Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ

As Paul closes out his segment on the division, the boasting, and the immaturity that was in this church, he ends chapter one with the marvelous reality that God placed us ‘In Christ.’ ‘Because of Him you are in Him, is what Paul states. But, what does that mean to be ‘in Christ?’ Tony Evans shared an object lesson that highlights one aspect of what it means to be ‘in Christ.’ Here’s his illustration. Tony said, “I’VE GOT three envelopes: a big one, a smaller one, and a smaller one yet. I’ve also got a slip of paper. [So, three envelopes — one piece of paper] The Bible says that we are in Christ and that Christ is in us. The smallest envelope has “Tony Evans” written on it. The slip of paper has “Jesus” written on it. The Bible says that when Tony Evans accepted Jesus Christ, He came inside of Tony Evans. Christ, [so we take] the slip of paper, [and we put it] inside the envelope that represents Tony Evans. But, not only is Christ in Tony Evans, but [it’s also true that] Tony Evans is in Christ. The slip of paper Christ is in Tony Evans, but when Tony Evans accepted Christ, Tony Evans came inside of Christ. [that’s the second envelope] I put the Tony Evans envelope into the Christ envelope. Now, the Bible says that Christ is in God. [God the Father is the third envelope] So we’re going to slip the Christ envelope into the God envelope. [So, what you see on the outside is a single envelope marked God on the outside. [So, where is Tony Evans now? You can’t see him.] So in order to now get to Tony Evans, you’ve got to go through God, and then you have to go through Christ, and after you’ve gone through God, and gotten through Christ, then [and only then] you get to Tony Evans. However, when you’ve gone through God, and gotten to Christ, and think you’ve have gotten ahold of Tony Evans, when you open up Tony Evans, he’s full of Jesus Christ. So I am in Christ, Christ is in me, Christ is in God, God is in Christ, so I am well covered by Jesus Christ and His heavenly Father.¹ This is a marvelous illustration which shows that as long as you remain in Him, you are safe and secure. That’s why in this week’s podcast, our focus is ‘Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ’ — all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Why Boasting Is Never Beautiful for Those Born Again

Jesus is in you and He is the Word and the Word is Wisdom. You access His wisdom via the Holy Spirit. If you want to know something — just ask. Click To Tweet

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Jesus is in you and He is the Word and the Word is Wisdom. You access His wisdom via the Holy Spirit. If you want to know something — just ask.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Share a story where the Holy Spirit gave you a piece of God’s wisdom. Leave your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the book of First Corinthians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Prayer

Podcast Notes

Well, again welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God thank for the marvelous wisdom of placing us in Christ. We know we are safe, secure, and full of victory because of our place. This is a place that you, by your great power, secured. It’s not of ourselves. It’s all your grace and mercy. We thank for this reality in Jesus precious Name. Amen.

In Christ: Paul to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:27–31 (ESV) — 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

So, in previous podcasts, several of them in fact, we have seen God’s MO of not disallowing personal ‘human accomplishment’ type boasting.
We saw that this has always been who He is and that we should become familiar with this part of our Father God.
This is who He is — He’s not going to put up with pride.
Your Father in Heaven doesn’t want you to live a lie.
Do you understand your Father God?
He hates lying.

Proverbs 6:16–19 (ESV) — 16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

God hates these things — He hates lying — do you understand how strong a reaction hate is?
He hates it lying.
God hates murder — he hates innocent people dying.
Your Father God hates dissension, discord, disharmony, and division.
He hates it.
If you really love the Lord, you will love what He loves and hate what He hates.

Psalm 45:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

It’s not true to say that it was your might, and your power, and your strength that made you prosperous in whatever area you’re boasting.
Everything good is by faith through grace.
That’s what Paul told the Galatians.
That’s what the Holy Spirit is telling you.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The Amplified says it’s not of your own doing.
Since it’s not of your own doing, then no one can boast.
And so, Paul has endeavored in this first chapter to knock out philosophy, put down worldly wisdom, and smack down rhetorical devices that men pride themselves on.
There’s no reason to boast.
After he finishes with the thought that there’s no reason for men to boast.
All the glory should go to God for because of Him are you in Christ.
He did it — He did it — every bit of it.
Not because of you are you in Christ — it’s 100 percent because of God.

