In two places at the one time

I ran across this comparison recently in Ephesians 1:1 — “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (ESV). Notice the two prepositions “in”. The saints are both “in Ephesus” and “in Christ Jesus”; in two positions or places at the one time. Some commentators believe that the Ephesian letter was sent around to various churches, as the words “in Ephesus” are in a later hand in some manuscripts or are a blank space in others. So it could be “in Adelaide” or “in Seattle” or “in [your town].”

Coming to grips with this paradox is perhaps the most important thing we can do as Christian believers. You probably have no doubt where you are right now as read this as far as physical location is concerned, but are you convinced that you are “in Christ Jesus” at this very moment too?

In an article reprinted online at PeterWade.com, Andrew Murray says that if we doubt this truth we should “let your first thought be to say, Now, at this moment, I do abide in Jesus… The feeblest can, each single moment, say, as he consents to occupy his place as a branch in the vine, “Yes, I do abide in Christ.”