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Our topic is: "What Does it Mean to Have Christ in You?" As Christians, we probably have a curious excitement about what the hope of glory might look like. As mysterious and thrilling as this might be, do we ever wonder about what has to happen for us to get there?
God gives us this amazing privilege, but what do we have to give to be able to receive it? Here's Rick and Jonathan.
[Rick] (0:40 - 0:47) Welcome everyone, I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years. Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?
[Jonathan] (0:48 - 1:06) Colossians 1:26-27: "That is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
[Rick] (1:06 - 2:27) By definition, being a Christian is all about following in Jesus' footsteps. It's all about learning how to "walk the walk" and "talk the talk" that he himself lived. This, of course, is no easy task as we are challenged with applying the life lessons he taught us two thousand years ago to the very different lives we live in our present digital age. As different as all of this is, some things are very much the same. Jesus' promise to prepare a place for his true disciples in heaven is the same. His assurance that God's spirit would guide us is the same.
His alerting us to the trials that come to us because we follow him is the same. Having Christ in us producing the hope of glory is the same. So what does it mean to have "Christ in you?" Is this an automatic thing that happens when we believe, or is it the end result of a long journey of growth? This is a big question! It's a simple scripture, Jonathan, but it's a big, big question.
What exactly does it mean to have "Christ in you, the HOPE of glory?" Let's start with the immediate context of our theme scripture, Colossians 1:25-27:
[Jonathan] (2:27 - 3:07) "Of this church I was made a minister... so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested ... to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Who doesn't love a good mystery? The mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The word for "hope" is not a wish. It's far deeper, clearer, and very well-defined. It means "anticipate, have expectation or confidence."
[Rick] (3:07 - 3:41) There's an anticipation and an expectation. Hope is not, oh man, I hope it's going to happen. It's, I expect it to happen, I look forward to it happening. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." How do we put this all in order?
We absolutely believe that any who are Jesus' true disciples, true disciples, must be focused on the transforming their lives by the "renewing" of their minds--that's from Romans 12--so they can grow into having Christ in them. It's about the transforming their lives by the renewing of their minds.
[Jonathan] (3:42 - 3:46) Well, it sounds to me like you've answered the main question, so we're good, right? All done?
[Rick] (3:46 - 4:23) We're good to get started, because sometimes you need to have an answer so you can build a foundation to get into what it really means. In Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul actually describes much of what is behind this mystery that he's describing. Paul's description of what having "Christ in you" means begins with a very clear foundation. We're going to look at Colossians, the entire first chapter, because to understand what "Christ in you, the hope of glory" means, you read the first chapter slowly and methodically and take it apart. It's going to give us ten--count them, ten--"Christ in you" steps.
[Jonathan] (4:24 - 5:15) Paul's "Christ in you" context starts with Colossians 1:3-6: "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth." Now remember, "hope" means "anticipation or expectation" that we read, "because of the hope laid up for you in heaven." Now, the thing that really hit me, Rick, in this is that we need to bear fruit and increase. "Christ in you" is not stagnant.
[Rick] (5:16 - 6:04) No, no, no, no! "Christ in you" is constantly bearing fruit and increasing. It's not, oh look, there's a grape, things are good.
You have to bear the full fruitage. That's the whole point of "Christ in you." It is a big deal, and folks, if you think you've got it, you better listen, because the scriptures tell us all the things we need to do to see it grow in us.
Let's go to the first of those ten steps. The first "Christ in you" step: For Christ to be in us, we must first be in Christ! Again, it sounds like, what are you playing a word game? No, no, no, no! We are building a foundation based on scripture. What does it mean to be in Christ?
We have to first be in Christ. It means that we've been justified. Let's look at Romans 5:1:
[Jonathan] (6:04 - 6:11) "Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
[Rick] (6:12 - 6:38) This justification by faith, this acquittal--because that's what justification in this verse means, it means acquittal-- this acquittal is from Adamic sin. It's saying you're no longer under the rule of Adamic sin. You have been brought out, bought out from that, and it's an amazing privilege. With this justification, some other things begin to happen. Let's look at 2 Corinthians 5:16-17:
[Jonathan] (6:38 - 6:56) "From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh... Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." As far as followers of Christ, we're no longer judged by our Adamic sin. Now that's powerful!
