Living “In Christ”,

As The Life & Grace of God Received

By Arthur J. Licursi

As Christians, we’ve all heard cute stories, book reviews, doctrines, precepts, Biblical principals, programs promoted, and the supposed “how to” instruction for Christian living from the pulpit. We’ve no doubt all heard much preaching, but frankly, it is rare to hear the preaching of Christ, as the Apostle Paul revealed Christ, to be “all” to the child of God, by the indwelling of His life.

If Christians were grounded in this most basic of understandings of their relationship with God their Father, that exists by the living and indwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus, then “all” would be answered “In Him”, who is “in them, as their life”. Christ Himself, indwelling the Christian, is the true, living way, for Christian living.

The Apostle Paul says we should not be considering “Christ after the flesh” (2Cor 5:16b), that is in His incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth, but rather that we should know and preach the Christ who now indwells the believer. This is the core of the “mystery Gospel”, given to Paul for us (Eph 3:1-3).

26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (Gk. musterion, secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus: Col. 1:26-28

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: Galatians 2:20a

Please consider this question.

Would you rather have Jesus of Nazareth walking beside you today in your daily living, or, …would you rather have the crucified, and resurrected Jesus, who now is the Christ, … living in and through you, as the Christian in you?

When we come to see and believe this, then the load for Christian living in this world is immediately lifted off us. We see that it is Jesus, as the Christ, living the Christian life as us.

From these Scriptures we then may expect that the Apostle Paul’s automobile bumper sticker would not say “CHRIST IS THE ANSWER”, rather it would likely say, …

“CHRIST IN YOU (Col 1:27), AS YOU (Gal 2:20), IS THE ANSWER”

How Do We Get Sidetracked?

Many secular businesses often use the practice of “bait and switch”. They attract customers by advertising one message or product, and then dishonestly switch the customer to another, for the gain of the business, but to the customer’s loss. Sadly, we often hear and see this very thing from well-meaning preaching, teaching, and Christian books to which we’ve been exposed. They seem to say,

“Yes, its wonderful you’re a reborn Christian, that you’re saved by grace through faith, … but now that you’re saved, if you really want to please the Lord, you should do this, and don’t do that”.

Many churches use this practice of baiting with grace, to get folks saved, only to then switch the child of God to a works-based relationship for the believer’s growth, saying, “you should do these things, and don’t do that”. But this approach will not work. Most Christians go through a time of frustration, trying to make their Christian life work the way it was advertised. Inevitably, many end up living either as Sunday hypocrites, or they bury their heads in the sands of denial, or, realizing their failures and seeming inadequacies, they drop out of the church organization, often thinking of their self as a failure. For many this is a good new beginning because, thankfully, even then, all things work together for the good. Their Father heard the cry of their hearts when they first received Him, and He is working all things to the good. (Rom 8:28-29, Philip 2:13).

Right Now, We Are As He Is Now

Religious organizations often attempt instruct us to be or maintain our Christian standing “by doing works”, so they point to what Jesus said and to the Old Testament laws. This ignores the fact that we as Christians need only to be “as He is in the world” presently. We must not lose sight of the fact that Christ is incarnate today, in us, in the members of His body, desiring to live out through each of us as He is in this very day. In this day, He is the Spirit of Christ in our spirit, bearing all that the resurrected Christ now is, to us.

“…as he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17b

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 2 Cor. 5:16

From the above verse we see that Christians are not to be as Jesus of Nazareth “was” in His flesh body; rather, we are to be as Christ is now, in us, as He lives through us in this world. We are not to imitate Jesus, except in one way. We are only to imitate Jesus of Nazareth in that He trusted the Father who was one with Him (Jn 10:30). We also are to believe in, that is trust in, the life of the Father, that is in His Seed, Christ (Gal3:16), who now indwells us as our Christian life (Gal 2:20).

We Bear The Father’s Life & Nature Via Christ In Us

Many either don’t really know, or often lose sight, of the fact that the Father has birthed us as His own children, with His own by His Seed (Gk. sperma, Gal 3:16). Thus, He placed His very life (Col 3:3) and nature (2Pet 1:4), which is in Christ Jesus, into our human spirit (Zechar 12:1b, 1Jn 4:13, 1Cor 6:17).

