Are You a Person Within a Person?
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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.
"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. |
We are to reflect to the
world our position in Christ?
Why is that possible? |