If Being in Christ Provides Such Incredible Blessings, How Can We Know Were Truly in Christ? There are many evidences of being in Christ. But I want to give you three clear evidences from scripture that prove whether you are in Christ: (Please note - these evidences are contingent upon your first repenting of sin, forsaking all wickedness, trusting in Christ for eternal salvation, and allowing him to translate you out of darkness and into his kingdom of light.) 1. You are in Christ if you are continually in the process of being renewed. Those who are in Christ do not rest on a one-time conversion experience. Rather, they constantly cry out to be changed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Their daily prayer is, Lord, take out of me everything thats unlike you. Purge me, and remake me in the image of your son! Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Titus 3:5-6). Regeneration here means making anew, or reviving and producing something new. Paul is saying, The Holy Ghost is at work in you - giving you a makeover! You see, Christ has the Holy Ghost without measure. And because we are part of his body, his Spirit flows down to each of us, every joint and member. So, as we are in Christ, we are being nourished by his Spirit - made over into the image of Jesus himself! 2. You are in Christ if you govern your life by the scriptures. Do you revere and fear Gods word? Do you go daily to the mirror of scripture to be changed by it? Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him (1 John 2:5). The Bible makes it clear: We know were in Christ if we love and obey his word. And this is also how Gods love is perfected in us! Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: ...Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The phrase free course means meeting no opposition in you. Paul was saying, As you read or hear the word, honor it and make it the rule of your life. Let it govern you! Christians often quote this verse: Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). But this promise hinges on the preceding verse: ...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (verse 31). The phrase if you continue in my word means if you live in and keep my commandments. In other words: As you are in me, I will reveal my truth to you. But I wont reveal it to you, if you dont intend to live by it. Youll know the truth only after youve committed to obey it! 3. You are in Christ if your faith is mixed with charity. Scripture says if you do not have charity, or unconditional love, you cannot be in Christ: Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Nothing in Greek here means, I am nothing now - nor will I ever be anything. In other words: Without unconditional love for all, Im a nobody - and Ill always be a nobody! You can be a gifted preacher or a powerful evangelist...you can heal others by your faith...you can move mountains by speaking a single word...you can teach Gods word with power and anointing...but if you dont have love for others, youre nothing! ...If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit (1 John 4:12-13).
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:36:50 +0000
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