“By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit. And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world. Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world” – 1John 4:13-17 (AMPC)
LIGHT FOR NOW: The signature of God in the epistles is the term “in Christ”.
From 2 Corinthians 5:17, we came to establish that the term “in Christ” appears about 130 times in the Pauline epistles. Other related terms, such as in whom, through whom, by whom add up to 160 times in the epistles. If something is written to you 160 times, you must pay attention to it; you must know what he is talking about. The words “in Christ” call for some questions: Is it a mere catchy phrase? Was Paul simply fixated with those words as a figure of speech? Did he just get caught using the phrase as a figure of speech? Did he just get caught using that phrase as a figure of speech? Or is it a reality? “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” The term “in Christ” demands and deserves our study. It means that things that are real to God about us ought to be real to us about ourselves.
The words “in Christ” are the signatures of God. That is what God reckons with. Galatians 6:15 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature”. “For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]” (Amplified Version). “But in Christ, it is not circumcision or uncircumcision that counts but the power of New Birth” – JB Philips. What matters in Christ is a new creature. What counts is the new creation. The words “in Christ” are the signatures of God. If it is not in Christ, it is not of God. “In Christ” is proof that it is of God. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Know your realities in Christ.
CONFESSION: My eyes of understanding are enlightened in Jesus’ name, Amen.
QUOTE: The term “in Christ” is God’s signature.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1; EVENING: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 