In Christ: Wisdom

Now, go back to the three envelopes illustration that we opened this podcast with.
One envelope, the smallest, has your name on it.
The slip of paper has Jesus on it.
The slip of paper with Jesus on it gets put into your envelope.
He is in you.
But, you need to know that there are four other things written on that piece of paper that has Christ written on it.
Along with Christ, all four of these got slipped into your envelope.
On that paper is the word, wisdom.
Now Paul did his best job of dismantling the wisdom that belongs to the world.
We did several podcasts on this.

1 Corinthians 1:19–22 (ESV) — 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

In Christ: Gentiles, Searching for Wisdom

This last verse: Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom — Jews and Greeks represent everyone on Planet Earth.
Before a man comes to Jesus, he is either one or the other.
He/or she is either Jew or Gentile.
After you come to Jesus, you are no longer Jew or Gentile.

1 Corinthians 10:32 (ESV) — 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

You see, there are three classes or people and only three: Jew, Gentile, and church of God.
That’s it — just three.
The Gentiles seek wisdom.
I’m here to declare to you that the search is over.
And with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

In Christ: Hidden Treasure

What would you do if someone told you there was hidden treasure in your house? You would undoubtedly want to know where and what it was. As this story illustrates, the treasure is at your fingertips. A Christian worker entered a wretched, poverty-stricken home. Beneath a rickety table, he saw a dust-covered Bible. As he left, he said, “There’s a treasure in this house which if discovered and believed would make you all rich!” A diligent search was made for the hidden treasure. “Could it be a jewel or a pot of gold left by the former occupants of the home?” asked the searchers one of another. Their search was in vain. No treasure was found. Not long thereafter, the mother picked up the old Bible. She began to [turn] the pages of the unread Bible. On the flyleaf were written these words, “Thy testimonies are better to me than thousands of gold and silver!” “Ah!” she exclaimed, “can this be the treasure the stranger spoke of?” She and the other members of the family began to read the Bible. A change came into their lives. A change came into their home. Love, joy, and peace came into hearts which were formerly filled with sin and discontentment. When the Christian worker returned to the home, the grateful family exclaimed, “We have found the treasure, and in reading it and receiving it into our hearts, we have also found the Saviour!”²

In Christ: The Search for Wisdom Is Over

The search for wisdom is over.
As we said, the smallest envelope is you.
The piece of paper that was slipped into your envelope had Jesus written on it.
On that same piece of paper that had Jesus written on it, the word wisdom was engraved as well.
So, when that paper was slipped into your envelope — when that same Jesus came into your heart — along with Him, came His wisdom.
Now, here’s the trick — all that sounds good — and it preaches really well but we want to access that wisdom.
We don’t want pie in the sky.
All of us want pie on the plate.

In Christ: Asking Wisdom Questions

We want to use this wisdom — we want to ask questions of it.
Solomon was the wisest man on the planet.
And people came to him to access that wisdom.
You know the story of the two women — both of them had babies — one of them died.
The mother of the dead child stole the other mother’s baby and claimed it for herself.
Now, both of them are claiming that the baby is theirs but, only one of them is right.
How is this prickly problem solved?
It’s solved with the wisdom of God resident in Solomon.
The Lord appeared to Solomon one day and gave him ‘a magic genie moment.’
‘You can ask one thing,’ the Lord said, ‘and I will grant that to you.’
Solomon asked for wisdom and it pleased the Lord so much that He slipped that wisdom into Solomon’s envelope.
Many people tested that contents of that envelope.

2 Chronicles 9:1–2 (ESV) — 9:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 2 And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her.

In Christ: Wisdom and the Bible

The wisdom of Jesus is greater than the wisdom of Solomon and that wisdom is in your envelope.
So, how do we access it — how do we do it?
First, know that Jesus is in you by way of the Holy Spirit.
I mentioned that last week that in these last days we should be reading large portions of scripture.
Large portions means systematic reading.
That’s one of the best ways to go.
At least, that’s what I found to be true with my life.
What I do — the way I’m wired — whatever I do must be everyday.
It’s just too hard to manage ‘sometimes’ — sometimes you read — sometimes you don’t.
‘Sometimes’ eventually leads to a lack of positive results.
Read large portions of the Word because the Word of God is the wisdom of God.

