In Christ, with Him!

Reading: Romans 6:1-13

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20)

Our Father in Heaven calls us to be perfect even as He Himself is. He has provided this perfection in His Son. Jesus died on the cross not only to atone for our sins. He died that we might die with Him. He died as our Substitute. He also died as our Representative. The death of Jesus is representative and inclusive (Rom 6:1-11). We have to identify ourselves in His death and resurrection. Anyone who longs to walk as his Saviour walked on this earth must learn this truth of Identification with Christ.

When Christ was crucified two thousand years ago, we were also crucified with Him. This is the first step of identifying with Christ. We died with Him. "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Rom 6:3). We were also buried with Him. "We were buried with Him through baptism into death" (Rom 6:4). The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is also inclusive of us. "If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom 6:5). Jesus died for our forgiveness. He resurrected for our victory. Christ's life has been implanted in us so we can live a new life (6:4). Christian life is Christ living in and through us. In Paul's words, "No longer I, but Christ" (Gal 2:20). We died and were resurrected with Christ. What next? "God made us alive together with Christ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:5,6).

What did Jesus do after resurrection? He presented His torn, stricken and smitten body as an eternal Sacrifice to His Father. Likewise we have to present the organs of our bodies to God. "Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your organs as instruments of righteousness to God" (Rom 6:13).

Real triumphant Christian life begins here. Without any reservation, we must give ourselves to Him to do anything and everything that pleases Him. This transfer of ownership gives us the true sense of belonging to Another. Not only this, you have to believe that you are made perfect in Christ. The Word of God says, "In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him" (Col 2:9,10).

The secret of victory is thus to be found in the two key words "In Christ." Died together with Christ, buried together with Christ, raised up together with Christ, seated together with Christ and made perfect in Christ. This is Full Gospel!

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Doctrines: NextJUNE 28