[Rick] (6:57 - 7:48) It's amazing! When you think about it, you're removed from that because God no longer sees you, Jonathan, as Jonathan, the guy that was born in sin. "The wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life." He doesn't see you that way. He sees you as already bought by Jesus' sacrifice, and He sees you as this "new creature." He sees you differently than He sees the people around you in your daily life. As you go about your business of going to the store and doing this and that and the other thing, understand the foundation, the basis is you're different. You're different right from the start.
To be in Christ is to stand in God's spirit as one called to follow Jesus. Make no mistake, it is a calling to follow Jesus. Let's go on to another scripture to help us expand this.
Galatians 4-- I love this scripture!-- Galatians 4:16-19:
[Jonathan] (7:56 - 8:23) "So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth (in contrast to false doctrine)? They (false teachers) eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you." Do you think Paul is focusing on spiritual maturity for our lives?
[Rick] (8:24 - 9:20) Absolutely! Look at this; remember, it says if you are in Christ, you're a "new creature." That's already in process. But here in Galatians, he's saying, "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you." You are already in Christ. But wait, you have got a ton of work to do because I am working really hard so Christ will be formed in you. Something else will happen within the context of that "new creature." That's the point here. It is something we grow towards. The whole concept of "Christ in us" is built upon movement. It's not built upon what we were, it's built upon where we're going. Coming to Christ is a starting point. Coming to Christ, that's where we begin.
Let's look at Luke 9:23. Jesus helps us see the beginning and the process in these few words:
[Jonathan] (9:20 - 9:48) "And he was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." This daily commitment of changing is profound. We have to give up our will and our thinking to follow Christ and his thinking.
We hear the saying, "Come as you are and stay as you are." But Luke is saying, come as you are; you will NOT stay as you are. To be a true follower, we must change.
[Rick] (9:49 - 11:30) Jonathan, there's a great contrast between being a true follower of Christ and being a follower in our world. Being a digital follower, you know, you follow somebody on a social media system, what are you doing?
You're becoming a "groupie." You're finding out what they're doing and you can look at and like and be inspired and sometimes gawk at things. Being a follower of Christ has nothing to do with digital following.
It has to do with heart transformation, following so we can learn to do what he did. It's an entirely different scenario. That's where we're going with "Christ in you." We're growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
JONATHAN:
This journey begins with the gifts of being called and receiving God's spirit. Let us show our gratitude for these gifts by taking small "Christ in you" steps so our growth in Christ can be seen by others! RICK:
That's one of the key things; small steps so that our growth in Christ becomes a noticeable commodity in our daily lives. Jonathan, as we go through these ten steps, I want to introduce a very simple prayer to go along with this. It's simple. It's just a few words. As we look at developing Christ in us, let's say to the Heavenly Father, "You have called me to be in Christ. Help me grow so Christ can be in me." Those few words help us understand the difference between where we are and where we need to be going.
Having "Christ in us" begins with a powerful and undeserved gift. Isn't that a great way for us to set our minds on honoring God?
[Jonathan] (11:30 - 11:38) We now have a foundation because we know where to start. What materials do we now build with so Christ can be in us?
[Rick] (11:38 - 12:12) This whole conversation will lay out how to build a "Christ in you" life. In the first chapter of Colossians, the Apostle Paul literally lays out what the building materials are, along with the instructions of how and why to apply them. Our job is simple; pay attention, learn and apply, and then repeat over and over with a focus on growing into a mature reflection of Jesus! That's where we're going, growing into a mature reflection of Jesus. How do we do that?
[Jonathan] (12:13 - 12:29) Let's continue with Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:9: "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding."
[Rick] (12:30 - 13:01) Think about that, "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." You're filled with the knowledge of His will. Our second "Christ in you" point is really very straightforward: Christ in you means growing in (no surprise here) knowledge, wisdom and understanding! Again, how do you do that? Let's look at an example. Let's look at Jesus at twelve years old, Luke 2:49:
[Jonathan] (13:01 - 13:15) "And he said to them, Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house?" As a boy, Jesus was telling us where we need to be and what we need to do.
It's all about personal responsibility and staying close to God and in His word.
[Rick] (13:15 - 13:58) It is. It is being responsible. He's twelve and he goes to where he can find the deeper answers in terms of prophecy and the Law and understanding. He's twelve and he's showing us about seeking knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We have to take that example and say, Okay, what do I have to do? Well, there's a couple of things.
First of all, we need to know God's word as best as we're able. Does everybody have the same capacity along these lines? No, but we need to know God's word and apply it however we can.
