Part 6 of 10

Confidence in The Truth

 

Truth is fact and reality whether we have come to enjoy it or not. The truth of Paul’s “my gospel” is established in us only by our faith in the fundamentals of what Paul calls “the faith” ( Col 2:7). This saving gospel is succinctly summarized by these verses.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I (Paul) delivered unto you first (in importance) of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Yet for us individually, the most helpful key to overcoming the “Sin” nature that remains in the believer’s “flesh” is to know and stand on Paul’s doctrinal teachings. These doctrines establish us in all the benefits of Christ’s work on and by the cross… for us, “the body of Christ.”

Note below that the complete gospel is that Christ not only shed His blood for us, that is, “for our sins,” but also that Christ died AS US. It’s by faith in this great truth that we find the victory over “Sin.” Note here hat Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection life are also our death, burial, and new life because we were “with Him” and “in Him” at the cross.

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized (immersed) into Jesus Christ were baptized (immersed) into HIS DEATH? ⁴ Therefore we are buried WITH HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 3:3-4 For YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. ⁴ When Christ, who is our LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory?

Our enjoying the security of these facts rests in an intelligent understanding of the truth that is derived from understanding our secure position “IN CHRIST.” Paul lays out solid foundational doctrinal “IN CHRIST” truths in Ephesians. First, we presently “SIT together (with Christ) IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS.” Then we note how to employ this great truth. You see, it’s by knowing we are secure “in Christ,” that we as believers can then STAND in the face of the temptations and accusations of “Sin in the flesh.” Being “seated in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS” is our elevated, fixed, and secured position. Then we can “STAND” upon this truth and conduct our daily “WALK” in confidence, as seen below.

1. We SIT - Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened us (made us alive) together WITH CHRIST, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶ And hath (already) raised us up together (with Christ), and made us SIT together IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:
2. Then we WALK - Ephesians 5:8, 15 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: WALK as children of light: ¹⁵ See then that ye WALK circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
3. Then we STAND – Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, that ye may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, TO STAND.  

Paul clarifies our battleground as not being “the flesh,” though it is the home base of our enemy, the Sin-nature. 2 Corinthians 10:3 …though we walk in the flesh, we do NOT war after the flesh: As we’ve established previously, the battleground is our mind that is tempted by the “fiery darts” of the Sin-nature, tempting us to come down from our secure elevated position of being “seated IN CHRIST.” Sitting is a resting position. We can rest in the gospel truth that we know.

Knowing Paul’s doctrine, “…(our) hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all RICHES of the FULL ASSURANCE of UNDERSTANDING, to the acknowledgement of THE MYSTERY of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” (Colossians 2:2). This “mystery” is that believers are secure “in Christ.” Believers can enjoy the truth of “Christ in you” ( Col 1:27), which “was kept secret since the world began” (Rom 16:25) until it was revealed to Paul for us (Eph 3:1-5).

Since the Devil could not keep us from being saved, he is now working work to hinder or destroy our enjoyment of the reality of being “in Christ”; that is, the fruit of our union with the Lord. Only a “FULL ASSURANCE of UNDERSTANDING” equips believers for standing and walking “in Christ.” Paul’s words give us guidance as to how it is that we may “stand” and “cast down” the “thoughts” and “imaginations,” that would otherwise work to condemn us or otherwise hinder the enjoyment of our union with the Lord.

The fact is that every believer is “in Christ” and thereby stands as being counted righteous before God without having done works or presently doing works to be counted righteous.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: ⁹ NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.

Every believer is baptized, meaning fully placed in or set into Christ from the moment they believe, trusting Jesus as Savior. 1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us we have a dual relationship with Christ “by one Spirit”; 1) we’ve been baptized “by the Spirit… into (Christ’s) one body,” and 2) we’ve also “been made to drink into” His one “Spirit of life.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 For BY ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized (dry immersed) INTO (CHRIST’S) ONE BODY, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Thus we are “in Him” and He is “in us.” I we place a cloth in water the water also permeates the cloth.

We have been immersed into Christ and our life is now “hid with Christ in God.” Being “hid” as it were, our Heavenly Father does not see our failings; He only sees us clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We do not stand in our own righteousness, but Christ’s righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For HE (God) HATH MADE HIM (JESUS of Nazareth ) TO BE SIN FOR US, who knew no sin; (so) THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.

Philippians 3:9 And be found IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is of the law, BUT that (righteousness) which is THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH:

Realizing this we can see how it is “that (in Him) we should be (counted) holy and without blame” before God. Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST: ⁴ According as HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT (in Him) WE SHOULD BE (counted) HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN (His) LOVE:

The present and eternal position of every believer in Christ is that they stand righteous “in Christ.”

Paul indicates that these facts of our position in Christ are entirely independent of our performance, either before, or after our salvation. We were saved initially “by grace through faith” in Christ and “walk” by grace through faith in Christ. Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (by grace through faith), so walk ye in him:

Paul encourages the Colossian believers to go on. Paul says we need to be “rooted and built up” in these elements of the truth of the full gospel of Christ, which Paul calls “THE FAITH” – we need to be taught and to “study” these truths.

Colossians 2:7-10 (walking in Him you are) ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM, AND STABLISHED IN THE FAITH, as ye have been TAUGHT, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹ For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰ And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing THE WORD OF TRUTH.  

The core facts discussed here are the keys to believers enjoying the riches of the inheritance they may enjoy “in Christ.” Trusting in these truths will then serve us well in all the days we walk on this earth and on into eternity. The “armour of God” is principally based upon our faith in who Christ is and in our unshakable relationship with Him; this equips us to stand against the wiles of the Devil.