Being In Christ

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in HIM,7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."  Colossians 2:6

This morning I continue to think upon the reality of what it means to "be in Christ."  In Him we truly have our being.

Before Christ, our beings were dead.  I know the natural mind goes haywire over that thought because we breathe.  Yet it is the truth.  Even though the body was/is alive, God made it clear that we were dead in trespasses and in sins, in our spirits - our inner man.  (Ephesians 2).

Our identity then was being a sinner - a dead one too.  For the wages of sin is death and nothing changes this.

However, we who heard the message of our salvation, believed, then put our trust in Christ, were quickened made alive.  Praise the Lord!  (Ephesians 1).

Then what happened?

We switched identities.  We went from being dead in sins, trespasses, sinner, TO being ALIVE in Christ, alive unto God, a new creation in Him (He's the Head - we're the body), SONS through faith, co-heirs, ambassadors, ROYAL nation, FAMILY of God, and the Holy Spirit moved in our hearts.

What a deal.

Gary and I were discussing yesterday the fact that when the Lord did move in our hearts, He really came into a mind/soul that was still carnal.  My mind did not change into everything perfectly brand new - BUT my spirit did.

In looking back on my life, I can see my heart exactly how Paul described it.  That we had all the qualities born into us and the desire to want to please our God, walk rightly, etc.

And Paul wrote these words too:  "It is God WHO works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:13

I remember asking the Lord why God didn't just zap our minds when we were made alive in Christ?  It would have made life on this planet a little easier.  For I don't know about you, but I went through some conflicts to get at the Truth about a lot of things.

The devil's business is:  to make you believe a lie.  (Even as a child of God - for he did with Adam and Eve).  Be on guard then that NO ONE take us captive in our minds about anything.

Not sure I really have an answer about why our minds were not instantly renewed like our spirits, but I do know how faithful God is in us WHO is greater than he or anything that is in this present world.  He IS really is able to make us overcome all the lies planted here and all that the devil represents in this broken, fallen world.

Also God's work in us is to keep us in the FAITH of HIS great salvation, His Son, and continually being filled in our minds with TRUTH and His Spirit who leads and guides always into nothing but the truth.  We become STRONG in Him.

One thing I am persuaded of by the Lord is, we must continually keep before us all the truth that He has made us new - to walk from that premise and not fall for the lie that we are trying to become this.  Or to get off on some trail that takes our eyes off the ONE who is our Life.  (Colossians 3:1-3)

Repeat: God made us new when we received Christ Jesus and we simply grow STRONG in Him and His life within our spirits and renews our minds in TRUTH.  God conforms us by bringing forth or bring His Son OUT from us because He's already there.  :)

Personally, this then brings me into the REALITY that I am dwelling with the LIVING RISEN  CHRIST - not an academic Christ that might still leave me walking carnally.  Oh, to know the Risen Christ is to have hope, faith and love abounding in us more and more and more!    (Romans 15:13)

Praise HIM forevermore!

Sue Gaither