This is from 2 Timothy 2:15-16:
[Jonathan] (13:58 - 14:06) "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
[Rick] (14:06 - 14:35) "Accurately handling the word of truth." Jonathan, there's a huge responsibility in that because the Bible, the whole Bible incidentally, not just the New Testament, the whole Bible is "the word of truth." We need to learn to as best as we are capable to accurately handle that because we are stewards of that beautiful truth.
This knowledge of the truth helps us to apply God's wisdom, not worldly wisdom; God's wisdom. Let's look at James 3:17:
[Jonathan] (14:35 - 14:50) "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." Rick, what practical ways can we make this scripture apply to us?
[Rick] (14:50 - 15:51) It's about God's wisdom, the wisdom from above, versus what I think. That's one of the first most practical ways. You know what?
It doesn't matter what Rick thinks. Let's make the announcement: It doesn't matter what Rick thinks! It matters how Rick applies and reflects the pure principles of godly righteousness as shown to us in Scripture. That's all. I can have my opinion-- great, but not really. We don't want to go there. It has to be higher, applying godly wisdom.
Jesus at twelve showed us how to do this. He was twelve years old! We can learn how to seek after knowledge, wisdom, understanding from a twelve-year-old. Of course, this is not any twelve-year-old. It's Jesus, the perfect young man who was about his Father's business, looking to understand more deeply the holy word that was given to him to fulfill. All of this comes down to growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
[Jonathan] (15:51 - 16:00) Knowledge applied with godly wisdom will bring understanding. To be filled with the knowledge of His will is to continually keep His will as our primary focus.
[Rick] (16:02 - 16:28) Continually keep it in front of us. That's another practical way, Jonathan, about getting God's wisdom, continually putting it in front of us. Again, let's go back to that simple, simple prayer.
"Dear Lord, You have called me to be in Christ. Help me grow so Christ can be in me." How do we do that growth?
We do it through seeking out knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
[Jonathan] (16:29 - 16:42) Let's continue with Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:10: "So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
[Rick] (16:43 - 17:10) I love that! Bearing fruit. Again, it's not, Hey, look, there's a grape.
We're good. It is bearing fruit in every good work, more than one, more than just Sunday, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Our third "Christ in you" point: Grow up to stand with a posture that enables us to walk worthily in Christ.
Stand up with a posture. Why use that word? When you were a kid, did your parents ever say, Hey, stand up straight, don't slouch?
[Jonathan] (17:10 - 17:11) Absolutely, all the time.
[Rick] (17:12 - 17:25) What does that do, though? When you stand up straight, when you don't slouch, you're now more alert.
You're now more focused. You're now more ready. That's the point.
That's the posture of walking worthily in Christ.
[Jonathan] (17:26 - 17:30) What does that mean, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord?
[Rick] (17:30 - 18:02) We're ready by getting the right posture, so to speak. To walk worthily is to emulate Jesus. God's spirit, which Jesus received at his baptism, remember, comes down from heaven like a dove resting on his shoulder. His spirit, God's spirit, gave Jesus a clear direction throughout his sacrificial journey. It guided him. Walking worthily of Jesus means we follow the same direction that he followed from the same source that he got it from.
Do you realize that we have the same source working in us that Jesus had working in him?
[Jonathan] (18:02 - 18:05) It's very humbling, that's for sure.
[Rick] (18:05 - 18:09) It is! It's an amazing thing. Let's look at Hebrews 12:2-3:
[Jonathan] (18:09 - 18:45) "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Fruitage comes by NOT growing weary and NOT losing heart! Jesus, Rick, is our inspiration.
Every time I read these verses, I well up to realize all that Jesus has done for us and all he endured for humanity. But these verses, they're not saying we have to be perfect, right?
[Rick] (18:45 - 21:33) No, no, no! It says to "consider him," to ponder, to think about, just like you described. It's good to be emotional about this, because you look at it and you are with great gratitude saying, I can't do that, but I can do my part. This idea of fruitage comes by not growing weary and not losing heart. It doesn't mean that we overcome perfectly. If we do get weary, what do you do? You get up, you brush yourself off, and you try and move forward. If you start to lose heart, what do you do? You ask for forgiveness and you get up and you brush yourself off and you start to move forward.
This is what it means to stand with that posture that enables us to walk worthily of Christ. We can't do what he did, but we can follow along and do the best that we can in this imperfect frame. It's all about growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
JONATHAN:
Jesus' own endurance began with a season of immediate testing from Satan shortly after his baptism. Let Christ be in you as you rely on the inspiration of his victories as you face your daily testing. RICK: The inspiration of his victories. With that inspiration, take this simple prayer and put it to work. "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. I see what he's done, and I see his victories, and I see his example. Help me grow so Christ, so he can be in me." That's how we want to take these steps forward.
