Wouldn’t it be great if the Church on earth was like the Church in heaven? Wouldn’t it be a blessing if the Church on earth was living as God the Father sees it by imputation? Transformed lives would result and local churches would be radically changed. Contemporary churches have set aside “in Christ” truth for other things. For them this truth is too theological or too doctrinal. Having been replaced by human programs and procedures, it is considered to be archaic and of little use or value. From time to time in Christ truth is mentioned as teachers and pastor-teachers pass through passages of Scripture in which this truth is taught. It is mentioned but rarely emphasized. Churches spend too much time on Scripture passages that have nothing to do with the Church and these become the false standards for contemporary Christian living. They spend too little time in grace revelation.
They say Paul is too doctrinal, as are Peter and John. The synoptic gospels are interesting so one allegorizes his way through them attempting to apply truth for Israel to the Church of Jesus Christ. This kind of teaching and preaching deprives true Christians of the truths that they need to know to live God-pleasing Christian lives. Too much time is spent on contemporary issues and biblical character studies of the “great Bible heroes.” These studies simply distract the Christian from thinking about what God considers to be important. “In Christ” truth has very little influence today. Hymnology generally hides it. Responsive readings generally miss it. Sunday school materials generally ignore it or pervert it. Preaching generally skirts it. “In Christ” truth is a strange doctrine in many churches. Christians are not conversant with even the simplest elements of these essential truths. Human initiative, self help programs, self-esteem seminars and self-integrity have replaced any understanding of the great wealth that the believer has in Christ. The old nature loves human substitutes for God’s program.
The local church has a great potential to become a spiritual church through the teaching and living of “in Christ” truth. Without “in Christ” truth it is impossible. When Christians are living and using their possessions in Christ, the local church will benefit to the fullest. Spiritual gifts will be effective. Believer priests will be functioning as a whole with a God-provided equality. A greater acquaintance with Jesus Christ will be possible as the indwelling Christ is manifested through the lives of spiritual believers. Christians will have victory over their sin natures. The church will set priorities based on holiness as saints see the importance of being set apart to God. The best part of the whole thing is that God will receive glory through the local assembly. Is this a dream of an ideal church? No, it is possible when “in Christ” truth is applied in the lives of individual believers in any local church. Modern churches have departed from these important truths and it is time again to return to the doctrines of the apostolic churchconcerning what Christians are and have in Christ. Many “successful” churches today are abject failures from this perspective—God’s perspective. Big programs and big numbers are of no value if there is no true biblical spirituality in the lives of the people.
The Invitation to Action
A believer can only communicate truth to others with authority, when he absorbs it in his life. Personal study is required. Accurate principles of literal interpretation must be applied. A proper relationship to the Holy Spirit is necessary for His illumination and teaching. A saint must see himself as God sees him. Of himself he is nothing. In Christ he is everything. As has been suggested, a marking of the prepositional phrases and compound words relating to “in Christ” truth in the Bible is a good place to start. Any time a believer studies grace revelation, he will see the markings and be given opportunity to review these truths. Through “in Christ” truth he can be drawn close to God and become a Spirit-filled believer. Oh that more Christians would make a firm commitment to diligent personal study of these truths and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in living life in light of these truths! Each individual Christian is responsible and must make the commitment.
No better time for action exists than the present time for Christians living today. May there be a return to grace revelation and a determined rejection of the contemporary misapplication of other revelation that is not addressed to grace believers. The time has come for a return to a consistent literal interpretation of Scripture without drawing erroneous principles from it of human origin. A return to the apostolic teaching and preaching of the New Testament to the Church is essential. After a return to grace revelation, the balance of the teaching of that revelation must be maintained. “In Christ” truth needs to occupy the same percentage of the preaching and teaching time as it does in the epistles. A good amount of grace revelation directly ties to “in Christ” truth so every week there should always be a reminder of what the believer is or has in Christ. Pastor-teachers, teachers and Christians teaching in the norm must respond to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and present these truths to all Christians. Let us get back into focus with divine revelation. As a result, more teaching will be presented on the spiritual life—the biblical spiritual life—God’s approved spiritual life. There is enough revelation of “in Christ” truth to keep any believer learning and growing for a lifetime even if he lived to be two hundred. It is nearly inexhaustible. Now is the time to get the information into the minds and hearts of believers by preaching and teaching.
This truth is a difficult truth to present to people because of what it can do to people in the local church. It is like gasoline. When it is used properly, it provides power and progress. When it is left in a can, it is useless. When it is poured on a fire, it causes an explosion. Serious Christians will progress and have power for living. Nothing will happen if “in Christ” truth is not preached because there will be no spiritual believers in the church. When it is preached to carnal believers and tares, it causes an explosion and many if not all of them will leave the church. This fact scares pastors and others alike. Giving may drop and the attendance may decrease. Even so God will provide the needs of the church and its leadership. The local assembly will realize that what many would consider a disastrous loss is really gain. As a result, spiritual believers will have an environment in which to grow.
When Paul saw himself from the Father’s perspective, he saw himself in two ways: as the chief of sinners and as complete in Christ. He had no self-esteem but Christ esteem. All he was and ever would be was bound up in his being in Christ Jesus. He focused upon grace revelation having learned that human wisdom and programs were not what God wanted. Standing before God in Christ, he found that everything else was unimportant and a distraction from God’s provision and program. Many of Paul’s experiences demonstrated that his philosophical wisdom, erudite education, self-generated programs, impetuous presumption and human enterprises were worthless when compared to the glory he shared in Christ Jesus. As he sat in Roman custody, he saw himself seated at the Father’s right hand sharing with Christ and all other grace believers. He was so heavenly minded that God could not help but produce earthly good through His prisoner. His whole condition on earth made little difference because of all he was and had in Christ. He enjoyed all that he was in Christ until God permitted his death. In Christ he had it all. In Christ he has it all. Because he is in Christ, all will be actualized in the future. Every grace believer shares in the same condition because of his spiritual location in Christ Jesus. May every Christian be enjoying and living in Christ to the fullest while appropriating all he has and is until Jesus Christ comes in the air to catch His Church away.
Leave A Comment