“But
of (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from
God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—” 1
Corinthians 1:30
“...My
Father is the Vinedresser.” - John 15:1
“...You
are in Christ Jesus." The believers at Corinth were still feeble
and carnal, only babes in Christ. And yet Paul wants them, at the
outset of his teaching, to know distinctly that they are in Christ
Jesus. The whole Christian life depends on the clear consciousness of
our position in Christ. Most essential to the abiding in Christ is
the daily renewal of our faith's assurance, "l am in Christ
Jesus." All fruitful preaching to believers must take this as
its starting point: "You are IN Christ Jesus."
But
the apostle has an additional thought, of almost greater importance:
"But of God are you in Christ Jesus." He would have us not
only remember our union to Christ, especially that it is not our own
doing, but the work of God Himself. As the Holy Spirit teaches us to
realize this, we shall see what a source of assurance and strength it
must become to us. If it is through God alone that I am in Christ,
then God Himself, the Infinite One, becomes my security for all I can
need or wish in seeking to abide in Christ.
Let
me try and understand what it means, this wonderful "of God you
are in Christ." In becoming partakers of the union with Christ,
there is a work God does and a work we have to do. God does His work
by moving us to do our work. The work of God is hidden and silent.
What we do is something distinct and tangible. Conversion and faith,
prayer and obedience, are conscious acts of which we can give a clear
account; while the spiritual quickening and strengthening that come
from above are secret and beyond the reach of human sight. And so it
comes that when the believer tries to say, "I am in Christ
Jesus," he looks more to the work he did himself, rather than to
that wonderful secret work of God which united him to Christ. Nor can
it well be otherwise at the start of the Christian walk. "I know
whom I have believed," is a valid testimony. But it is of great
consequence that the mind should be led to see that, behind our
turning and believing and accepting Christ, there was God's almighty
power doing its work. It was inspiring our will, taking possession of
us, and carrying out its own purpose of love in planting us into
Christ Jesus. As the believer enters into this, the Divine side of
the work of salvation, he will learn to praise and to worship with
new exultation. He will be made to rejoice more than ever in the
divineness of that salvation he has been made partaker of. At each
step he reviews, the song will come, "This is the Lord's
doing,"— Divine Omnipotence working out what Eternal Love had
devised. “Of God I am in Christ Jesus."
The
words will lead him even further and higher, even to the depths of
eternity. "Whom He predestined, these He also called” (Romans
8:30). The calling in time is the manifestation of the purpose in
eternity. Before the world was, God had fixed the eye of His
sovereign love on you in the election of grace and chosen you in
Christ. That you know yourself to be in Christ, is the stepping-stone
by which you rise to understand in its full meaning the word, "of
God I am in Christ Jesus." With the prophet, your language will
be, "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have
loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I
have drawn you” (Jer. 31:3) And you will recognize your own
salvation as a part of that "mystery of His will, according to
His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself” (Eph. 1:9) and join
with the whole body of believers in Christ as these say, "In Him
also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to
the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of
His will” (Eph. 1:11) Nothing will more exalt free grace, and make
man bow very low before it, than this knowledge of the mystery "Of
God in Christ."
It
is easy to see what a mighty influence it must exert on the believer
who seeks to abide in Christ. What a sure standing it gives him, as
he rests his right to Christ and all His fullness on nothing less
than the Father's own purpose and work! We have thought of Christ as
the Vine, and the believer as the branch. Let us not forget that
other precious word, "My Father is the Vinedresser (or the
Farmer)." The Saviour said, "Every plant which my Heavenly
Father had not planted will be uprooted," but every branch
grafted by Him in the True Vine shall never be plucked out of His
hand. It was the Father to whom Christ owed all that He was, and in
the Father He had all His strength and His life as the Vine. In the
same way, the believer owes to the Father his place and his security
in Christ. The same love and delight with which the Father watched
over the beloved Son Himself, watches over every member of His body,
everyone who is in Christ Jesus.
What
confident trust this faith inspires,—not only as to the being kept
in safety to the end, but especially as to the being able to fulfill
in every point the object for which I have been united to Christ. The
branch is as much in the charge and keeping of the vinedresser as the
vine is. His honor is as much concerned in the well being and growth
of the branch as it is of the vine. The God who chose Christ to be
the Vine fitted Him thoroughly for the work He had to perform as the
Vine. The God who has chosen me and planted me in Christ, has
purposed to secure me, if I will only let Him. I do this by yielding
myself to Him, that in every way I might be worthy of Jesus Christ.
Oh. that I would only realize this fully! What confidence and urgency
it would give to my prayer to the God and Father of Jesus Christ! How
it would quicken the sense of dependence, and make me see that
praying without ceasing is indeed the one need of my life — an
unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God who has united me to
Christ, to perfect His own Divine work, to work in me both to will
and to do of His good pleasure.
And
what a motive this would be for the highest activity in the
maintenance of a fruitful branch-life! Motives are mighty powers. It
is of infinite importance to have them high and clear. Here surely is
the highest: "You are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works” (Eph. 2:10 KJV) grafted by Him into Christ, so
that you might bring forth much fruit. Whatever God creates is
exquisitely suited to its end. He created the sun to give light: how
perfectly it does its work! He created the eye to see: how
beautifully it fulfills its object! He created the new man unto good
works: how admirably it is fitted for its purpose!
Of
God I am in Christ: created anew, made a branch of the Vine, fitted
for fruit-bearing. Would to God that believers would cease looking
most at their old nature, and complaining of their weakness, as if
God called them to what they were not fitted for! If only they would
believingly and joyfully accept the wondrous revelation of how God,
in uniting them to Christ, has made Himself chargeable for their
spiritual growth and fruitfulness. How all sickly hesitancy and sloth
would disappear, and under the influence of this mighty motive—the
faith in the faithfulness of Him of whom they are in Christ —their
whole nature would rise to accept and fulfill their glorious destiny!
O
my soul! Yield yourself to the mighty influence of this word: "of
God you are in Christ Jesus!" It is the same God through whom
Christ is made all that He is for us, through whom we also are in
Christ, and will most surely be made what we must be to Him. Take
time to meditate and to worship, until the light that comes from the
throne of God has shone into you, and you have seen your union to
Christ as indeed the work of His almighty Father. Take time, day
after day, and let, in your whole religious life, with all it has of
claims and duties, of needs and wishes,
let God be everything.
See Jesus, as He speaks to you, "Abide in me," pointing
upward and saying, "my Father Is Your Vinedresser. Of Him you
are in me, through Him you abide in me, and to Him and to His glory
shall be the fruit you bear." And let your answer be, ‘Amen,
Lord! So be it. From eternity Christ and I were ordained for each
other; inseparably we belong to each other: it is God's will; I shall
abide in Christ. It is of God that I am in Christ Jesus.’
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