JONATHAN:
Let's move forward with another one of Paul's "Christ in you" contexts, Colossians 1:11-12: "Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." RICK:
You see that these previous examples, the apostle in Colossians 1:11 saying, "now you're strengthened with all power according to his glorious might." You've put some things in place that help to give you strength. Now you have to take it and do more.
The fourth "Christ in you" point is: To grow into drawing upon the strength of God in our daily needs. That means in every experience. You know what, Jonathan, one of the things about our daily needs is when we don't think we need is when we really need, because we can get so full of ourselves like, oh, I got this. I got this one. No, I don't. No, I don't.
Always it must be done in the strength, in the strength of God's spirit working in us. Grow a daily awareness of our needs and decisively, decisively live a life of sacrifice. Let's look at the final test of Satan against Jesus in the wilderness, because it sums up Jesus's own decisiveness.
Remember, there were the three temptations. This is the last one, Matthew 4:9-10:
[Jonathan] (21:33 - 21:57) "And he (Satan) said to him, All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY." Jesus stated scripture to Satan. By emulating Jesus, we have the scriptures to support and protect us when we are faced with challenges.
[Rick] (21:57 - 22:37) That's one of those principles of making sure we put the right things first. Satan took an approach with Jesus as he took with Adam and Eve, divide and conquer. That's what his approach was.
What we need to do when we are faced with that challenge is to decide and overcome. You deal with divide and conquer by deciding and overcoming. No shortcuts, no compromise, no questionable loyalty, just decide.
Let's go to Romans 12:1-2. We quoted part of this right at the very beginning. Jonathan, this is where you said, okay, well, that's kind of the answer. It is. It is. Let's put it in a broader context now.
[Jonathan] (22:37 - 22:58) "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
[Rick] (22:58 - 23:39) You can't prove what the will of God is without having your mind being transformed and renewed by God's spirit. That's the equation. That's the simplicity.
That's what we need to be focusing on. That's how we get to "Christ in you." It is not about what I think.
It is about Christ in me, guiding my thoughts and my mind and my actions and my reactions. That's what it comes down to. It's all about growing from being in Christ, which is a wonderful start.
It's a privileged start. You don't get better in privilege than that. It's about growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
[Jonathan] (23:39 - 23:50) Christ in you REQUIRES a transformed mind that guides our proving the will of God. The transformed mind is the source of God's power and might in our daily experiences!
[Rick] (23:50 - 24:14) It comes down to that simple prayer. I keep repeating it because it's so important. "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. You've called me to this privilege that is rare in our world.
Help me grow so Christ can be in me. Help me take the beginning and turn it into, by your grace, the story that you want my life to tell." That's what it boils down to.
[Jonathan] (24:14 - 24:20) This proves that believing in Jesus is not enough. This mystery means so much more.
[Rick] (24:20 - 24:39) It does. We need to understand that belief is a wonderful thing, but very much it's a beginning. We need to make that belief come alive in our daily experiences. "With great privilege comes great responsibility." The power of that saying echoes throughout the whole "Christ in us" process!
[Jonathan] (24:40 - 24:47) For Christ to be in us, we need to be transformed, walk worthily in wisdom and draw upon God's strength. What else do we need?
[Rick] (24:47 - 25:27) What we have already focused on sounds like a lot, and it is. However, we need to understand that the journey to "Christ in you" requires a lifetime of growing and regularly stepping up to the next level. Our next needed construction materials for character building will focus us on how to observe all that is around us with new eyes. It comes down to, as we pursue going through this first chapter of Colossians, it comes down to seeing the pieces that the Apostle Paul says to basically say, here, use this in the construction of your "Christ in you" life.
[Jonathan] (25:27 - 25:41) Going back to Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:13-14: "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
[Rick] (25:42 - 26:15) Where is the redemption? Where does the forgiveness of sins come from? It comes from His beloved son. This "domain of darkness" is where the world is. That is what we come into, and there is great light here. The fifth "Christ in you" point: Grow into daily living in the light of redemption as we continually abandon the "domain of darkness." It's living in the light of redemption versus the "domain of darkness." This requires submission to the Father's discipline!