God our Father is the most competent and capable Father. He able to cause us grow up in Christ. Many do not know or acknowledge that Christ’s indwelling life is the all-sufficient key to Christian living for every Christian. Thus they preach “What You Need To Do”. They neglect the encouragement of the Christian to come to know and follow the sense of the indwelling life of Christ as their primary guide and final arbiter in living. Christ’s indwelling guidance and will are made known to the Christian by the indwelling sense of peace and rest, or lack thereof (Rom 8:6). Thus they may “learn Christ” (Eph 4:20).

Christ’s Spirit in Our spirit

Since Jesus of Nazareth has become both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36); and now is in the form of the Spirit of Christ (2Cor 3:17, 1Cor15:45b), we may have Him in us, as being one with our human spirit (1Cor 6:17, Jn 3:6). He is so available, closer than our breath. This is the Christ we may learn. Thus Paul encourages the Ephesians saying, “But ye have not so learned Christ;” Ephes. 4:20 Have you considered this verse? As I consider it I realize that the only Christ I can properly learn and come to actually know, is the one who is the Spirit of Life living within my spirit, as the new me. All else would be to learning about Jesus of Nazareth, outside of me.

Grace or Works?

Much of Christendom seems to push the believing child of God to turn away from his moment guidance that he has by the indwelling life of Christ, only to follow religion’s precepts and it’s “works based” system. Thus many are pushed toward “doing” rather than simply “being” who they are and were created to be “in Christ”. First, we are the sons of God, and then may we do only the works that He has ordained for us to do. (Eph 2:8-10)

After salvation, Christians are often beckoned to leave their God-birthed grace-based relationship that they have with their new found Father and His indwelling life, to now go on to serve the church’s many programs. They wrongly assume, “If the local church sanctions it - then it must be God’s will for me”. This is not necessarily true. We ought to beware of the dead works of religion (Heb 6:1). If we walk according to the indwelling spirit of Christ, He may have us to participate or, He may not. He must be Lord (Gk. kurious, governor) in all our living, in all our doing.

Paul the Apostle says we’re not under any outer law at all, saying

“…for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14d

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (any thing).” 1 Cor. 6:12

Rather, we’re under grace; we’re standing in His grace. See how Paul describes the working of God’s grace vs. works. “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Rom. 11:6 NAS

Paul says in Gal 5:25, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV

The Inward Operation Of The Spirit of Life In Christ

Our living is now to be regulated by His life within our spirit - by the law of the Spirit of life (law in Greek is “nomos”, meaning “the normal operation”) in Christ Jesus who is now and forever abiding in our sprit.

“For the law (normal operation) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.’ Romans 8:2

Paul said we ought not to be corrupted from the simplicity (Gk. haplotes, singleness) that is Christ.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity (singleness) that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3

Thus our singular focus is to have our living to be in accord with the indwelling life of Christ.

Servants Or Sons

Paul says it correctly and succinctly in this way. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son” Galatians 4:7a

I once heard a friend share the difference between relationships built on doing vs. being, in this way. Referring to the American “Bonanza” TV series of some years ago, he asked, “Would you rather be living in the Ranch house as one of the hired hands, or would you rather be in the big house with Ben Cartwright’s family?” Ours is a family relationship with God our Father, not based upon our performance. We cannot break it. Once a son is born of a father, he cannot become unbirthed. Yes, he may be an unrighteous son; nevertheless, he is a son forever, of that father.

His unconditional love and grace are the basis of our stand or position that we have unconditionally “in Christ”, that we have with God our Father. Some legalistic Christians even say or imply that we have to be good enough to prove and keep our salvation. This is a lie from the pit of hell.

Jesus’ Message Was What? Spoken and Directed To Whom?

