Living In Christ

Last week we said earthly success is nothing without Jesus Christ. Being saved is not only to save us from destruction but it is about taking our right positions with God. The Word of God says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:10).

Being ‘workmanship’ means that we are a product or an artwork that God made for a specific purpose. We were made to do the works that God predestined for us to walk in them. God preordained us to walk in light and we were actually wasting our time and His time whilst we were walking in darkness.

What is also important to note is that we were created in Christ Jesus. In Him we live, move and have our being. We cannot do the good works that God prepared for us without being in Christ. Revered Chinese preacher Watchman Nee once said;

“Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner;  but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty ; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, “in Christ.”

We have to understand that we cannot have fellowship with God seated and folding our arms. Fellowship has to do with a close relationship that is developed by sharing in a common cause or engagement. You can get to experience God’s presence in the process of doing good works.

God has created each one of us for a purpose. Our Master expects us to be the useful vessel that is prepared for the honorable use. That does not mean we are sinless. Only Jesus Christ has and will ever live without sin. There will be times that we will slip out of the way and the enemy cannot wait for that moment to accuse and condemn us. But thank God we have an Advocate with the Father, the Lord of righteousness Jesus Christ.

When it happens that we fall into sin, we should not turn our backs on God, instead we should turn back to Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).

When we confess our sins we are actually declaring that we belong to God. Through Jesus Christ we are shifting positions – from the devil’s presence (darkness) to the presence of the Lord (light). We begin to walk as children of light, acceptable and pleasing to our God.

The Word of God clearly instructs us, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done in secret,” (Ephesians 5:11-12).

There is no point in us to go searching for what is in the dark. Instead we should dwell in the presence of the Lord. Like Mary, the sister to Martha, we should come and sit at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word. The Word will expose whatever is on the dark because, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” (Psalm 119:105).

The whole purpose of being in fellowship is to know each other better and foster better communication. What better way to communicate to our God than through His Word. This is where we find what we can expect from our loving Father and what He expects from us. And all we do with our Lord is done in the open and in light. In him there is no darkness at all! 

Join us next week as we talk about the blessings of keeping His word.