Pastor Hill: In or out?

Is Christ our life?

Paul gives us insight in Colossians 3 of the life of the Christian.

What a Christian is and what a Christian is not. There are many views in our world today regarding what constitutes a Christian. There is only one correct source to understand the truth. The source is not preachers, people, nor any other who holds a religious title, but God alone. What is true in regards to the life of a Christian? Are we in or out when it comes to being part of the family of God?

Speaking the Truth in Love by Pastor Tommy Hill

Speaking the Truth in Love
by Pastor Tommy Hill

A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE IS A SHARED LIFE: The life of Christ is shared with each believer by the indwelling Spirit of God. The life of the One who is victorious, the One who ascended to Heaven, and the One who continuously makes intercession for the believer with God the Father. The apostle Paul reveals the true mysteries of our life with Christ throughout his writings. We enjoy this fellowship as we walk in obedience with the Lord. In the same fashion that God declares that the husband and wife become one when they are married, we become one with the Lord in salvation. The Bible does refer to us as the bride of Christ. What a great privilege that is for all who will place their trust in the Lord. While we know that we are in Christ we must never forget that we are still in the world, in NC, or where ever we may reside. Our hearts may reside in Heaven but our feet walk on the earth. We have many daily reminders of where we are but let us always remember that this world is not our home, we’re just passing through, our treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. Paul wants us to live above the world while working for the Lord here below. While the sinful temptations assail us from without and our own sinful temperament attacks us from within, Paul reminds us that Christ is the answer to it all and we are IN CHRIST.

A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE IS A SACRIFICIAL LIFE: During His earthly ministry Christ taught us that, to be a disciple, we must take up our cross daily and follow Him. If there was no reality of Christ’s resurrection we would not be willing to take up our cross, but His resurrection is a fact of history. When He was lying in the tomb there was fear and doubt. The disciples were in fear for their lives but on that third day He arose and hope was restored. When we face struggles and trials in our lives today let us remember that He arose and we are now IN CHRIST. All is well.

A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE IS A SUPERNATURAL LIFE: This is illustrated in a home in Bethany that we read about in the gospels. In John 12, we see a family that has been transformed (Romans 12:1-2) supernaturally because of the resurrection of Lazarus. In this home, we find Martha working, Mary worshipping, and Lazarus witnessing to all that had come to see the man who was no longer dead. Multitudes came, saw, and went away believing. What made the difference? He was risen and so the world beat a path to his door. Ephesians 2 tells us we were dead in our trespasses and sins but that Christ has saved us and given us life. We are now “Risen in Christ.” May the world see such a wondrous change in us that they will beat a path to our door desiring to know what has happened. We can then tell them how we’ve been supernaturally resurrected from the dead (spiritual death) and introduce them to Jesus who made it all possible. What would happen in America if lost people could see resurrected people: living in homes across America; driving the highways; working in the factories and businesses; filling the pulpits and pews in churches; We ARE RISEN with Christ – may the world see it.

A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE IS A SATISFIED LIFE: The life that is satisfied does not need a list of things to do in order to find happiness in Christ, for we are, “Risen with Christ!” What could be more satisfying? There were false teachers in Colosse who were attempting to place requirements upon the Christians. We do not have to do things to be saved; we do things because we are saved, because we love God and are thankful for all He has done for us. Those things are evidence of our love for Christ.

A few decades back there were many people who built bomb shelters in order to protect their families in case of nuclear war. Their plan was to run to the shelter when the alarms sounded. They knew they had to be IN the shelter to be safe. In the spiritual warfare we are facing there is only one place where we can find safety during the battle. That place is IN CHRIST. Every answer can be found in Him, every need can be met in Him, and every life can be saved in Him. Are you IN OR OUT?

Pastor Tommy Hill is the pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church in Hamlet. He is a Richmond County native. He can be reached at firstfwbchurchhamlet@gmail.com. His column will appear each Friday in The Pee Dee Post.

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