Here are the links to the previous articles in this series: Introduction, Biblical References, Research Report, The Who, The How, The Why, and Christ is Not His Last Name.

Here, in our final installment, we will explore the incredible “What?” of our “in Christ” Reality. But before we go there, we should take a moment to explore the grafting process our Heavenly Father, the Vinedresser, used to abide us in His Son.

We know we are grafted into the Vine from Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians.

And if some of the branches [i.e., Israelites] were broken off, and you [i.e., Gentiles], being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree [i.e., Christ], do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:17

I am not sure why Paul chose the olive tree as a metaphor instead of the grape vine, but the implication is the same: The Gentiles – that is us – have been grafted into Christ (by the way, this is a metaphor of the “How?”).

The grafting metaphor is beautiful and instructive. The Vinedresser must injure the vine (or olive tree) to make a place for the branch to abide.

But He was wounded
for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes
we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

In concert with the vine’s wounding, the branch must be cut away from the wild (and worldly) olive tree. The cut must be complete, clean, and perfectly made for the branch to fit firmly in the wound of the vine.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

This is God’s instruction to us: To abide securely and fruitfully in the vine, we must be crucified – dead to the world, and separated to Christ. Let that sink in. We should ask the LORD, in accordance with Psalm 139:23-24, “Which worldly attachments inhibit me from abiding fully in the sole source of true spiritual life?” (Hint: It will be all of them.)

Many of us cut off from the wild and worldly may need to get on with the grief of our separation. To do anything less invites the temptation to return. Just to be clear, we are referring to the things of this world (e.g., entertainments, habits, and even friends).

It is important to get to the grieving and to get it over with, so we can stop looking over our shoulder and wondering what might have been, so that we might instead focus on the One Who leads us into eternal life.

Those who begin the sanctification process – being separated for God’s use – soon find themselves celebrating their freedom and walking in the incredible promises of the “in Christ” reality.

What is our reality in Christ?

In our limited research, we discovered more than thirty-five Bible passages that speak to the subject of our reality in Christ. Rather than comment on each one – which you will find in the Biblical Reference post – I’ve made a list of the promised realities (with the references).

Most of these realities are beyond reason, so make sure you lean into them with your heart, not your head. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the ones He would have you believe and reckon to be true for you. They are all true, but He will have you focus on a few at the time.

What we desire is done for us. John 15:7

We live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28

There is now no condemnation. Romans 8:1

We are sanctified and called to be saints. 1Corinthians 1:2

We have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption from God. 1Corinthians 1:30

We have been made alive. 1Corinthians 15:22

We are the triumphant fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2Corinthians 2:14

The veil of heavenly mystery has been taken away. 2Corinthians 3:14

We are a new creation – old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2Corinthians 5:17

We become (i.e., ongoing growth as) the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians 5:21

We speak before God. 2Corinthians 12:19

We have liberty. Galatians 2:4

We are all one. Galatians 3:28

The Father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3

We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

We are gathered together. Ephesians 1:10

We have obtained an inheritance, according to the counsel of His will. Ephesians 1:11

We are sitting together in the heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6

We are partakers of His promise. Ephesians 3:6

We are forgiven. Ephesians 4:32

We can celebrate persecution. Philippians 1:13

We have consolation, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, and affection and mercy. Philippians 2:1

We rejoice and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

God calls us upward. Philippians 3:14

All things consist. Colossians 1:17

Every man, woman, and child are perfect. Colossians 1:28

We walk, rooted, built up, and established in the faith, dwelling with all the fullness of the Godhead, complete, and circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. Colossians 2:6-7, 9-11

We sleep (i.e., face death). 1Thessalonians 4:14

We live according to the promise of His life. 2Timothy 1:1

We find faith and love. 2Timothy 1:13

We find grace. 2Timothy 2:1

We find salvation (an ongoing process) and eternal glory (now and progressing. 2Timothy 2:10

We live godly through persecution. 2Timothy 3:12

We discover every good thing which is in us (i.e., the image and character of God). Philemon 1:6

We walk just as He walked. 1John 2:5-6, 27-28

We are preserved. Jude 1:1

Seriously, what do we do with all this? God’s ways and thoughts are above and beyond anything we would think or imagine, much less consider and claim. But His promises are true and He is not a liar.

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Please, please, please, do not let the enemies of God steal His exceedingly great and precious promises. Lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of you.

In that light, we close with a few important reminders:

First, the “in Christ” Reality is the normal Christian life. All the promises of God listed above require that we be grafted into the Vine, with intent to draw life from Him. Furthermore, it is possible to be grafted in and then cut out. We must give attention and surrender to the Reality as if our life depended on it.

Second, faith is a process. It begins with the hearing we have now experienced (Romans 10:17), but will not be perfected until it is worked out (James 2:22). Between the hearing and the working of faith, there is “obedience to the faith (Romans 16:26).” Ask the Spirit to guide you into and through the obedience and good works associated with the passages He has raised to your attention.

Third, we are all in process, maturing from faith to faith, and glory to glory. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit want nothing more for us than our experience and enjoyment of their Reality. The Father is working in us to will and to do to His good pleasure, Jesus has promised to make us into His disciples, and the Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Guide, and Transformer.

God bless you with courage for complete surrender to the incredible reality of life in Christ.

Have a strong day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen