{"id":1066,"date":"2016-07-01T16:28:57","date_gmt":"2016-07-01T20:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/?p=1066"},"modified":"2016-08-08T23:34:22","modified_gmt":"2016-08-09T03:34:22","slug":"is-christ-found-in-me-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/01\/is-christ-found-in-me-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Christ Found In Me?"},"content":{"rendered":"

American Christianity has found itself in a state of apathy, resting in the wonderful truth of being \u201cfound\u00a0<\/em>in Christ.<\/em>\u201d Although to many, this truth seems to be more of a surface truth<\/em> lacking the depth of transforming truth<\/em>. This modern American Christianity, that we find ourselves surrounded by is\u00a0consumed with a kind of faith that doesn\u2019t stand out too much. It\u2019s the kind of faith that is a convenient kind of \u201cfire insurance\u201d Christianity. One that states, \u201cI have my ticket to heaven, yet in the name of Christian liberty, I can live any way that I want as long as the Bible doesn\u2019t specifically say anything against it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The unfortunate reality is that many \u201cChristians\u201d fail to take the time to read God\u2019s Word to even see if what they are doing in the name of Christian liberty is actually forbidden by God let alone trying to see if any Biblical principles apply. In a great way there tends to be little emphasis placed on these Biblical principles found in Scripture and their application to one\u2019s life. The assumption is simply that God didn\u2019t specifically say it so it must be okay. This has led to a kind of Christianity that is entertainment driven, seeker-friendly, Bible Lite, doctrinally weak, \u201cfeel good\u201d Christianity. We may claim to \u201cbe found in\u00a0Christ<\/em>\u201d but the question that we must be asking is, \u201cIs Christ\u00a0found in me?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul writes in Philippians 3:8-9, saying, \u201cYea doubtless, and I count all things but<\/em> loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus<\/strong> my Lord<\/strong>: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but<\/em> dung, that I may win Christ<\/strong>, and be found in\u00a0Him<\/strong>, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of\u00a0Christ<\/strong>, the righteousness which is of\u00a0God<\/strong>\u00a0by faith<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The beautiful reality of being \u201cfound in Christ<\/em>\u201d is the salvational truth<\/em> that when God looks upon us He sees the righteousness of His Son\u2014He sees Christ. This great truth is that, by faith in the righteousness of Christ and His finished work on our behalf, Christ\u2019s righteousness is placed on our account. This is the means by which we are brought into the family of God with the confident hope of eternal life with Him. This is a glorious truth!<\/p>\n

On the other hand, we are called to be transformed by this salvational truth<\/em> and therefore Christ is to be found in me<\/em>. The Bible tells us, \u201cTherefore if any man be<\/em> in Christ<\/strong>, he is<\/em> a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new<\/span>\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a \u201cnew creature<\/em>,\u201d Christ will be found in me<\/em> as other people see Christ in me. They will see Christ-likeness on display in my life. They will see the love of Christ in the way that I treat others. They will see Christ\u2019s kind of peace (John 14:27 & 16:33)[1]<\/a> as I go through the trials and tribulations of life. The will see Christ-likeness in the way that I strive to obey God through His Word, seeking to follow Christ\u2019s example (John 6:38 & 14:31).[2]<\/a> Ultimately, others will see the light of Christ in me and give glory to my \u201cFather which is in heaven<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 5:16).[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

So then, how can Christ be found in me<\/em>? How can you and I keep from falling into this apathetic Christianity<\/em> that seems to be all around us, almost consuming us? How can we row against the current of this culture of convenient Christianity\u2014<\/em>this culture that seems to be rushing further from genuine<\/em>,\u00a0Biblical Christianity<\/em>\u00a0more like a raging river toward the destructive waterfalls ahead? How can we live a visible<\/em>, genuine Christianity<\/em> that is more than fire insurance but one that faithfully represents our Savior as we seek to be used as an instrument of God\u2019s grace, rescuing others from the wrath that is to come? How can we live a life of loving Christianity<\/em> whereby others see our love for our Lord and each other and in turn are encouraged and challenged to do the same?<\/p>\n