Though grace came to us by the offering of Jesus’ life for us, and also grace came into us in the person of Christ to be our indwelling life, a major misunderstanding comes about when Christians assume that we need to do and be as Jesus of Nazareth did and said. No, WWJD is not the way of the Christian life. No imitation of Jesus and His mission are required or expected of us. How can I say this? First, not knowing the context of Scripture, many Christians miss the fact that Jesus of Nazareth came to the Jews preaching the law of the Messianic Kingdom (Luk 5:14, Matt 10:5-6), and they received Him not. Their refusing of Him did not negate His mission to declare the Messianic “Kingdom” long promised to Abraham and his earthly seed, was now … “at hand” (Matt 4:17), which was evidenced by His signs and wonders done on earth; which later was carried on by Peter and the other of the twelve (Act 3:24-25, but not by Paul, after Acts 28:28).

Most Christians believe that we ought to try to do and live in accord with everything Jesus of Nazareth said during His three-year ministry on earth. Rather, we are today of a different dispensation - “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2) that was preached by the Apostle Paul, as the Gentiles for our time in which we live today (Romans 15:16; Ephes. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:7).

They fail to see that Jesus came raising the bar of righteousness … so high that nobody could do it. Actually, Jesus came and intensified the law. E.g., The law then included sin as simply looking at a woman in a certain way, etc. Thus Paul says the purpose of the coming of law was to make sin exceedingly sinful, to stir up the sinful passions of the flesh (Rom5:20), that in recognizing our failing, we would turn to Him and find grace.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence (sin) might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” Romans 5:20

In fact, later Paul tells us that the law is what empowers sin in our lives. “…the strength (dunamis, power) of sin is the law.” 1 Cor. 15:56b We’ve all seen this law in action as we observe our children when we place law upon them. (Nevertheless, law for children will often keep them out of harms way.) Rather, we as God’s children do grow to be His sons if we obey Him, by His inner speaking (Rom 8:14). Obeying Him is to obey the sense of His indwelling life, not what Jesus of Nazareth said or by doing what Jesus did.

The Law Is NOT Of Faith

Paul later says, “the law is not of faith” at all (Eph 3:12). Jesus saw the self-righteousness of the religious in His day. A key reason for Jesus preaching and pointing to Moses law was so mankind would try and fail, and then give up trying to use law and works to meet or establish their selves before God. Rather, God our Father would have us to simply receive Christ whom He has provided to be our new and righteous life (John 1:12) within (Col 1:27b), and to permit Him (Rom 6:19b) to live out through us, however He desires to live and be expressed through us.

Works for achieving and maintaining righteousness is a vicious trap. Once we leave pure grace, we can’t really be sure if we’ve done enough, or that we’ve pleased God, or if we are going to heaven; because we don’t know whether we have quite done enough, or are quite good enough, or if we’ll continue to keep it and “endure to the end”.

Blessed Living In Grace

The dispensation of the grace of God, as taught by Paul, is the open door to the real blessed Christian life. Not only are we “saved” from judgment by grace, but also our “standing” before God, everyday, is forever in His grace! We are delivered from a merit system of works.

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.’ Romans 5:2 The basis of our standing never changes.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Col. 2:6 We each began in Christ and stand in Christ by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9), and we continue our entire Christian walk in Christ, in 100% grace through faith, whereby there is “now no condemnation” (Rom 8:1a) to those in Christ Jesus.

The “law”, that is God’s outer law of commandments, does not belong to the God birthed Christian. “…for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Col. 2:14.

Intensified Law

God’s written law is of another dispensation called the dispensation of the “Law”, that continued from Mt Sinai to the time of Jesus, essentially saying, “Obey and God will bless you, disobey, and God will curse you”. (Paraphrased from Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15-16). The Sermon on the Mount is an intensification of law that no man can keep, nor should seeking to keep it be our objective. Rather, our objective is to live by Christ’s life in us, we are the then likely will accomplish that which comes spontaneously out of Christ’s indwelling life and nature.

We must admit that apples suddenly appearing on an orange tree do not make an orange tree into apple tree. No, apples only spontaneously appear on apple trees, and then only in due season, according to the life and nature of the apple tree. If the cloud moves we move, if not we stay put.

