Theme: Life in Christ
By: Adeoye, Emmanuel (Evang.)
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LIFE IN CHRIST” refers to the transformative experience of a believer’s union with Jesus, resulting in a new identity and purpose centered on GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE.
It’s a life characterized by spiritual renewal, freedom from sin’s bondage, and a desire to live in accordance with God’s will, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“Life in Christ” is a transformative journey of spiritual renewal, empowerment, and purpose, grounded in the believer’s union with Jesus and characterized by a life of faith, love, and service to God.
Our goal is to become Christ-like; this goal is the restoration of God’s image in us. Our goal is to become a perfect community of believers. Our goal is to become one with God. Our purpose is to live as Jesus summed this up in Matthew 22:37 by saying that the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Then He said that a second similar commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Love, or friendship, can be defined as a commitment to the well-being of another, often accompanied by affection.).
EXEGESIS OF “LIFE IN CHRIST”: UNION WITH CHRIST:
The core concept is that believers, through faith, are united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. This union is not merely a legal declaration but a mystical reality where Christ’s life becomes the believer’s life.
Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
BY RECOGNIZING OUR NEW IDENTITY:
Being “in Christ” signifies a shift in identity from being defined by sin and the old self to being a new creation in Christ. This new identity brings forgiveness of sins, freedom from condemnation, and a new nature empowered by the Holy Spirit.
LIVING BY FAITH:
Life in Christ is lived by faith in Jesus, trusting in his finished work on the cross and his ongoing presence in the believer’s life. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a trust that leads to obedience and a life of love.
EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit indwells believers, enabling them to live a life pleasing to God. The Spirit empowers believers to resist temptation, walk in love, and bear fruit for God’s glory.
PURPOSE AND MEANING:
Life in Christ provides a new purpose and meaning, centered on knowing, loving, and serving God. It is a life of service in God’s kingdom, characterized by love for God and others. Union with Christ secures eternal life with God. Believers have the assurance of salvation and the promise of resurrection and eternal fellowship with God.
Life in Christ showcases that “in him was life ; and the life was the light of men”(John 1:4); “Jesus therefore said unto them again …the thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have abundantly” (John 10:7,10); “Jesus saith unto him “I’m the way, the truth, and the life” “no one cometh to the father but by me” (John 14:6) for ye died and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall be manifested then shall ye all with him shall be manifested in glory (Col 3:3,4) “and the witness is this that God gave unto us eternal life and this life is in the son. He that hath the son hath life; he that hath not the son of God hath no life” (1 John 5:11,12).
Life in Christ is evidence as we receive life and enjoy life in Christ which is the most wonderful goal that any person can possibly have. The series of lesson can make you realize this goal, with it glorious consummation of living forever with God in heaven.
Life in Christ is a life which is freely offered to all men regardless of race, color, nationality, etc., by their gracious, living creator through his blessed son. See (Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Tim. 2:3,4; 2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 3:20; 22:17). Those responsible persons who fail to realize the glorious life Christ have only themselves to blame.
To such as these Jesus said “and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life” (John 5:40).
What’s the secret to living the Christian life? We all start off so well. We receive Christ as our Savior, and we are filled with excitement at the prospect of new life in Christ. Our sins have been forgiven, we have been restored to relationship with God, we have assurance that we will go to heaven when we die, and we know that our whole life just changed. We start off enthusiastic for Christ and ready to take on the whole world.
We want to live the Christian life. Why is it so hard sometimes? What’s the secret to living the Christian life?
IN TODAY’ OVERVIEW Paul tells us three things about living the Christian life. (The Christian life is marked by faith in Christ, It is marked by freedom in Christ and it is marked by fullness in Christ). We received Christ Jesus by faith – now we should continue to live in him by faith.
We found freedom in Christ – now we should see that no one takes us captive through false teaching. We received fullness in Christ – and it will take Paul the rest of the letter to explain all of what that fullness means. What’s the secret to living the Christian life?
FIRST OF ALL THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS MARKED BY FAITH IN CHRIST. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7) What is Paul saying here? Your Christian life began with faith in Christ, and it must also continue with faith in Christ.
By faith you received Christ Jesus as Lord. This is the earliest Christian confession: “Jesus is Lord.” We confess our faith in Jesus as Lord at every baptism in and added into the church.
We confess our faith in Jesus as Lord at every baptism in the church. We confess our faith in Jesus as Lord every time we receive new members into this church. Paul says, you need to live in Christ the same way you received him. The Christian life begins with faith in Christ, and the Christian life must continue with faith in Christ.
The Christian life is not simply faith in a set of teachings but faith in a person. It is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS LIVED IN CHRIST. Christ lives in you, and therefore you live your life in him. Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, you continue to live in him. Part of confessing Jesus as Lord means that everything we do revolves around him. Christ is central, and we must live the Christian life by faith in him.
- ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM – JOHN 15:5 – First of all, you are rooted and built up in him. “Rooted” refers to the foundation of your Christian life. The Christian life is founded on Christ and Christ alone. It is not founded on your goodness or your works or your merit.
The Christian life is founded on faith in Christ and Christ alone. The word “rooted” brings to mind the image of a plant. Christ is more than just the foundation of your faith. He is the root and source of your Christian life.
As Jesus says in John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus is the root and source of the Christian life. You cannot live the Christian life apart from Christ.
If “rooted” refers to the foundation, “built up” refers to your continued growth in the Christian life. Just as you began your Christian life with faith in Christ, so you must continue your Christian life with faith in Christ. You can’t start the Christian life without him, and you can’t grow as a Christian without him. You are rooted in him, and you are built up in him.
- STRENGTHENED IN THE FAITH AS YOU WERE TAUGHT Acts 20:32 We are “strengthened in the faith as you were taught.” (Colossians 1:7) The word translated “strengthened” in this verse means “established” or “made firm.” Not only must you have faith in Christ. You must also be well-grounded in your faith.
The “faith” here refers to the teachings of the Christian faith – the gospel of Christ, the teachings of Christ, the truth about Christ as found in the Scriptures. Paul is telling them and us: Don’t be fooled by false teachers or false teaching. Stick with the gospel. Stay grounded in Christ and the Bible. Don’t go looking for new teachings outside of Christ. Grow in what you already know!
Paul said something similar in Acts 20 when he told his friends: “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
(Acts 20:32) To receive Christ is to believe in him and to believe what God’s word says about him, to be strengthened in the faith as you were taught. Living by faith in Christ means being rooted and built up in him, being strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and thirdly, overflowing with thankfulness.
This is a recurring theme in the book of Colossians. This is the third time Paul has brought up thankfulness in the letter, and he will bring it up four more times as well.
- IDENTIFY OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST – The Christian life is marked by faith in Christ, and secondly the Christian life is marked by freedom in Christ. Look at verse 8 where Paul writes: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) The word translated by the phrase “see to it” in this verse is a word that means, “Beware!
Christianity is not simply living out a creed, but it is living in a person. You are united with Christ by faith, and you receive the strength to live the Christian life every day through your relationship with him. our Christian life began with Christ, and it must continue with Christ.
Does your life feel hollow, empty, unfulfilled? If so, it’s because you are being deceived by an empty philosophy that depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world.
CONCLUSION:
When we live our life according to something other than Christ; we become helpless and meaningless in our spiritual relationship. The Christian life is marked by faith in Christ, freedom in Christ and fullness in Christ. Anything less is not AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY.
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