GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 24 ~ ~ 1 Corinthians 1:30 ~ ~ “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Chapter 6 today, “God Himself Has United You to Him” in the classic 1800’s book, “Abide in Christ” by Andrew Murray
“You are in Christ Jesus.” The believers in Corinth were still feeble and carnal, only babes in Christ. Yet Paul wanted them, at the outset of his teaching, to know distinctly that they were in Christ Jesus. The whole Christian life depends on the clear consciousness of our position in Christ. Most essential to abiding in Christ is the daily renewal of our faith’s assurance, “I am in Christ Jesus.” All fruitful preaching to believers must take this as its starting point: “You are in Christ Jesus.”
But the apostle had an additional thought, of almost greater importance: “Of God are you in Christ Jesus.” He wanted us not only to remember our union to Christ, especially that it is not our own doing, but also the work of God Himself. As the Holy Spirit teaches us to realize this, we will see what a source of assurance and strength it must become to us. If it is through God alone that I am in Christ, then God Himself, the Infinite One, becomes my security for all I can need or wish in seeking to abide in Christ.
Let me try to understand what it means, this wonderful “Of God…in Christ.” In becoming partakers of the union with Christ, there is a work God does and a work we have to do. God does His work by moving us to do our work. The work of God is hidden and silent; what we do is something distinct and tangible. Conversion and faith, prayer and obedience, are conscious acts of which we can give a clear account; while the spiritual quickening (bringing to life) and strengthening that come from above are secret and beyond the reach of human sight.
So it comes that when the believer tries to say, “I am in Christ Jesus,” he looks more to the work he did, than to that wondrous secret work of God by which he was united to Christ. Nor can it well be otherwise at the commencement of the Christian course. “I know that I have believed” is a valid testimony. But it is of great consequence that the mind would be led to see that, at the back of our turning, believing and accepting of Christ, there was God’s almighty power doing its work – inspiring our will, taking possession of us, and carrying out its own purpose of love in planting us into Christ Jesus. As the believer enters into this, the divine side of the work of salvation, he will learn to praise and worship with new exultation – and to rejoice more than ever in the divinity of that salvation he has been made partaker of. At each step he reviews, the song will come, “This is the Lord’s doing” – divine Omnipotence working out what eternal Love had devised.
Through God I am in Christ Jesus.