Are You a Person Within a Person?

While walking through a mall in Houston, Texas, I stumbled across a hologram shop. Holograms are computerized drawings that contain a picture within a picture. I could not help but stop and look at several pictures. It is fascinating to discover the picture within the picture. Those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ are very much like holograms. We are persons within a Person. This seems strange to our human thinking, but the apostle Paul said that Christians are to look beyond the seen to that which is not seen with human eyes. It is that which is not seen that is real (2 Cor. 4:18).

One of the most fascinating unseen spiritual truths is our life in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that the instant we trust Jesus Christ as the One who died for our sins, we are instantly immersed into the body of Christ, then become a person within a Person.

"For in one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jew or Greek, bond or free. We are all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:13)

When we are placed into Christ, we instantly become a part of His body. Even Paul, who trafficked in spiritual truth, called this truth a mystery.

"For we are members of His body, of his flesh, and of his bones. . .This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:30; 32)

Several wonderful things are true because we are in Him. Everything that belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ immediately becomes ours. Here are a few of His possessions that become ours.

• Life in Christ

Have you ever wondered just how Christians receive eternal life? We receive eternal life because we are placed into Christ who is eternal life (Jn. 1:1-2).  His life becomes our life.

"And this is the record that God has given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life. These things I have written unto you that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 Jn. 5:13)

The first Adam brought to the human race death. But the second Adam brings to us eternal life.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22)

• Righteousness in Christ

In order to be saved we need a righteousness which we are not born with, nor which we could ever earn nor deserve by our human works? How do we receive this needed righteousness? We receive it by being placed into the body of Jesus Christ. His righteousness becomes our righteousness.

"And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is by the law, but that which is by faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Phil. 3:9)

 

"For He has made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21)

• Relationship to the Father in Christ

What supernatural process gives Christians the right to be called children of God?

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be called children of God, to those who believe in His name." (Jn. 1:12)

We receive this privilege not because we earn it, but because we are identified with Christ. And because He is God the Father's child, we likewise become the Father's child in Him.

"For you are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For (because) as many of you as were baptized (identified) into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:26)

 We have put Him on because we are placed into Him.

• Redemption in Christ

By His death, Jesus Christ forever redeemed us from the slave market of spiritual death. By His redemptive work at Calvary, Christians stand forever forgiven of our sin. How do we know beyond any doubt that this is true and will never fail? We can be sure because we are in Him.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Eph. 1:7)

• Spiritual Blessings in Christ

In Christ, we actually become spiritual billionaires. It is comforting to realize that though we may not have many material possessions in this life, we can take heart. A very special payday awaits every child of God. Why is this true? It is true because we are in Him.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3)

Though these spiritual treasures are already ours, we will actually possess them when that which is not seen becomes visible.

"In Whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the council of His will." (Eph. 1:11)

The spiritual phenomenon of being in Christ was so important to the apostle Paul that he dared not allow us to miss it. In fact, our position in Christ became his special way of identifying those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
 

• "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified (set apart) in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours." (1 Cor. 1:2)

• "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and to the saints who are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus." (Eph 1:1)

• "But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1 Cor. 1:30)

• "Now he who established us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God." (2 Cor .1:2)

• "Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." (Phil. 1:1)

• "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Col. 1:2)

• "For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus; for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews." (1 Thess. 2:14)

So Christians really are living holograms, people living within a Person.  The knowledge of this truth should cause us to reflect on our position in Christ in our lifestyle.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust.

God tells us to experientially "put Him on." That is His way of saying, "Live your life based on your position in Christ." We are to wear Christ like a beautiful coat. Those who need Jesus Christ must see Him through the way we live our lives. We are to be "living holograms," allowing the world to see the Person in whom we live.