LS-45-In Christ

In Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.--Ephesians 1:2. The apostle sees in Christ the source and sustaining power of the whole universe. "In Him were all things created." "In Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17). This cosmic significance of the person and work of Christ arrests our attention, and perhaps awes us. But the apostle thinks of our relation to Christ in a much more tender and intimate way than this. All the experience of our spiritual life is born and maintained "in Christ." We were "buried with Him." We are "risen with Him." We are "created in Christ Jesus for good works." We are "made to sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We are assured that our "labour is not in vain in the Lord." Again and again the thought recurs. What does it mean? Is it but a figure of speech? Even so, it must have meaning. The same complete relationship with the Saviour is expressed in another way. "It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me." We are "in Christ," Christ is in us. In His all-pervading power we live and move and have our spiritual being. The life we live is sustained by faith in Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. If we came to Him in repentance, it was not all our own deed, but He granted us repentance unto life. If we are developing in our spiritual natures it is because His Divine life flows into our souls. If we approach the Divine ideal of Christian holiness, it but reveals the energy of His own holiness at work in our hearts. The "fruits of righteousness" which may be seen in us "are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Php 1:11).

We may not understand it very well. The truth is beyond our thinking. Yet somehow we feel it is true. Our faith lays hold of it. We believe that every privilege of communion with Him, such as we may enjoy at the Table of the Lord, opens for us fresh avenues for the reception of His Divine grace.

"Thy love, Thy joy, Thy peace,
Continuously impart
Unto my heart;
Fresh springs that never cease
But still increase."

--Francis Ridley Havergal.