Christ in Us, and Us in Christ

Season 3 Episode 30 -- We read in Colossians 1:27 that Christ in us is "the hope of glory."  How true!  We receive such hope in that decision and resulting way of life.  But did you know that the scriptures invite us into an even more intimate relationship?  Listen to this episode and find out what it is!

"Reflect on This" is a once-a-week, short devotional podcast, where I share what I am learning about following Jesus, through applying eternal biblical principles to life, in practical ways.  Not religion, but RELATIONSHIP - relationship with Jesus!
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily.
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

"The Seven Primal Questions" by Mike Foster

"Worship Is My Weapon" podcast by Rita Springer:  https://youtu.be/RucXhr1zYGU?si=WeVTpssmUP4rMXlL 

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Transcript

“If you've ever led people to salvation in Jesus Christ, you've probably invited them to ask Jesus to come into their heart. As Paul wrote in Colossians 1:27, Christ in us is the hope of glory. Thus, it is perfectly appropriate to pray for Jesus to come into our hearts.”  (Ben Peters)

Colossians 1:27 HCSB  God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Yet the scriptures invite us into an even more intimate relationship:  us in Christ!

John 17:21 HCSB  May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

·         Main idea:  Why did God make a way for believers to be one in the triune Godhead?  So that we will have the power to influence the world to believe that Jesus was sent to earth by His heavenly Father!  “We will have the power of God flowing through us in such a way that unbelievers will become believers; cursers will become worshipers; the hopeless will find hope in Him.” (Peters)

Philippians 3:8-10 HCSB  More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ  (9)  and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.  (10)  My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

·         Main idea:  What are some of the blessings that caused Paul to declare that all of his previous gains, achievements and satisfactions were rubbish in comparison to gaining Christ and being found in Him?

o   Gaining the righteousness of God by faith, in place of our own flawed, human-powered righteousness.

o   The privilege of knowing Christ.

o   The knowledge (and experience) of the power of Christ’s resurrection.

o   The knowledge (and experience) of the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.  “Paul knew that the greater the death to self he experienced, the greater the resurrection power he could be trusted with.” (Ben Peters)

Ben Peters makes the following insightful comparison between the concept of “Christ in me” and “me in Christ”:

 If Christ is just in me:

• He goes with me wherever I go.
• He is hidden, while I am seen.
• He is dependent on me to listen to His advice while I make the decisions.

But if I am in Christ:

• I go wherever He goes.
• I am hidden, while He is seen.
• He is in charge and makes the decisions.

Romans 8:1-4 NASB  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  (3)  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,  (4)  so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

·         Main idea:  “Paul knew that to be hidden in Christ Jesus meant that the arrows of condemnation from the evil one could not reach him, hidden inside his great Commander-in-Chief. He adds that those who are hidden in Christ Jesus will walk according to the Spirit, rather than the flesh, because they are IN HIM and walk where He walks as He leads by His Spirit.” (Peters)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

·         Main idea:  Paul does not say that people become new believers (and hence new creatures) by having Christ in them, but rather by being in Christ.

In summary, we are missing out on experiencing an extra measure of surrender (and the associated wonderful blessings) if we merely settle for having Christ in us, instead of pursuing being in Christ, as Paul did so earnestly:

Philippians 3:8-9a HCSB  More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ  (9)  and be found in Him.

Today, I encourage you to "Reflect on This."