further facts & thoughts on “in Christ”
original post appears here - in Christ
I have been doing further thinking and research in this area and it supports this idea that a dominant image in Paul’s writing is this phrase or metaphor of, “in Christ.”
In Ephesians 1.1-14 this phrase appears 12 times (…in Christ, or …in Him).
In Pauline literature in the Newer Testament it appears 164 times.
Statistics alone don’t tell the whole picture - but clearly there is an emphasis on this concept that can’t be denied in it’s repeated use.
So now I am thinking about the issue - if I am as a follower positionally “in Christ” - am I on the periphery or am I making myself available and taking steps to move to the center, “in Christ.” Am I becoming more unified or am I making moves that are out of keeping with being, “in Christ.” May I and may we become more unified and reach what the Eastern Church calls, Theosis (although Theosis sounds like you have a bad case of God - it could be translated, to be ONE with God).
Any thoughts on this?
Yo phreak:
I always flash back on an old Watchman Nee illustration for this: I place a bookmark in the appropriate place and take that pupy with me. The bookmark doesn’t decide to leave the book. It doesn’t try to put the book in IT. It’s IN the book.
God says that because of what Christ has done for us, and our receiving of that, we’re in Christ. Some times we abide (and thus reveal our in-ness) better than others, but there it is.
good - so the issue is how well am I revealing the one-ness…
how well am I abiding in Christ…
that is helpful.