UNDERSTANDING WHO IS IN CHRIST

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new KJV 2Co 5:17 So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new. Bible in Basic English

ARE YOU IN CHRIST OR IN THE FELLOWSHIP?

KEY SCRIPTURE 2Cor 13:5 (Message). Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

INTRODUCTION  Evidence (Fruit) of their lives MUST support the claim that we have met the Lord, not to talk of abiding IN HIM.  It is very dangerous to presume you are IN CHRIST when you are merely IN CHURCH or IN THE FELLOWSHIP  Every genuine encounter with Christ is definite, unambiguous and transformational. Acts 26:12-19.

What does it mean to be in Christ? It Entails: 1. A Change in Nature - To be born again i.e. to receive a new birth or new beginning. Jn 3: 3,5,16 To forgo the natural human nature inherited from Adam which in itself is sinful, and to receive a new kind of life from Jesus Christ which by nature is sinless and hates sin. Eph 4: 22 – 24; Col 3: 9 – 10; Eze 36:

What does it mean to be in Christ? Contd ….. 2. Change in Relationship. To have been removed from the dominion of Satan and translated into the kingdom of God’s Son. Col 1: 13; Mat 1: 21. Father- Son intimate relationship s. 2Cor5: Rom 8:16-17.

What does it take to be in Christ? 4 Things God will have you do. P ersonal Repentance  Acknowledgement of sin Matt 9:  Confess your sin 1John 1:9; Rom 10;9  Repent of your sin. Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; Isaiah 55:7  Bear fruit of repentance. Matt 3:8 P ersonal Faith in the accomplished work of Christ in His death and Resurrection. Rom 6:1-7. P ersonal confession of the Lordship of Jesus over your life. Rom 10: 9 – 10. P ersonal connection to Jesus through His yoke of discipleship. Matt 11:28-30.

The challenge The Challenge of full understanding Secondly, some merely received Jesus as Saviour and not Lord (Master, Director) of their lives. The danger of seeing Jesus as provider

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? A brand new life: not repaired, refurbished or polished. 2Cor 5: 17. Loss of appetite/interest for sin. 1Jn 3: 6 –10 Strong desire and love for godliness and righteousness.1Jn 2: 3 – 6. An insatiable hunger for the word of God and prayer. 1Pet 2: 2 – 3; Acts 2:

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? Cont. Sincere love for God and the brethren. 1Jn 2: 9 – 11; Humility of Heart. Phil 2: 5-8. Desire to live in the perfect will of God. John 4:34. An appetite for Soul winning. 1Cor 9:16.

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? cont. Break away from the love of the world. 1Jn 2: 15 – 17; Gal 6: 14; Rom 12: 2. The inner witness and leading of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8: 14 – 16. Walking in the light (obedience of God’s word). 1Jn 1: 6 – 7; Eph 5: 8.

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? Cont. Growth in grace and in the knowledge of God. 2Pet 3:18. An ever increasing trust/faith in the ability of God 1Jn 4: 4; Eph 1: 19 – 22; Col 2: 6- 15; Heb 2: 14 – 15. Progressive manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit (Character of Christ) Gal.5:22-24

Therefore…  “So if we say we are his friends but go on living in spiritual darkness and sin, we are lying. But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin”. 1 John 1:6-7 (TLB) “But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did”. 1 John 2:5-6 (TLB)

Therefore---  1 John 3: “And you know that he became a man so that he could take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him, no missing of God's will at any time in any way. 6 So if we stay close to him, obedient to him, we won't be sinning either; but as for those who keep on sinning, they should realize this: They sin because they have never really known him or become his. 7 Oh, dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: if you are constantly doing what is good, it is because you are good, even as he is.

As Leaders we are not exempt Check ourselves regularly Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Keep our bodies under subjectiom 1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway

As Leaders we must be alert Confess and repent of errors/sin 1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Contend for every part of what we receieved Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Therefore--- 8 But if you keep on sinning, it shows that you belong to Satan, who since he first began to sin has kept steadily at it. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the devil. 9 The person who has been born into God's family does not make a practice of sinning because now God's life is in him; so he can't keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him-he has been born again. << 10 So now we can tell who is a child of God and who belongs to Satan. Whoever is living a life of sin and doesn't love his brother shows that he is not in God's family;.

, So, Are you IN CHRIST or in the Fellowship? And in what areas?

Let us pray!!!