[Jonathan] (26:16 - 26:29) When I began my Christian walk, I had to cut off worldly things in my life so as not to hinder my growth in Christ. I set up barriers and hedges, which are safeguards to help me from going back to my old ways.
[Rick] (26:29 - 27:13) It's so important to do that. We can't expect God to drag us toward maturity. We have to walk and He has to correct us as we walk. I really appreciate the way you describe that; barriers and hedges. You set up things to keep those other things out of the way so that those detours, those pitfalls, those temptations, those past experiences, those memories, whatever they were, are not in front of you. Let's understand, folks, this is such an important point.
Lasting obedience cannot be crystallized and trusted without testing! Jesus needed testing. JESUS needed testing. Hebrews 5:8:
[Jonathan] (27:14 - 27:18) "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered."
[Rick] (27:18 - 27:42) He needed to be tested. HE needed to be tested. Let's understand, lasting obedience cannot be crystallized and trusted without testing.
We saw that Jesus needed to be tested. The Apostles--the Apostles needed to be tested. He needed testing.
Therefore, those closest to him needed testing. Luke 22:31-32:
[Jonathan] (27:42 - 27:55) "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
[Rick] (27:56 - 28:42) You've got Jesus needing to be tested, and that one example of Simon Peter needing to be tested shows us the Apostles needed testing. You see that throughout the whole New Testament.
They needed testing. Understand, lasting obedience cannot be crystallized and trusted without testing. You know what that means?
That means WE need to be tested. That means we are no different. As a matter of fact, the testing that we have has probably got to do a whole lot more work than it had to do with them. Therefore, the testing has got to dig deeper and drudge up the mess so it can be cleared out. We need to be tested. That's what "Christ in you" comes down to; submitting to the Father's discipline. Hebrews 12:6-7:
[Jonathan] (28:42 - 28:55) "FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline."
[Rick] (28:55 - 29:26) Now, you can tell that this is an old-fashioned scripture, because in our world today, a lot of parenting doesn't have to do with a lot of discipline. I don't mean discipline by beating a kid up. Let's understand discipline is calling a child out when there is wrong done and showing them in an instructive way with firmness when necessary what the right way is so they can learn to go from one way of thinking and action to another, so they can learn to grow up into that.
[Jonathan] (29:26 - 29:33) The purpose of discipline is because the Father loves us. He wants to teach us the right way to go.
[Rick] (29:33 - 30:18) Sometimes we're hardheaded.
Sometimes we have to be waken up and shaken up by our experience to say, wow, I really fell in this. I need to learn. I need to grow.
But you're right. Why does a father do that? Because he loves his child with everything that he's got.
Our Heavenly Father is the true example of what true fatherhood should look like. Let's understand lasting obedience cannot be crystallized and trusted without testing. It goes for us, and that's where "Christ in you" comes from. It's about growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me. It's the process of changing from one and growing further into the other.
[Jonathan] (30:18 - 30:28) To stay rescued from the "domain of darkness," we need to see the darkness for what it is and run to the light. Our testing experiences help us do this.
[Rick] (30:28 - 31:18) Run to the light! When there's an issue, when there's a problem, when there's a real, real, real threat, you run away from the threat. We run toward the light because the world of darkness is a threat to our spirituality. It doesn't mean that we can't function in the world around us. We have to function in the world around us, but we need to function in that world around us as reflectors of Christ-likeness. That's how we survive.
If we get stuck in a situation where we're faced with a temptation, run the other way. Run to the light. That's really what it all boils down to.
The simple, simple, simple prayer: "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. You've given me this great, great privilege.
Now that you've given it to me, help me grow so Christ can be in me."
[Jonathan] (31:18 - 31:54) Continuing with Paul's "Christ in you" context, it's all about Jesus. Colossians 1:16, 18, 20: "For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him... He is also head of the body, the church; and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything... and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross... "
[Rick] (31:55 - 32:04) Man, you listen to that. This is the Christ! That described the Christ that is to be in you.
[Jonathan] (32:05 - 32:11) Whoa, this is a Selah moment! You know, we could do a full episode on just these verses.
[Rick] (32:12 - 32:45) It helps us to see the magnitude of who he was, who he is, and who he ever will be, and realize that it's that character that is supposed to be developing in us. That's what this boils down to. That brings us to our sixth "Christ in you" point and that is simply: Grow into recognizing and reverencing ALL that Jesus is, ALL that he is. We're going to look at Philippians 2:5-9, and we're just going to quote parts of the verses to get the main points here.
