"In Christ"

Scriptural Text: (The Blessing of God)

Note: The central theme of the chapter(1:3-23) is The Eternal Plan of God For the Christian Believer.

Today we will examine the statement “in Christ.”

(1:3) Blessings: God's blessings are spiritual and heavenly, not material blessings. Throughout history God has used two methods of blessings to deal with man. Before Christ, God dealt with man by blessing him with material blessings. He promised Abraham and Israel land and wealth and fame.

But Israel misused and hoarded the material blessings. Instead of sharing its blessings with other nations, Israel isolated itself and claimed superiority and God-given rights over other nations of the earth. However, since Christ, God deals with man spiritually, blessing him with spiritual blessings.

(1:3) Blessings: God's blessings are spiritual and heavenly, not material blessings. Throughout history God has used two methods of blessings to deal with man. Before Christ, God dealt with man by blessing him with material blessings. He promised Abraham and Israel land and wealth and fame.

1.  Spiritual blessings are of the Spirit.

He controls and overcomes the oppressing circumstances, and he lives a victorious day.

Thus, the major blessings of God are bound to be blessings that are spiritual—that enable a person to control his life.

He controls and overcomes the oppressing circumstances, and he lives a victorious day.

2.  Spiritual blessings are the very opposite of temporal blessings. They are the blessings of the inner man, the blessings of the immortal.

They are the blessings that erase the loneliness, alienation, and purposelessness of man. They are the blessings that give man an over-abundance of life.

They are the blessings that erase the loneliness, alienation, and purposelessness of man. They are the blessings that give man an over-abundance of life.

3.  Spiritual blessings are vastly superior to material blessings.

They are permanent and perfect and eternal, lasting forever. They are of the very same nature as God Himself. Spiritual blessings exist and can be experienced both upon earth (the physical dimension of being) and in heaven (the spiritual dimension of being).

They are permanent and perfect and eternal, lasting forever. They are of the very same nature as God Himself. Spiritual blessings exist and can be experienced both upon earth (the physical dimension of being) and in heaven (the spiritual dimension of being).

4.  Spiritual blessings are found only in Christ.

Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God the Father. He is in heaven, surrounded by all the heavenly atmosphere and blessings. All heavenly blessings are His; He is Lord and Possesser of all blessings. Therefore, if a person is to experience the spiritual blessings, he must be in Christ.

(NKJV) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

therefore we have Participation in Christ,

Participation in Christ

Synopsis The joining of believers to Jesus Christ, through faith, whereby they are freed from participation in Adam by sharing in Christ’s death and resurrection, his nature, sufferings and glory and whereby, too, they become part of his body. Believers therefore share in the fellowship, ministry and hope of God’s people, which is anticipated by the OT and fulfilled in the church.

Participation in Christ

Synopsis The joining of believers to Jesus Christ, through faith, whereby they are freed from participation in Adam by sharing in Christ’s death and resurrection, his nature, sufferings and glory and whereby, too, they become part of his body. Believers therefore share in the fellowship, ministry and hope of God’s people, which is anticipated by the OT and fulfilled in the church.

Believers are united with Christ (, ; ; ; )

(ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Participation in Christ

Participation in Christ In Christ’s death and resurrection ; (ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

In Christ’s death and resurrection(; )

Believers are united with Christ (, ; ; ; )

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(ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

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; :14Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Participation in Christ In Christ’s death and resurrection ; (ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Participation in Christ In Christ’s death and resurrection ; (ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

:14Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Participation in Christ In Christ’s death and resurrection ; (ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

(ESV) — 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

In Christ’s nature (, ; ; ; ; ; )

(ESV) — 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

In Christ’s sufferings (, ; ; )

In Christ’s sufferings (, ; ; )

(ESV) — 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

In Christ’s glory (, ; ; ;

See also ; ; ;

Romans 8:17 (ESV) — 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Participation in Christ’s body (, ; )

(ESV) — 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

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Sharing unity through Christ (, ; ; )

(ESV) — 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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Sharing in God’s work ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )

Paul thanks the Philippians for their active support of his ministry. (ESV) — 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV) — 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Paul thanks the Philippians for their active support of his ministry. (ESV) — 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (ESV) — 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Sharing a source of life (, See also ; ; )

(ESV) — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Sharing an inheritance (, ; ; ; ; ; )

See also ; ; ; ; ;

(ESV) — 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sharing spiritual blessings (, ; ; ; )

(ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Conclusion A satisfactory spiritual life will begin with a complete change in relation between God and the sinner; not a judicial change merely, but a conscious and experienced change affecting the sinner’s whole nature…Tozer

A satisfactory spiritual life will begin with a complete change in relation between God and the sinner; not a judicial change merely, but a conscious and experienced change affecting the sinner’s whole nature.