WE ARE...IN CHRIST!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

The following message conveys my own personal experience in my faith journey. It contains

Bible passages as a way of explaining God's perfect plan for each of us. I am simply sharing this with you because it’s real, and it works!

As followers of Jesus, do we really know our true identity in Christ? Your answer to that question will indicate the kind of life you are going to lead. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God; that his morality and religiosity didn’t matter. But what does it mean to be “born again?” Becoming a true Christian means to be born not just of water (physical birth) but of spirit (spiritual birth, a new life). Galatians 2:20 speaks about this identity, and the whole purpose of the Christian life, which is to be a fully identified follower of Christ in word and deed. We must die to any identity that’s independent of Christ. Are you willing to become one with Jesus?

All of us are born into a sinful nature which controls our lives and makes us slaves to sin. Paul calls us to put to death what belongs to that earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed. He tells us to kick out our earthly perspective; even put away anger and filthy language which does not belong in our lives. Ephesians 2: 1-3 confirms this, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Being a Christian today means “WE ARE DEAD,” our old self was crucified with Christ!

But that’s not the end of the story. Christ not only died but He rose right out of the grave. In like fashion, we too rise out of a grave, a spiritual grave. When we put our faith in Christ as our Savior, we are saved into a new life by God’s grace. We are “re-born”. We are washed and renewed by the very spirit of Christ who now begins to indwell us. How this works is a mystery. But the power in this resurrected union with Christ transforms us into a new life with Him in a way we never could do on our own. No more of my old self, the life I now live is the life of Christ in me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” Yes, when we’re “born again,” God brings about a spiritual transformation through Christ living inside us. We now share in the fullness of Jesus’s divine nature as He makes us “Christ-like,” reflecting His character, conduct, attitude, and actions.

John 15:4-5 teaches us to abide in Jesus, and He will remain in us. Jesus says, “I am the

vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” In our helplessness, we can tap into the power of Christ to live out our salvation and the life that God had always planned for each of us.

How AMAZING! Once sinners, living meaningless lives, now united with Christ. We are called to live in accordance with our new identity. So don’t glory in yourself anymore, thinking you’re self-sufficient, that you got this, because God has a way of showing us how weak we really are! Glory in the One who saved you and who is alive in you. Place your faith and trust in Jesus. It’s all about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! It was Jesus on the cross, It was Jesus’ shed blood for your sins. It’s Jesus resurrected. It’s the Spirit of Jesus living in you! All of His riches have been made available to you, His power, His peace, His guidance, His wisdom, a life of Victory. Jesus never fails us!

This passage in Galatians provides us with great hope because it speaks of our relationship with the “Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Jesus paid an amazing price to replace our identity and have a relationship with us, as He expresses His life in and through us. We will lead victorious kingdom lives as we embrace and exhibit the holy qualities of Jesus, the fruits of His Spirit, like love, forgiveness, trust, faith, humility, self-control, and gentleness. With God’s divine power and grace at work in us, the supernatural becomes natural and the experience of this becomes evident in the practical, everyday details of life.

Keep this verse in your heart and if there is any question about who you are, go back to this passage and stand boldly on the truth it holds. By faith and the power of the Holy Spirit in you, you are united inseparably with Christ.

"bY HIM, IN HIM, WITH HIM"

expresses the truth of our union with Christ.

Let us shout joyfully!

"WE ARE... IN CHRIST"

The best place we could ever be!