I believe that the answer is seen in Paul\u2019s mindset in verse 8 where he says, \u201cYea doubtless, and I count all things but<\/em> loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus<\/strong> my Lord<\/strong><\/span>.\u201d This \u201cexcellency of the knowledge of Christ<\/em>\u201d was Paul\u2019s daily pursuit. His goal was this \u201cexcellency<\/em>\u201d or the surpassing greatness of being transformed by the \u201cknowledge of Christ.<\/em>\u201d He wanted to be changed into Christ-likeness whereby having Christ consistently found in him<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Paul goes onto speak of this transformation\u2014this sanctification<\/em>\u00a0truth<\/em>\u2014in Philippians 3:10\u00a0 when he says, \u201cThat I may know\u00a0Him<\/strong>\u00a0, and the power of\u00a0His\u00a0<\/strong>resurrection, and the fellowship of\u00a0His\u00a0<\/strong>sufferings, being made conformable unto\u00a0His<\/strong>\u00a0death<\/span>.\u201d Paul is saying that Christ is found in me<\/em> when \u201cI know<\/em>\u201d and \u201cfollow after<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Him. Christ is seen in me as I pursue the \u201cexcellency<\/em>\u00a0of the knowledge of Jesus Christ<\/em>.\u201d[4]<\/a> He is seen in me the more \u201cI know Him<\/em>\u201d\u2014as I personally\u00a0 experience Him in His glorious resurrection power, as I fellowship with Him in His life of suffering and as I learn to die to self being like Him in His death.<\/p>\n

Christ will be seen in me as I \u201cfollow after<\/em>\u201d[5]<\/a> Christ or passionately pursue Him as \u201cI press toward the mark.<\/em>\u201d[6]<\/a>\u00a0 The same Greek word that is translated \u201cfollow after<\/em>\u201d and \u201cpress<\/em>\u201d in verses 12 & 14 is also translated\u00a0\u201cpersecuting<\/em>\u201d in Philippians 3:6.\u00a0 Paul was zealous in his efforts to please God as he persecuted the church.\u00a0 He maintained this zealousness in seeking to please God after His conversion but now with a more complete Biblical and spiritual understanding of what truly pleases God. He pursued a life of obedience rooted in his supreme love for his Savior. He had experienced this great salvational truth<\/em>, being saved from\u00a0a life of pursuing self-righteousness in order to please God. He now found Himself in a state of amazing grace having God\u2019s favor upon Him. As a result he wanted nothing more than to bring honor and glory to the name of Christ by having Christ found in him<\/em> as Christ-likeness was more clearly and consistently displayed in his life.<\/p>\n

In 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul says to Timothy, \u201cbut thou, O man of God<\/strong>, flee these things; and\u00a0follow after\u00a0righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness<\/span>.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 When God\u2019s children, by His grace, first \u201cfollow after<\/em>\u201d or passionately pursue the things of God we will die to self by \u201cfleeing<\/em>\u201d the pleasures of this world. When our love for God is a supremely exclusive kind of love, our love for the world and its temptations lose their powerful enticement. Christian character will then be cultivated in our lives. Our faithful, humble obedience to God\u2019s Word\u00a0will\u00a0result in Christ being found in us<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Have you found yourself caught up in this apathetic<\/em> kind of convenient Christianity<\/em>? Have you found your faith looking more like a kind of\u00a0hypocritical\u00a0Christianity<\/em>?\u00a0Have you found yourself falling back on your rights justified by unbiblical Christian liberty? Have you found yourself taking for granted your \u201cticket to heaven\u201d yet little or no desire to understand more about what God has to say to you in His love letter to you?<\/p>\n

If the answer is \u201cyes\u201d then run to Christ. \u201cFlee these things; and\u00a0follow after\u00a0righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness<\/span>.<\/em>\u201d Get back into God\u2019s Word and see the glorious yet tragic truths of the Gospel. Be reminded of the \u201cmercies of God<\/em>\u201d as you read through Isaiah 53, Matthew 26:47\u201327:50, Mark 14:43\u201315:39, Luke 22:47\u201323:47, and John 18-19 seeing the\u00a0crucible of suffering that your Savior endured\u00a0on your behalf. All that He suffered\u00a0so that you could enjoy a relationship with Him\u2014a relationship which displays your love for Him and brings Him much glory. A relationship in which you show your value of the cross as you see it in light of what He accomplished for you by dying in your place.<\/p>\n

