In Christ
A Reminder Of Who We Are

Romans 12:1-5 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2]  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [3]  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. [4]  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5]  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

It is necessary, periodically, for any organization to remind itself of its goals. Unless the employees understand its purpose, the direction that the organization takes is slipshod, without certainty, and its output product is below par. The members of that organization need to be reminded, often repeatedly and in different ways, what their goal is. Otherwise, how shall they succeed in this world?

Recently we as Ekklesia have started studying the Book of Ephesians, and we have seen how the Church of Jesus Christ is the Church because it is in Christ.  We have studied this passage:

Ephesians 1:1  "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus"

.. and have noted that this phrase, "in Christ", occurs 27 times in Ephesians, 77 times in the Church Epistles. We as believers, we as Ekklesia are "in Christ". What does that mean to us on the practical level? How can I bring this truth, which is a reality, into my life by application?

Paul makes a unique statement in Romans 12:1 when he says,

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies (plural - soma) a living sacrifice (singular - thusia) ..."

He could have said "you present your bodies (plural) as living sacrifices (plural)", which would have made better sense on the physical plane. Yet he chose to mix the plural soma {so'-mah, "body"} with the singular thusia {thoo-see'-ah, sacrifice}. Does this make sense?

On the human plane this may not make sense, but on the Divine plane, it makes absolute sense. As humans we have a tendency to think of things with human eyes. We are concerned with the things that we see. Yet the things that we see may not be the true reality. To many people the Church is a building, or a place that you go to. To people who examine the world through human eyes, the Church is the room we all sit in to worship. We join the Church by being "voted in", we progress upward in the Church by a democratic vote, we become deacons or ministers by the majority rule of the flock. To the human or carnally minded (often, many who enter into fellowship with us are carnal rather than spiritual), even if the building is empty, that is still the Church. Yet this is not the reality.

The reality is that the Ekklesia, the Church, is a group of believers all spiritually united in Christ. This is God's reality, and the only reality that matters. You cannot be a member of the Church unless you have accepted the Biblical Jesus Christ as Savior. No vote will bring you into the Church, no democratic process will have any effect whatsoever on your status in the Church. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, then you are in Christ, and if in Christ you are in the Church. We are united spiritually because we have, one and all, accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.

Colossians 1:16-18  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence."

There are many of us, but only one Christ. There are many sins in our lives, but only one Savior. And, though we are many, there is only one Body, one Church, and we who are saved are all part of that Body. This is Biblical reality. Because we are, together, united in Christ as "One Body", we are called to work together as "One Sacrifice For Jesus". This alone is pleasing to God, to our Savior Jesus Christ. We MUST work together to accomplish God's will on the earth. This alone is the only sacrifice that is acceptable to our mighty God. In fact, the great Apostle tells us that this is "(Romans 12:1b)  ... your reasonable service". How do we accomplish this fantastic feat? By realizing that we are one Body, united under a common belief in one Lord Jesus Christ. By realizing that our unity under Jesus our Word is the only sacrifice that is pleasing to our Savior.

Most believers do not understand the difference between the reality of the spiritual world, and the ritual of the physical world. Most believers do not realize that we are in a great conflict between the forces of darkness and the power of Jesus Christ. Though we know for a fact the outcome of this battle, and know that our arch-enemy Satan will be cast into eternal damnation:

Revelation 20:10  "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

We also know that this is a future reality which has not yet been completed. When our great General, Jesus Christ, first came to earth, the General of all that which is evil presented himself to our Lord and tried to defeat Him. Satan did not use physical force to try and overcome Jesus, but instead showed us that the battleground in this great conflict is the mind. Satan came to Jesus in Matthew chapter 4 and, just as he did with Adam and Eve, offered some reasonable compromises to the Son of God. His first compromise was that:

Matthew 4:3  "... If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

This is a perfectly reasonable request. Jesus was and is God in the flesh, and the Son of God. Surely the Father would not want His Son to be hungry. Surely, since Jesus had such great powers, surely He could use these powers for good to feed Himself. After all, God wouldn't want Him hungry, would He? Yet the outward reality, Jesus' hunger, was not the issue here. The issue was, "Will Jesus trust the Father for His provision, or will He feed Himself according to Satan's perfectly 'reasonable' suggestion".  Jesus quickly defeated Satan's first attack by giving us the pattern we should use in this great conflict:

Matthew 4:4  "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Three times Satan tempted Jesus, and three times our General, the Head of the Body, replied with the Word of God, "It is written". Had our Lord used His own reasoning to defeat Satan, we would say "perhaps I can use my own abilities in this great conflict". Yet Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things, the Savior of the Church, He Himself refused to use His own abilities, but relied on the Word of God, the Scripture. He relied on that which is inherently spiritually powerful, and not on His own abilities.