[Jonathan] (32:45 - 33:14) "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (now pay close attention to Christ's attitude), who... did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant... ... he humbled himself by being obedient to the point of death ... For this reason also, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name." Clearly, Jesus had an attitude of full submission.
[Rick] (33:14 - 34:19) Not only did he have an attitude of full submission, he lived the chosen responses in his experience, both in heaven and on earth, of full submission. He was with the Father before, and he emptied himself of that. That's full submission.
He became a bondservant. He became a human being. That's full submission.
Then he gave that up to the point of death. That's full submission. You've got the attitude, and then you've got the action that backs it up. It's one thing to say it. It's one thing to think it and to feel it. It's another thing to live it! You're right, when you look at all that Christ is and has done, you can just talk for hours and hours and hours about the power of all of that. That's what this is, recognizing and reverencing all that he is. Think, he, Christ, is supposed to be in me. That's what we're talking about, that attitude and those actions. It's growing from being in Christ, from this wonderful beginning, to Christ being in me.
[Jonathan] (34:20 - 34:28) To see, believe, and appreciate all that Jesus is, is to energize the building of our "Christ in us" lives.
[Rick] (34:28 - 35:13) It is. You energize the building by looking at the main focus and the main inspiration. Again, when we pray that simple little prayer with these thoughts in mind, it expands that prayer to even be so much more powerful. "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. Help me to grow so Christ, in all that he has done and all that he represents and all that he has shown us and all that he has given and continues to give and will always give, help it so that Christ can be in me; that I can, in some tiny, little, imperfect way, show that in my daily life." Jonathan, what a powerful inspiration "Christ in you, the hope of glory" really is.
[Jonathan] (35:14 - 35:55) Rick, let's continue with Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:21-23: "And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—" That's by God's grace we have been reconciled, but it's conditional. Now let's continue: "... if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister."
[Rick] (35:56 - 36:54) We've been presented "blameless and beyond reproach." We talked about that. That's what that justification is.
That's what that acquittal is. That's great. That's beautiful.
That's wonderful. But you don't stop there. "If indeed you continue"--that's the point. Don't stay as you are. But you can't stay that person. You have to grow beyond that person.
Let's get to the seventh "Christ in you" point: Grow into an unrelenting focus on our mission; an unrelenting focus on our mission. This kind of focus requires stone-cold determination to endure to the end, till the job is done, is done, is done, and is done. Steel yourself. Steel yourself against all of those things that come your way, so you can press on. Beautiful picture of this is Isaiah 50:6-7:
[Jonathan] (36:54 - 37:09) "I gave my back to those who strike me... I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." Talk about perfect focus. That's how it's done.
[Rick] (37:09 - 37:42) It is. That is exactly how it's done. That's the "game face" that we talk about in sports. That's that I have one thing to accomplish. There is nothing, and I know there's plenty of obstacles, but those obstacles are just there to be overcome. That's what they're there for.
They're there to be overcome, they're there to be learned from, and that's where I am going. That's what Jesus had, and that's what we need to learn to adopt. Jesus' own words of determination while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane showed us the stone-cold clarity in his own mind.
Luke 22:42:
[Jonathan] (37:43 - 37:56) "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done." Jesus did have his own perspective, but what does he always do?
He acquiesces to His Father's will.
[Rick] (37:57 - 38:18) Always. Always without exception. You want to see somebody who always does it right?
There you go. That's the manual for how do you get "Christ in you?" You'll look at Jesus.
It's simple. It comes down to growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me. There's the process, there's the beginning, and then there's the really good stuff where you grow into something so much more.
[Jonathan] (38:18 - 38:33) Here's what we've seen of Jesus so far: Loyalty, plus humility, plus obedience, plus determination, plus acquiescence all equals victory. His example is the blueprint for our daily lives!
[Rick] (38:33 - 39:14) There is victory, and we're still not to the end of the story, but you can see this victory showing throughout his life as he showed us what it takes to be Christ so we can understand what it's like to have Christ being in us. Growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me. Putting ourselves in a position where we can pray that prayer, "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. Help me grow. Help me change. Help me be different so Christ can and will--and will be in me." There's a kid's game called "Follow the Leader." You do whatever the leader does. As Christians, follow the leader is not a game.
It is serious life business.
[Jonathan] (39:14 - 39:24) We now know about focusing on light, truly absorbing all of who Jesus is, and developing an unrelenting focus. What are we missing?
