WE PAUSED AT the end of last week to raise the question whether this being in Christ is a theological concept rather than a real state of being. We came to the conclusion that it is a real state of being—the only real state of being. Compared to this, all else is unreality. Here life is Life, being is Being, love is Love, joy is Joy.
A further question arises: Isn’t this Pauline, rather than Christian—rooted in Paul rather than in Christ? It is true that Paul gives the chief emphasis to the idea of being in Christ, for he uses it 97 times out of 172 times. The phrase is found in all the other twenty-seven books of the New Testament except Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jude, and James.
In Mark we find: “And he appointed twelve, to be with him” (3:14). It was with Him. That is as far as the Synoptics go, and that is about as far as present-day Christianity goes. To be with Him is the pattern, the norm. But a “with Him” Christianity is like an electric bulb’s being with the socket but not in it, a seed being with the soil, but not in it, food being with you, but not in you. It’s the “in” that counts.
In 2 John we find this: “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (v. 9). Here “in Christ” has been shifted to abiding “in the doctrine of Christ”—a system built up around Him. If we have correct views about Him, we have the Father and the Son. Christianity becomes correct belief about Christ instead of a surrender to Christ which puts you in Him. This is the Great Substitute—the “in” has become “about.” Christianity becomes a theological system instead of a way of life—becomes good views, instead of good news.
O Savior, Thou art not satisfied with being with us and not in us, and we are not satisfied with being with Thee; we want to be in Thee. Love wants to be identified with the loved one. I want to be identified with Thee by surrender and obedience—I want to be in Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: All my “abouts” will become “ins”—this will be my progress in Christ.