If Jesus relied on the reality of the Word, shouldn't we do the same? Paul, as inspired by God the Holy Spirit, said "Yes, absolutely". We are not to compromise or conform our lives to the things which this world teaches, but we are to:

Romans 12:2a "... be not conformed (suschematizo) to this world: but be ye transformed (metamorphoo) by the renewing of your mind"

Two words are very important in this passage of Scripture. The first is the Greek suschematizo {soos-khay-mat-id'-zo}, which means "to lay out a blueprint for your life by". As believers we are not to watch the ways of the world, then blueprint or modify our lives to satisfy the whims of the world. The world follows after the reality of Satan, and excludes the reality of God. The world follows after overt ritual rather than inner truth. The world's way is fleeting, temporal, and never ultimately satisfying. The world chases after one whim, then another, seeking happiness in the moment - yet this is ritual without reality.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1 "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17]  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18]  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. [2 Corinthians 5:1] For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Our reality is in Jesus, in His Word of Truth, in the relationship that we have in Him through this precious Word of God. Any other reality is only illusion, if it is not rooted and grounded in the Word of Truth. Throughout Christendom believers chase after one fad then the next, only to discover, after attaining that fad, that it does not satisfy them. In truth, believers chase after theologies and theologians, speaking of John Calvin, or David Jeremiah, or the Berean Bible Society, or any number of people or institutions with hushed and reverent tones. Though these individuals or organizations may have and preach true Biblical truth, to regard their words as greater than the true Truth, greater than the Scripture, is to follow after the pattern of the world. No man devoted to Christ would have you call yourself by his name, rather than by Christ's name. No true servant of God would have you extoll his virtues, but would constantly hold up Christ while allowing himself to be diminished. Paul, that great Apostle to the Gentiles, said:

Philippians 1:20-27 "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22]  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. [23]  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  [24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  [25]  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  [26]  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  [27] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel"

The Apostle would not suschematizo his life, pattern his life after the world that was around him. He would not pattern his life after any earthly person. He would not pattern his life after a promoted or faddish theology, nor call himself "Calvinist", "Arminian", "Davidian", or any other human name ... but instead patterned his life solely after Christ and His Word. And, as Paul was of one mind with Christ, he demanded that the Churches that he established stand united and live their lives according to that perfect "gospel of Christ", not in the fads of this world. They were to be  metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o}, transformed, changed like caterpillars are changed into butterflies, and "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel".

When we realize that we are in a great conflict, and that we are under one General, Jesus Christ, then we cease following other generals. We cease following our own wants and desires, and begin to follow what our Lord has spoken. His Word matters. His Word alone can renew our minds. His Word alone, as presented in the Holy Scriptures, has the power to renew and united us as One Body. In order to follow after His Word alone we need to be willing, like Paul, to put aside our pride, our prejudices, our preconceived notions and follow after that Word.

An Army divided cannot stand. An Army under two heads, under two admirals, under two generals cannot succeed. To succeed, to defeat Satan, the Church of Jesus Christ must follow after the Word of Christ. This we must do, regardless of denomination or any other man made tradition.

Romans 12:3 "... For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. "

Who is the enemy in the great conflict we are in? Is it Satan? Yes, Satan is our enemy, but he is a defeated foe. Certainly the Scripture states that he, the great deceiver, still wanders around "seeking whom he may devour", but the Scripture also says:

James 4:7  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist (anthistemi {anth-is'-tay-mee}, oppose, stand against) the devil, and he will flee from you."

You see, Jesus has already won the battle for us at the Cross. We as believers are indwelt by the blessed Spirit of Promise, and though the Tempter can tempt, if we oppose him in the power of Christ, he will flee. If Satan will flee, do you not think that the demons that fell from Heaven will flee? Yes, Satan is our enemy, but in this great conflict the fallen angels are defeated foes, as long as we resist them in the power of the Word. Our greatest enemy is not Satan, who is a defeated foe, but believers who submit to the flesh and to the whims of Satan. The enemy within is the greatest enemy of all.

When Moses led the first generation of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, that generation kept looking backward at the fallen foe, as if they still had power over God's people. Even when Israel saw the foe defeated and drowned in the sea, she kept looking backward at where she was, rather than toward the Promise. When Israel stood at the Jordan only Joshua and Caleb believed the Word of the Lord, and applied that Word to their lives:

Numbers 14:2-11 "And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! [3]  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? [4]  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.  [5] Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.  [6]  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: [7]  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. [8]  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. [9]  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. [10]  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. [11] And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?"

What is our greatest enemy? Not Satan, nor the world of Egypt, but we ourselves. When we forget Who redeemed us, when we decide to follow our way rather than The Way, when we heed our word rather than His Gospel. The first generation of Israel died in the wilderness because of unbelief. The second generation, though it entered the Land, only occupied it conditionally, and eventually were dispersed. When God warned His people to repent on the Day of Pentecost she would not hear, and as the Scripture prophesied:

Isaiah 28:9-13 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. [10]  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: [11]  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12]  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. [13]  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

Israel's greatest enemy was not Satan, or Egypt, or any thing of this world. Israel's greatest enemy was her failure to believe the Word of God, to seek out the Word of God, to heed the Word of God. Be not as Israel, little Church. Do not allow the things of this world, the works of the flesh to enter into our assembly. By faith we can do great things, but only by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and His rightly divided Word.

God grant us the strength to focus on that Truth, and none else.
 

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