In Christ Jesus

If we are going to have ANY hope of seeing a great revival sweep through the Church, it will have to be when we truly long for & work toward the unity that should characterize us as those who are in Christ Jesus. If we are going truly have the passion we need to have to reach the lost for Christ, it will be when we truly understand that the Gospel is for ALL people, & that ALL who are saved are our brothers & sisters in Christ.

I had b’fast this past week w/ a 68 yr.-old African-American man who is a brother in Christ. We talked about how the walls have to come down in the Church. We talked about the differences in our cultures. He helped me understand the struggles he’s had in his life b/c of his skin color. He helped me think about the issues facing a predominantly white church striving to reach a community that is changing racially & demographically. We talked about how the love of Christ & the Gospel transcends all of the barriers & obstacles, & how wonderful it is when brothers & sisters come together in unity. Jesus Christ alone can change lives, melt cold hearts, destroy strongholds, & open blind eyes.

Every believer – Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, black, white, rich, poor, young, old, Republican, Democrat, Calvinist, Arminian, charismatic, non-charismatic, educated, uneducated – all stand on level, equal ground at the foot of the cross. No person is accepted for any other reason other than faith in Christ Jesus. And that is our basis for unity when we are in Christ Jesus.

WE HAVE A NEW DADDY – 4:4-7 – I love this word, “Abba”! It means “Daddy.” GOD ADOPTS US INTO HIS FAMILY IN CHRIST JESUS! It’s an amazing spiritual reality! Listen to these truths about our adoption by our new Heavenly Daddy:

- Adoption means to place as a son. Beautiful pic of what God does for those who are in Christ.

- Ancient world, the family was based on Roman law called “patria potestas” – the father’s power. The law gave the father absolute power over his children. Regardless of the age of the child – even into adulthood – the father held all power over personal & property rights.

- This made adoption a serious matter. When a child was adopted, 3 legal steps were taken:

o Adopted child was adopted permanently. Could not be adopted today & abandoned tomorrow. Became a son of the father forever. He was eternally secure w/ his new daddy.

o Adopted child immediately had all the rights of a legitimate son in the new family.

o Adopted child completely lost all rights in his old family. He was considered a completely new person – all old debts & obligations connected to his former family were canceled out & abolished as if they never existed.

Do you see how incredible it is when are in Christ & are adopted by our new Daddy?

- We are His forever!

- We have all the rights & privileges of a genuine son of God!

- We have moment-by-moment access into His presence!

- We are bound together w/ all other children of God!

- We are a new person. We taken out of our old fallen family & PLACED AS A SON into His family! All our old debts & obligations are obliterated!

CONCLUSION – Question: Are YOU “in Christ Jesus?”