Weekly Newsletter

Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
     The Bible declares that those who are true followers of Christ are actually in Christ.  To be sure, there is great mystery and majesty within this truth!  This glorious reality is further elucidated by the fact that Christ is also in us.  This union is not merely physical, emotional, or even doctrinal; it is spiritual.  That is, Christians experience a living and enduring relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus put it this way: “Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn.15:4-5).

     In his excellent book – “The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the gap between Gospel passion and the pursuit of Godliness” – Kevin DeYoung outlined six Biblical truths regarding our union with Christ:

• In Christ, we are dead to sin and alive to righteousness.  “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom.6:4; cf. Col.3:1-3).
• In Christ, we are new creations so that we might live for him and not for ourselves.  “And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised…  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2Cor.5:15, 17).
• In Christ, our sinful flesh is put to death and a new kind of life (a new Person, actually) is at work in us.  “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal.2:20).
• In Christ, we are no longer sons of disobedience and children of wrath but are alive with Christ and able to do the good works prepared for us.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph.2:4-6, 10).
• In Christ, we can walk as he did.  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Col.2:6).
• In Christ, we are holy and precious and called to live like it.  “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col.3:12-14).

     The fact is, through our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are forever united to Christ. This is guaranteed through the saving and sanctifying power of God’s Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13-14; cf. Eph.4:30; Tit.1:2).  But while our union with Christ cannot be broken or diminished, our communion with Christ can be negatively affected by worldliness and sin.  We must be diligent to keep our communion with Christ from becoming weak or broken or stifled.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David

Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #18):
Exodus 17-20; 2 Samuel 5-9; Psalm 51-53; Job 35-36; Jeremiah 27-31; Mark 15-16; 2 Corinthians 4-5
Recommended Reading:
“The Hole in Our Holiness” by Kevin DeYoung