believers living in Thessalonica who are displaying perseverance in their faith among those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
(The Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 1: 6-11 NASB)
dealing out retribution to those who do not know God
and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—
for our testimony to you was believed.”