Read the accounts in the Gospels of His resurrection along with 1 Corinthians 15 and see His path of torment ending in triumph over sin and death. Meditate upon these triumphant truths at the end of this resurrection chapter as Paul writes, \u201cO death, where is<\/em> thy sting? O grave, where is<\/em> thy victory? The sting of death is<\/em> sin; and the strength of sin is<\/em> the law. But thanks be<\/em> to God<\/strong>, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord<\/strong>, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord<\/strong><\/span>.\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)<\/p>\n

Let these refreshing words of victory wash over you cleansing and stabilizing you as they renew your mind with these triumphant and transforming truths. May these passages of Christ\u2019s torment and triumph renew in you a gratitude for your Savior and a supreme love for your Lord. I beg of you as Paul does in Romans 12:1-2, based upon these \u201cmercies of God<\/strong>, that ye present your bodies a living [transformed<\/em>] sacrifice, holy [set apart from sin<\/span><\/em>], acceptable unto God<\/strong>, which is<\/em> your reasonable service. [Stop being<\/em>]\u00a0conformed to this world\u2014[this anti-God culture that you find yourself in<\/em>]: but be ye transformed\u2014[changed into something useful that brings glory to God<\/em>] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is<\/em> that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God<\/strong><\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

As you have placed your faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation you are \u201cin Christ<\/em>.\u201d But it doesn\u2019t end there. Let Christ be found in you<\/em> as you take hold of the sanctifying truths<\/em> of the Gospel. Passionately pursue these transforming truths by \u201cput off concerning the former conversation [the ways of<\/em>] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the [ways of<\/em>] new man, which after God<\/strong> is created in righteousness and true holiness<\/span>\u201d (Ephesians 4:22-24). Passionately pursue Christ-likeness as you meditate upon the \u201cmercies of God<\/em>\u201d and learn to rest in these powerful, stabilizing truths found in God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n

Read and meditated upon what God says. Listen to the words of James as he writes, \u201cBut be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding [looking carefully at<\/em>] his natural face in a glass [a mirror<\/em>]: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. BUT whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty [the Word of God<\/em>], and continueth therein,<\/em> he being not a forgetful hearer, but a [obedient<\/em>] doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed<\/span>\u201d (James 1:22-25). \u00a0Commit yourself to doing everything that God has said in His Word.\u00a0Start applying the principles of Scripture to your life and enjoy the blessings that come from a life of loving obedience.<\/p>\n

If you questions whether or not you are \u201cin Christ<\/em>\u201d\u2014in God\u2019s family\u2014consider taking the time to read The Most Precious Truth<\/a><\/em> as well as How do I get to Heaven?<\/a><\/em> See what God has done for you. Place your faith in Christ ALONE for salvation as you rest ONLY in His perfect, sacrificial work on your behalf. Then take Him at His Word. \u00a0Believe all that He says and be stabilized with these sanctifying truths as they transform your life. \u00a0This life of loving obedience will give testimony of Christ being found in you<\/em>.<\/p>\n

See the blessed life as a reality instead of something always just out of your reach. The blessed life is a life where Christ is\u00a0consistently\u00a0<\/span>found in you<\/em>. It is a life of obedience generated by a supreme love for your Savior. Don\u2019t just settle for being \u201c<\/span>in Christ.<\/em>\u201d Let Christ be <\/span>found in you<\/em> today!<\/span><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> \u201cPeace <\/span><\/span>I<\/strong> leave with you, <\/span>My<\/strong> peace <\/span>I<\/strong> give unto you: not as the world giveth, give <\/span>I<\/strong><\/span> unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(John 14:27)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(John 16:33)<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a>\u00a0\u201cFor I<\/strong> came down from heaven, not to do Mine<\/strong> own will, but the will of Him<\/strong> that sent Me<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(John 6:38)<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that the world may know that I<\/strong> love the Father<\/strong>; and as the Father <\/strong>gave Me <\/strong>commandment, even so I<\/strong> do. Arise, let us go hence.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(John 14:31)<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a>\u00a0\u201cLet your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father <\/strong>which is in heaven.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(Matthew 5:16)<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a>\u00a0\u201cYea doubtless, and I count all things but<\/em> loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus<\/strong> my Lord<\/strong>: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but<\/em> dung, that I may win Christ<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(Philippians 3:8)<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a>\u00a0\u201cNot as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(Philippians 3:12)<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> \u201cI press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God<\/strong> in Christ Jesus<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0(Philippians 3:14)<\/p>\n

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