[Rick] (39:24 - 40:02) There's always more, right? Next, we concentrate on building up our actions to operate at the same level as our understanding.
To have "Christ in us" is to have our mentality of self-sacrifice translate into practical and observable efforts of self-sacrifice; mentality of self-sacrificing translating into observable efforts of self-sacrifice. Wherever possible, this effort should be focused on others who are also building their own "Christ in me" lives. We should have that focus on others who are going about the business of learning how to do what we're learning to do.
[Jonathan] (40:03 - 40:32) Moving forward with Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:24-25: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his body, which is the church... Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God." It's all about the benefit of the body of Christ. That's the most important point.
[Rick] (40:32 - 41:28) That's why Paul preached. It was for the benefit of the body. It's not about the accolades.
It's not like, oh, look at him. He's the Apostle. It's all about the benefit of the body.
It is never about me. It is about the body. That's what Jesus was about. That's how we have to look at growing into this "Christ in you" thought process and activity. Point number eight, "Christ in you:" Grow into regularly offering ourselves in service.
Not occasionally. Not when, oh, when I feel like it. Regularly offering ourselves in service.
The victory, the victory that Jesus had achieved, you talked about that in the last segment, would now become public. While on trial before his crucifixion, he put himself in a position to be crucified. Understand, they couldn't find evidence.
He gave them something because he knew that's where he needed to go. Let's look at Luke 22:66-70.
[Jonathan] (41:28 - 41:54) This is from the King James Version: "(The chief priests)...led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. Hereafter shall the son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am."
[Rick] (41:54 - 42:46) He gave them the evidence they needed because they were trying to create stories. They were breaking God's Law in all kinds of different ways. He just said, look, I'll quote you scripture. I'll show you something from the Old Testament; prophecy that I am here to fulfill. Blew their minds.
He didn't have to do that. But here's the thing, Jonathan. Three and a half years of nonstop preaching and teaching brought him to that moment.
In that moment, he plowed forward with that offering himself in service and offering himself as a sacrifice. There was no greater service than the sacrifice of his life. No greater service than that.
Jesus showed us that willing and regular service grows into a consuming zeal. That's what he showed us at that moment and through that whole crucifixion process. For us, let's look at Philippians 1:21:
[Jonathan] (42:46 - 42:50) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
[Rick] (42:50 - 43:36) Do we believe that? We all know that scripture.
We quote that scripture all the time. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." Is it just an emotional thought feeling that we express?
Or do we look at that scripture and say, I am willing to die for Christ. I am willing to live for him, and that may mean dying for him. I am willing to take those steps to be that person. That's what "Christ in you" is! It's being willing to be that person.
That is not for the faint of heart. It is for the heart that is guided by God's spirit, God's grace, God's power, God's word, and God's providence. That's the heart that can die for Christ.
It's about growing from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
[Jonathan] (43:37 - 43:48) Jesus was consumed by his zeal. Paul was consumed by his zeal. Let us follow their examples and also be consumed by our zeal!
[Rick] (43:48 - 45:53) It's a matter of doing what they did before us. We don't have to write the book. All we need to do is follow the examples that were so powerfully given to us.
That simple prayer rings true here, because now when we pray the simple prayer, Jonathan, we see the examples are all laid out. It's all in front of us.
It's all in front of us. These are the things now we have to be doing. Previously, we've been talking about what's going on on the inside.
Now we're talking about how what's going on on the inside is expressed out from us. "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. Now in the way that I live, help me grow so Christ can be in me, so I can stand for those things that need to be stood for, so I can walk away when I need to walk away to the honor and glory of you, Father, not me. Whether I'm embarrassed or not, whether I feel good or not, let me do what is right in your eyes."
JONATHAN:
Now again with our Paul’s “Christ in you” context. This is our theme text, Colossians 1:26-27: 26: "That is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." RICK:
We read that scripture right at the beginning of this episode. It sounds like what a great scripture. We've taken all of this time to build these eight points to get up to this point. Notice this is the final point. There's two more. Okay, there's this one, and then there's one final point. The Apostle is building a reasoning, a process, a way of living. His ninth point here in this first chapter of Colossians, "Christ in you:" Grow in the understanding of the reality of our reward. Grow in the understanding that there is something there. It is way beyond--way beyond anything you can even begin to imagine. Jesus made this reward as plain as he could to such imperfect human beings in John 14:2:
[Jonathan] (45:54 - 46:00) "In My Father's house are many dwelling places... I go to prepare a place for you." Wow! For you - US!