In Christ: Wisdom Personified

Proverbs 1:20–23 (ESV) — 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Wisdom is personified here.
Personification is where you take a quality or a concept as speak of it as if it is human.
Wisdom speaks here and says I will make my words known to you.
So, wisdom is communicated with words.
You’ve heard someone say, this person is wise.
You know that because you heard words spoken and your conclusion was, ‘Wow, that’s pretty wise.’
The Word of God then is God’s communicated wisdom.
Jesus is the Word.
We know that from John chapter one.

John 1:1 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (ESV) — 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So, Jesus is in you and He is the Word and the Word is Wisdom.
You access His wisdom via the Holy Spirit.
If you want to know something — just ask.

In Christ: Righteousness

Now, once again, going back to the three envelopes illustration.
One envelope, the smallest, has your name on it.
The slip of paper has Jesus on it.
The slip of paper with Jesus on it gets put into your envelope.
He is in you.
We saw that wisdom is written on this paper but, there’s more.
Righteousness is on this paper as well.

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…

Let me show you.

2 Corinthians 5:21–6:1 (ESV) — 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

There’s a vital distinction — you don’t just have righteousness, you are righteous.
Jesus is the epitome of righteousness.
You understand ‘epitome’ is the perfect example of something.
So wisdom, you possess but righteous you are.
You know there are only two conditions for the human person: righteous, or unrighteous.
You are either one or the other — you cannot be both.
If any man is in Christ, He is a new creation — old things have passed away.
You understand ‘passed away?’
The unrighteous condition died.
There was a funeral.
I am waxing eloquent here.
They lowered the ‘old things’ down into the ground and threw dirt onto it.
It is buried and gone.
Who goes around digging up dead bodies?
Weird people do that.
Don’t be weird — be the new man in Christ that Jesus made you.
Be the righteousness of God.
What does it mean to be righteous?
Righteousness means the state of being right.
God wrote that on the slip of paper and inserted it into your envelope.
You are the righteousness of God, period.
Quit re-enacting your old life — it’s dead and buried.
Stop grieving about the mistakes of the past.
They are buried with the old man.
In Christ means you are righteous.

In Christ: Sanctification

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…

There’s yet a third thing written on the paper that God slipped into your envelope: the word is ‘sanctification.’
You have God’s Wisdom — you’re righteous — and now add to that the fact that you’re sanctified.
What does sanctified mean?
The Greek word ‘sanctification’ is one we want to look at and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The word ‘sanctified’ means personal dedication to God’s interests.
It means holiness or consecration.
You may say, “Well, I’m not a very dedicated person.”
Yes, you are — you just haven’t found it out yet.
You may say, “I don’t feel very holy. I’ve made some bad decisions in my life.”
You’re holy — that’s how God sees you in Christ — you just haven’t found it out yet.
You may deny your consecration — “I don’t feel consecrated.’
Like your feelings are the truth and not what God said.
It’s not about your feelings.
Forget your feelings — look at the portrait picture God is painting of you and accept His rendition of who you are.
Eight-six the feelings — trash can them if they disagree with what God said.
In your envelope, God slipped a piece of paper that had Jesus, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and one more item.
Stop fighting who are in Christ.
Talk back to your mind.
Speak up when others try to put you down.
Deny the devil’s accusations.
He’s all liar anyway.
You are sanctified in Christ and with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

A person who is “sanctified in Christ” is like the water spider which is a very peculiar insect. [It is an aquatic spider — the only one known to live almost entirely underwater.] We are peculiar, also, to the environment in which we live. [Let’s talk about the water spider, also known as the Diving Bell Spider. It is native to Europe and Asia.] The water spider lives at the bottom of muddy pools and has the distinctive power of ascending to the surface of the pool and there surrounding itself with a tiny globule of air. Thus enveloped it descends to the sludge and ooze at the bottom of the pool and remains there unsullied by its environment until the air is exhausted. [The Diving Bell Spider survives because it stays in the bubble.] Then it rises again to the surface and the process is repeated. So, those “sanctified in Christ” find spiritual rejuvenation when they know who they are in Christ and when they learn to live in the ‘bubble’ of ‘in Him’ — ‘in Christ’ truths. ³

Don’t let anyone pop your bubble.

