The Chaplain’s Corner

 

December 29, 2000

""Today Jesus Christ is being dispatched as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere example. He is that, but he is infinitely more; He is salvation itself, He is the Gospel of God.." (Oswald Chambers)

 

Believers In Christ

 

When I first came into an understanding of the “in-Christ” truths found in the Bible, I was overwhelmed to say the least.  I had diligently searched the Scriptures for many years and had never realized the truth implied by this little phrase.  Of course, I attempted to hide my ignorance concerning this truth by sharing what I did know previously which was mostly in the area of doctrine (teaching).  I later learned that this little phrase “in Christ” is probably the most important phrase in my Bible.  It is the central theme of Paul’s epistles.  The phrase “in Christ, in Jesus, in the Lord, in Him, in Whom, etc” is found at least  159 times in Paul’s epistles.

 

I.                  Old Bible Became New

 

All of a sudden my teaching-filled Bible was replaced with an “in-Christ” Bible full of this wonderful truth.  It was the same old Bible but all of a sudden it became a totally new life-filled Bible because of this little “in-Christ” phrase.  Wow!  I am still in awe when I see this phrase.  Teaching soon faded into the background as the “in-Christ” truths began to permeate my total being.  With this new revealed truth I soon realized how limitless it was, is, and shall forever be.  It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to teach us this truth.  The more the Holy Spirit taught me, the more I saw the endless

truth of this little two-word phrase.

 

 

II.  Weight of Scriptures

 

The more I learned of the “in-Christ” truth, the more I wanted to know.  I now see that it is one of the most used phrases in the New Testament.  If for no other reason, it’s importance can be seen due to the number of times it is used.  When someone repeatedly tells us the same thing over and over it soon becomes apparent that they think it is very important.  Paul uses this phrase more than any other writer in the scriptures, thus emphasizing its importance.

 

II.               Christ in Ephesians, Chapter One

 

Over the years I notice that Ephesians chapter one, is permeated with “in-Christ” statements.  As I read this chapter, I noticed that it is one of the most Christ-centered chapters in the entire Bible. 

 

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.  For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, which are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Ephesians 1:1-23

 

III.           The Father in Ephesians, Chapter One

 

As the Holy Spirit began to bring me into greater depths of the “in-Christ” truths, I began to see that the Christ in me could only love His Father through me!  Thus began my true relationship with my Father.  I realized that I didn’t know how to love the Father.  In fact, I realized I didn’t even know the Father that I couldn’t know Him except through the Christ in me.

 

“All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.”  Luke 10:22 (KJV)

 

From this verse it is obvious that only the Son knows the Father, and the only way the believer will ever know the Father is through the Christ in him.  It is my understanding that every time the Holy Spirit reveals Christ in the believer, that Christ in the believer cries out “Abba Father!”

 

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father!.”

 

The Spirit of His Son in the believer cries out to worship, love, and adore His Father!  Christ does this through the believer in whom He is resident.  Galatians four tells us that the believer is a child and is under tutors and governors until he allows the Christ in him to fellowship with and love His Father.  It is the nature of the Christ in you to love, adore, and worship His Father in Spirit and truth.  He can only do this when the believer allows it to be done.  All the years that I thought it was I who loved the Father, it was, in fact, the Christ in me loving the Father as me.  I don’t know how to perfectly love the Father, but the Son in me does, and knowing this brings such great satisfaction to me.  Thy do I say this?  I reached the point in my life in this world when I didn’t trust my love or anyone else’s love.  Have you ever tried to love someone with a love that you don’t trust?  I have found that the only love that you can really depend on is the love of Christ in you toward His Father!  I trust His love to the utmost, only His love do I fully trust.

 

IV.            Christ in the Believer

 

When I came to an understanding that Christ lives in me as my only life and it is this that has brought me total satisfaction.  The reason that this is so satisfying is because when the Father looks at me He sees His Son in my life.  That’s what it means to live a non-separated state with Christ!  Our Father makes no separating distinction between the believer and Christ.  By this I am no saying that we are Christ.  What this means is that when our Father looks at us He can only see sons and daughters whom He hath birthed.  They are His very own offspring.

 

You are so very special because you have Christ residing within you.  No other creature that has ever existed in time or eternity can lay hold on that claim except the born-again believer.  How special you are, indeed, to Him whose everlasting desire is to be Father.  No other creature that has ever existed can call Him, “Abba, Father!”  This makes the believer who is “in Christ” very, very unique.

This is our bull, Enrico.  He is a Scottish Highlander.

December 27, 2000

    
AFTER HOLIDAY POEM


'Twas The Month After Christmas & I Ate Too Much

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!


Thanks to Margaret Cary

 

 

DON’T SHOOT YOURSELF DOWN…

 

Several years ago the newspapers told how a new Navy jet fighter shot itself down.  Flying at supersonic speeds, it ran into cannon shells it had fired only seconds before.

 

The Jet was traveling too fast.

 

You are traveling to fast…

     If you don’t have time to worship God in church services.

     If you don’t have time to read the Bible.

     If you don’t have time to pray.

     If you don’t have time to be kind.

If you’re neglecting any of these, you’re probably traveling to fast to hear the sound of God’s voice.  You can’t tell whether you’re in the center of His will.  Better slow down before, like the jet, you shoot yourself down.

 

More important than the passing of the years is what we have done with them.  Time does nothing but pass away.  It is foolish to say, “time will tell, time will heal, time will bring out possibilities in him.”  Time will do nothing of the sort.  Time will only come and go.  Time does not help a man to help himself.  How we use time is what matters.

 

 

 

 

 

BELIEVING THE TRUTH

 

One of the themes that runs through the Bible is that God is a God of truth.

 

“Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.”  Psalm 119:160 (KJV)

 

In Revelation we read Jesus is called “Faithful and True”.

 

“And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He (Jesus) who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”  Revelation 19:11 (NAS)

 

But the Bible also mentions false prophets, false teachers, counterfeit anointing, false spirits and false testimony.  These are not from God but from Satan.  Another name for Satan is deceiver: He can mimic truth, but the Word says there is no truth in him.

 

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”  John 8:44 (NAS)