Many Bible preachers today are not preaching the gospel of grace, rather they teach law as a condition of blessing. They say things like, “Give your tithes, and God will bless you”. “Be obedient and God will bless you.” This is Wrong! Our fixed and unchanging “standing”, as the rebirthed children of God, is not on the basis of our works, not our obedience, not our tithes ... it is entirely on the basis of His everlasting love and grace, extended to us every moment of every day! Our standing is sure and secure because of Christ’s offering of Himself in our stead was accepted on our behalf.

Unearned Grace “In Christ”

Just as we each were born physically, having nothing to do with it, and we remain our parent’s children because this is forever unchangeable; so it is with our relationship to God our Father. We are already blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in us already by grace in Christ, who lives within us forever, irrevocably. He will never leave us, or forsake us. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephes. 1:3.

Service Out Of A Heart Of Love

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“For the love of Christ constraineth us…” 2 Cor. 5:14

Receiving such love and grace, we cannot help but respond with love, and then service out of a pure motive of love for Him. We serve not to gain reward, or to be seen as Christians, but because He first loved us. Thus I must make clear at this point that I do believe that we as His children no doubt have work that we will do that is of the Lord. But, our service must be prompted and/or permitted by the indwelling Lord. He is capable of communicating with us exactly what He would have us to do (See article “Innermost Knowing). He is the operator in us and we, as His vessels, are His cooperators, just as He might be the hand and we the glove. Gloves never tell hands what to do. They never do something and ask the hand to bless their works. Many churches today often get it wrong; they promote a work to be done and … then pray that God would bless the work of their hands.

Works Ordained of God

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephes. 2:8-10

Many often quote Eph 2:8-9 concerning our being saved being “not of works” and this is a major truth. We must also note the following verse, which says “unto good works”. We are saved unto good works. But what then are “good works”? They are those works that we are led to do by the indwelling Lord. There is a new kind of sense that we have by Him indwelling our human spirit. It is the sense of His life that is indwelling our spirit, in the midst of our being (Dan 7:15). Good works are those we simply have a sense to do, with no program orchestrating it, just a sense to do something for somebody, without an expectation that our light is shining, or that we will be rewarded, or that others will see it. It can often be in the hidden place, without fanfare. Good works are always done out of a pure motive of the heart of love.

His Inward Prompting Or Restraining

Where does that legitimate desire or interest you have to serve come from? We should recognize that it likely is Him operating within as you. Importantly, the test is whether or not our inner sense of Him is restraining us from this particular work, saying no; or do we have peace, as a yes. When we do sense an inner restraint, then we should cease our works. When there is no inward restraint, then we are to do what we know to do. Oswald Chambers said repeatedly, “Trust God and do the next thing”. To trust God is to yield to Him as the mover, doer; He may also be the restrainer within us, apart from His restraint, we just follow on in what is in front of us, trusting it is Him. We are to obey the indwelling Christ as our life. Again, do NOT assume that if it is a good thing that God must ordain it for you to do that work. That would be the lawless “dead works” of iniquity (Matt 7:23, Heb 6:1).

Our Standing In Him

It is true that our current “state of living” or performance as Christians may be quite poor at any given time, but this is different and apart from our “standing” with God as our Father. We “stand”, as His children, in the 100% grace and love of God our Father. Our “state of living” may, however, be dreadful and full of consequences to our foolish sinful actions. Our loving Father is a capable chastiser. He is the husbandman of the vine (John 15:1). That’s a different issue for another paper.

Motivated By Love And Gratitude

We are constrained by the bands of His love.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us”; 2 Cor. 5:14a

Everything that we do today for the Lord is to be motivated by love and gratitude, not by fear.

“ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father”. Rom. 8:15,

“whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col. 3:17

We can say, “Thank you Lord that you have already blessed me with every spiritual blessing, that you saved me by your grace in which I am now standing, that you have begun your good work in me and will carry it on to completion.

Of this we may be confident. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philip. 1:6

This is the wonderful dispensation of the gospel of grace in which we were chosen to live.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal. 2:21 <END>

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