In Christ: Redemption

Finally, and I know that this piece of paper that has Jesus written on it and this envelope that it is getting slipped into.
You know your envelope is getting crowded!
But, you know what?
God is a big God.
He is a too much God.
Your Father in heaven is more than enough.
You have Jesus on this piece of paper.
The slip of paper with Jesus on it gets put into your envelope.
He is in you.
We saw that wisdom is written on this paper but, there’s more.
Righteousness is on this paper as well.
But, there’s more because God is an over-the-top God.
Sanctification is on this paper also.
Yet, there is a fourth item that God wrote on your paper — because He is an exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask for God — and that is redemption.
What is redemption?
The Greek word ‘redemption’ means to buy back.
It’s used of ‘buying back’ a slave or captive, i.e. ‘making free’ by payment of a ransom.⁴
Back in that day, prisoners of war could ordinarily face slavery, so they would need to be redeemed.
A price would need to be paid to procure their freedom.
Another Greek lexicon, Thayers, defines ‘redemption “to redeem someone by paying the price, to let one go free on receiving the price” — that’s the verb. The noun form means the “releasing effected by payment of ransom, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom.”⁵
So, if you examine this definition more closely, you will see two sides to focus on where redemption is concerned.
First, there is the act of purchasing – someone had to go and use their funds to make a ‘freedom’ transaction.
When you look at this aspect of redemption, the purchase is the focus.
The second aspect focuses on the situation one is redeemed out of.
Putting it altogether — When you redeem someone, you have to pay something, a set price – and the result of that transaction is some kind of freedom or liberty out of some situation.
God redeemed you, spirit, soul, and body.
This redemption has past, present, and future ramifications.
Your spirit was redeemed when Jesus paid the ransom price for you — that’s the past.
Your soul, your mind your will and your emotions were also redeemed at Calvary because there Jesus became your peace.

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) — 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

This peace, is peace with God and peace for your soul.
Then there’s the body.
The body has been redeemed as well but you don’t have that manifestation yet.
It’s coming to a theater near you — when you die or when Jesus comes back, you will receive a glorified body paid for by the Blood of the Lamb.
Glory be to God!!

In Christ: An Essential Link

As we get ready to close, know that there’s a link between these four items, wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption, that the Lord put into your envelope.
Righteousness takes care of your past — your sins are gone — they’ve been gone for a long time — like over 2000 years.
Holiness takes of your present — because righteous folk live right in the midst of the rotten here and now.
Redemption takes care of your future — because your glorified body is stored up and waiting for you.
God took these three essential items that He put into your envelope and wrapped all of this in the wisdom you need to access and flow in it.
Isn’t that marvelous?

Now Father God, thank you for your goodness and mercy. Thank you most of all for Jesus because of Him, we are able to be in Christ. We appreciate you to the highest — thank you in Jesus Name, Amen.

Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Who Are You According to Jesus?

__________
References:

Tony Evans Book of Illustrations, 903 ↩
Practical Illustrations 1 Peter through Jude ↩
Adapted from ‘A Parable of Nature,’ AMG Bible Illustrations ↩
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 117. ↩
Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 39–40. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why You Need To Know Who You Are In Christ

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Seventeen

by Emery Horvath

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Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the book of First Corinthians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

In Christ: Paul to the Corinthians

In Christ: Wisdom

In Christ: Gentiles, Searching for Wisdom

In Christ: Hidden Treasure

In Christ: The Search for Wisdom Is Over

In Christ: Asking Wisdom Questions

In Christ: Wisdom and the Bible

In Christ: Wisdom Personified

In Christ: Righteousness

In Christ: Sanctification

In Christ: Redemption

In Christ: An Essential Link

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the book of First Corinthians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

In Christ: Paul to the Corinthians

In Christ: Wisdom

In Christ: Gentiles, Searching for Wisdom

In Christ: Hidden Treasure

In Christ: The Search for Wisdom Is Over

In Christ: Asking Wisdom Questions

In Christ: Wisdom and the Bible

In Christ: Wisdom Personified

In Christ: Righteousness

In Christ: Sanctification

In Christ: Redemption

In Christ: An Essential Link

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