[Rick] (46:00 - 46:43) In his "Father's house." That's right-- heavenly. We don't even understand. That's a dimension that we have no concept of. When we sit and we try to figure it out, you're wrong because we're too small. We don't get it. It is a wonder beyond wonders. It's not something we earn, but it's something that we strive to work towards by God's grace through Christ. Think about this for a minute. Jesus literally at the end, the very end of his life, offered himself into his Father's hands as the reward, because it was up to the Father. It was His entire choice as to what would happen. These are Jesus's last words. Luke 23:46:
[Jonathan] (46:44 - 46:55) "And Jesus, crying out said, Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT..." Jesus was saying, I put my destiny in Your hands. It's up to You, Father.
[Rick] (46:55 - 47:30) It's up to You. Whatever it is, I'm good with. Talk about faith and humility.
We saw it at twelve years old, and you see it literally, literally with his dying breath. "Into Your hands I commit my spirit." Whatever it is, it's in Your hands. What great faith. This is the example. This is the Christ that we need to work toward being in us.
When Christ is truly in us, we stand in a most reverential and honored position; both of those things. Scripture on that, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9:
[Jonathan] (47:30 - 48:00) "...We speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood... but just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." God predestined a bride for His son in glory, which is the body of Christ. What is offered to us is beyond our comprehension.
[Rick] (48:01 - 48:35) It is, and it's mentioned in Scripture several times. It's always mentioned in that way where you look at it and your jaw drops, and you just don't know. You just don't know what to think.
But what you know is, it's greater and bigger and more glorious than anything we could ever imagine. We can't imagine what the glory of God looks like. Imagine being with Him! Good heavens. I mean, how can that even happen? You know how it happens?
It happens from growing, from being in Christ, from that starting point, being that new creature, being in Christ, to Christ truly, truly being in me.
[Jonathan] (48:36 - 48:46) It is challenging to absorb the promise of glory we're given. Yet we, as those who are seeking to have Christ fully in us, are called to do just that.
[Rick] (48:46 - 49:18) Look, we're not going to be able to do that very well. We're going to fall short, and it's okay. Because you know why? Because we have the prayer. "Lord, you've called me to be in Christ. Help me to grow so Christ can be in me. I don't even know fully what that means, but help me to grow there because I see the example of Jesus in everything, through all of eternity before, present, to all of eternity later, and know that's what I want to be in me." What a great place for us to be wondering about.
How's it going to end? Do we need to really know? All we need to know is Christ.
[Jonathan] (49:18 - 49:31) Now for our last Paul's "Christ in you" context, Colossians 1:28: "We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ."
[Rick] (49:31 - 49:51) "Present every man complete in Christ." Our tenth "Christ in you" point: Growing into passing on to others the power of "Christ in you" and the unfathomable expectation of the hope of his glory. Unfathomable expectation. Let's look at this passing on concept because Jesus was big on that. In his final great commission before his ascension, here's what he said in Matthew 28:19:
[Jonathan] (49:51 - 50:04) "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy spirit."
[Rick] (50:04 - 50:36) Make disciples of all nations. He didn't say make all nations into disciples. We know that everybody is not called to follow Christ.
If everybody was called to follow Christ, he wouldn't have taught in parables. He's saying, find those disciples, draw them. Your job is to not just have me in you, but it is to bring it to others, to spread it out.
Am I continuously aware that others might need to be touched with the gospel of the kingdom? And am I eager to be a witness in words and in actions? Am I?
Let's look at Romans 10:14-15:
[Jonathan] (50:36 - 50:53) "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
[Rick] (50:53 - 51:10) The preaching of the gospel is one of the most wonderful privileges we can possibly have. This is one of the culminating factors of Christ being in us. Let's grow from being in Christ to Christ being in me.
[Jonathan] (51:10 - 51:21) The proof of Christ being in us is in his ability to be seen in us. Let him be seen in our thoughts, our words, and our actions every day in every way!
[Rick] (51:22 - 52:11) Is Christ being seen in me? One last time, our prayer: "Lord, you have called me to be in Christ. Help me grow so Christ can be in me." What that means is when people see you, when people get to know you, do they see something that is Christ-like that says this person is different? That's what Christ in you is. It needs to be developed in every aspect of our lives as best as we possibly can. Let Christ be in you. Let us together share this incomprehensible hope of glory. Amen.
Folks, we love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions in this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Coming up in our next Episode: "Why Didn't Paul Preach in Asia?"
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