The believer is blessed "in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).
This truth happily so well known to many is emphasized in the last of Paul's epistles, his second letter to Timothy. There seven times over the expression is found in varying connections. These may engage us profitably for a little. We shall see that they connect our thoughts with the grace of eternal counsels, and the glory of their final accomplishment, while also the believer's history and pathway are brought into relation to-the precious aspects presented in these expressions.
In the opening of the epistle we find "the which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:1).
We are taken back in our thoughts to "before the ages of time." Was it not then to the Son of God in the bosom of the Father eternally, rejoicing always before Him, that the promise was made that from among the sons of men companions should be His for the day of His glory? Of this we read in Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began." The due times for the declaration to men had not arrived then, as now they have. The Son of God must come. He must die if that life were to be ours. But this has taken place. His holy incarnation, His holy pathway, His holy sufferings, all are accomplished, and the gospel can be published far and wide.
We who believe can rejoice and say, "God…hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
PURPOSE AND GRACE
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (chap. 1:9). Here the individuals thus blessed are in view-"us," who now believe. Behind the purpose was the promise, and behind the promise all power for its fulfilment. And grace was linked with the purpose, for it was from the midst of a ruined race that the companions were to be gathered out. Grace is love active towards unworthy objects in the knowledge of their misery and need, and in spite of their condition as broken down in responsibility. "Not according to our works" shuts out all boasting of merit or goodness on our part. The blessing we receive is wholly on the ground of the grace of God. .
Thus far we have been looking at our ancient history-ancient history indeed, before the ages of time. Then we were "in Christ Jesus" in the mind of our God and Father.
Now we turn to see where this truth touched time, in order that the subjects of grace might be laid hold of. So we find the apostle speaking of
"FAITH AND LOVE
which are in Christ Jesus" (chap. 1:13).
The good news is proclaimed and believed. A new nature is given. The believer finds himself linked with others, and is taught of God to love them all. He is brought with them into a new circle altogether, a circle of limitless blessing. He was in the Adam-circle of sin, enmity and judgment. He is transferred now to the Christ-circle of salvation – righteousness, reconciliation and relationship.
Blessed indeed to be in the Christ-circle. And it is God who has transferred him, and all is of His grace.
In the death of Christ the chapter of our history in sin has been brought to its end. Now in His risen life we live, and a new chapter of our history is begun. Of this our Lord had spoken, "Because I live, ye shall live also." It is this which is expressed in the verse of the hymn:
"We live of Thee, we've heard Thy quickening voice,
Speaking of love beyond all human thought,
The Father's love, in which we now rejoice,
As those in spirit to the Father brought."
The Holy Spirit has been given to us to abide with us forever, and in order that fruit, "the fruit of the Spirit," may be borne by us. He is now our power of life, and in this connection He would have us strong in the
"GRACE
that is in Christ Jesus" (chap. 2:1). This will enable us to stand, to serve His interests, and to succor those around us.
The spirit of grace is that which we should seek increasingly. We do well to remark that grace and truth-came by Jesus Christ. The order given of grace first is not without import. The whole ministry of our Lord as recorded in the Gospels is in accordance with this. In grace He received all who came in sincerity to Him. Then when the sense of His grace had affected them the light of truth shone upon their consciences. So it should be with us, our speech should be "always with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how to answer every man."
And in days of difficulty such as these we need grace in abounding measure, in our dealings with our fellow-Christians, and with all men. And there is "in Christ Jesus" all that is needed for each of us, in every department of conduct and service. Grace to impart truth to others, grace to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, grace to please Him who has called us, grace to strive lawfully in the conflict, grace to labor as husbandmen looking forward to the glad days of harvest. If we are straitened at all it is not in our Lord, it is in ourselves. There is all-sufficiency, all fulness, in Him.
And He is with us all the way and all the days until the end.
It is this grace which teaches us how to' live "piously in the present course of things, awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12,13). So next in our circle of blessing we have "The salvation which is in Christ Jesus" (chap. 2:10). Looked at in its entirety this has its consummation in
ETERNAL GLORY
To this we are called (1 Pet. 5:10). It is in view of this we rejoice in hope (Rom. 5:2). The glory of God sheds its radiance on the road, in ever increasing measure, as our footsteps near the goal. The path shines more and more unto the perfect day. The Lord gives grace and glory, withholding no good thing from those who walk uprightly. With this great finality in view we may cheer one another as we press on, knowing it is but a very little while, then He who cometh will come, and the journey be over and the glory be gained.
Meanwhile it is privilege to be allowed to stand here for the interests of our Lord, whether in His assembly, or in carrying the gospel to the world of men. This we shall the better do as we walk in joyful anticipation of the glorious end, and since we are in the last days, the perilous times, in the midst of a profession of godliness while the power thereof is denied, we need the comfort and strength of that hope to enable us to
"LIVE GODLY
in Christ Jesus" (3:12). To live to God! Self once ruled our thoughts and dominated our lives. Now in the midst of a world of ungodliness, where men are "without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world," we are to keep in the sense of His presence, and bring Him into all our thoughts and words and ways. As we "live godly in Christ Jesus" we must come into conflict with the mind of men, and in one way or another we must suffer. Our godly course in our new life condemns the world about us. Thus we may expect opposition. But "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world." And supported by His mighty power we can overcome.
But on our side we need to be nourished up in the words of faith and of sound doctrine. Thus the Holy Scriptures are given for our food, and they "are able" to make us "wise unto salvation through
FAITH
which is in Christ Jesus."
Faith links us with a living Christ, and draws from Him all that we need for our everyday pathway, while the Word of God, the God-breathed Scriptures, direct us in our goings, being "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (3:15-17).
Thus we shall be lifted above the influence of the present system of things-the world-in which souls are caught, as in a net, by the enemy. As the airman rises through the power of the engine, and so overcomes the law of gravitation, we too by the power of the Holy Spirit should ascend into another realm of thought altogether, and walking in the Spirit we shall neither "fulfil the lusts of the flesh," nor be attracted by the power of the world.
There all is provided for us that is necessary for our personal pathway, and all that is necessary for our service in seeking the good and blessing of others.
Surely the seven-fold "in Christ Jesus" of this epistle should give confidence and joy to our hearts as on we tread. In Him nothing fails. In Him all is maintained. And we turn gladly from all the breakdown in Adam, in which we all had our sinful part, to "rejoice in Christ Jesus," in whom there is not (nor ever could be) any breakdown at all.
Happy are we who know what it is to be "IN CHRIST JESUS."
Inglis Fleming