In Christ vs Abiding in Christ

 

In Christ vs Abiding in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, it is he who bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.

 

Aspect	In Christ	Abiding in Christ
Basic Meaning	Indicates the believer's identity and redemptive relationship with Christ	Emphasizes a continuous and intimate spiritual connection with Christ
Spiritual Definition	Represents being grafted into Christ through faith, becoming a new creation	Highlights maintaining a close, ongoing connection with Christ for spiritual growth
Biblical Basis	- 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come" - Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ"	- John 15:4: "Remain in me, as I also remain in you" - John 15:5: "Apart from me you can do nothing"
Spiritual State	Legal status and identity	Practical experience and lifestyle
Life Characteristics	- Saved - Justified - United with Christ	- Obedience - Dependence - Pursuing spiritual growth
Practical Application	- Recognizing new identity in Christ - No longer under sin's control - Accepting sonship	- Daily drawing near to God - Prayer and Bible reading - Submitting to Holy Spirit's guidance
Mutual Relationship	"In Christ" is the foundation, "Abiding in Christ" is the building process	"Abiding in Christ" is the method of living out the "In Christ" identity
Spiritual Fruits	- Salvation - New life - Reconciliation with God	- Bearing spiritual fruit - Spiritual power - Life renewal
Potential Challenges	May remain at the level of theoretical knowledge	Requires continuous commitment and practice
Impact on Believer's Life	Change of identity	Transformation of lifestyle

 

Conclusion:

Understanding and experiencing both "In Christ" and "Abiding in Christ" is crucial for a believer's spiritual journey. While "In Christ" provides the foundational identity, "Abiding in Christ" ensures continuous spiritual growth, transformation, and intimate relationship with God.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim Training in California, USA Experience, Enjoy and Manifest Christ (II) Week 19 The One Formed in the Believer

Basic Truths of God's New Testament Economy

 

Basic Truths of God's New Testament Economy

Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me"

Philippians 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"

Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death"

Galatians 2:20: "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"

Romans 8:13-14: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God"

Ephesians 2:5-6: "Even when we were dead in sins, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

 

Basic Truth	Meaning	Explanation	Application	Related Scriptures
Crucified with Christ	Believers have died with Christ in His death and have died to the law	This is not a replacement of life, but a profound mystery. Christ died according to the law's requirement for us, carrying us with Him in His death, freeing us from the law's demands and obligations	No longer trying to keep the law through fleshly effort, but living to God in Christ	Rom 6:6: "Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves" Col 2:20: "If you died with Christ from the elements of the world" Col 3:3: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" Phil 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" Col 3:4: "Christ our life" John 15:5: "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" Rom 8:10: "If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness"
No longer I, but Christ lives in me	Believers no longer live in the old man and the natural man, but Christ lives in them	This is not a replacement, but an organic union. We have died in Christ, and now the one living is no longer the former self, but Christ living in us	No longer living according to our own preferences and will in daily life, but allowing Christ to live out His life in us
Dead to the law, alive to God	Being freed from the bondage of the law in Christ's death and living to God in His resurrection	Being dead to the law means being freed from the law that binds us; living to God means fulfilling our obligations to God in the divine life and being responsible to God in the resurrection life	No longer keeping any law (whether the law of Moses or self-made laws), but living to God in Christ, being naturally constrained by God	Gal 2:19: "For I through law have died to law that I might live to God" Rom 6:8-10: "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death lords it over Him no more. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God" Gal 2:20: "And the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" Rom 1:17: "The righteous shall live by faith" Col 2:6-7: "Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been rooted and being built up in Him and established in the faith" 1 Thes 3:8: "For now we live if you stand firm in the Lord"
Living in the faith of the Son of God	Living in an organic union with the Son of God through faith	This is a way of living in organic union with Christ, a faith that comes from appreciating Christ, enabling us to have an organic union with Him	Appreciating the loveliness and preciousness of Christ, generating faith in Him through this appreciation, and having an organic union with Him
Walking by the Spirit	Living daily by the indwelling Holy Spirit	Not by the effort of the flesh, but by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, living out the life of Christ	Following the leading of the Holy Spirit in every choice of daily life, rather than the will of the flesh	Gal 5:25: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" Rom 8:13-14: "For if you live according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God"
Experiencing the resurrection life	Experiencing the power of resurrection in organic union with Christ	This is being responsible to God in the resurrection life of Christ, being naturally constrained by God, and fulfilling obligations to Him	Living by the power of resurrection life in daily life, overcoming the power of sin and death	Phil 3:10-11: "To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if perhaps I may attain to the out-resurrection from the dead" Col 3:1: "If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above" 2 Cor 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" Phil 2:13: "For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure" Gal 4:6: "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!"
Enjoying the processed Triune God	Experiencing the complete salvation of the Father, Son, and Spirit in daily living	This enjoyment is based on our appreciation of the loveliness and preciousness of the Lord Jesus, enabling us to have an organic union with Him	Enjoying the presence and operation of the Triune God in daily life, living out the divine life

 

Conclusion:

The core of the basic truths of God's New Testament economy lies in the believer's organic union with Christ. This is not a simple replacement of life, but a profound mystery: we have been crucified with Christ and have died to the law, and now Christ lives in us. Our living is no longer by keeping the law through the flesh, but by living in the faith of the Son of God, in organic union with Him. This way of life is in the resurrection life, walking by the Spirit, living to God, and enjoying the presence and operation of the processed Triune God.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim Training in California, USA Experience, Enjoy and Manifest Christ (II) Week 19 The One Formed in the Believer

Christ Being Formed in Us VS Our Becoming Mature Sons

 

Christ Being Formed in Us VS Our Becoming Mature Sons

"I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you." (Gal. 4:19)

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26)

"And if you are of Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." (Gal. 3:29)

"Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, though he is lord of all; but he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father." (Gal. 4:1-2)

 

Item	Christ Being Formed in Us	Our Becoming Mature Sons
Meaning	Refers to Christ gradually occupying and transforming our entire being, so that Christ is concretely expressed in us, from inner life to outward manifestation	Refers to believers growing to maturity in life, from the infant stage to mature sons who can inherit the inheritance, having full sonship
Distinction	Emphasizes Christ's work and process in us, the development of His life within us	Emphasizes the maturity of our identity and position in God's family, the transformation from infants to mature sons
Examples	1. Paul said: "I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you" (Gal. 4:19) 2. From Christ being revealed in us, to Him living in us, and finally being formed in us 3. Like the pregnancy process, from conception to formation, and finally birth	1. From slaves under law to sons under grace (Gal. 4:1-7) 2. From enjoying the Holy Spirit as a pledge to fully inheriting the inheritance 3. From being under guardians and stewards to fully exercising the rights of sons
Applications	1. Let Christ saturate and permeate our entire being 2. Reject all religious regulations and live in union with Christ 3. Draw near to the Lord daily, being possessed and occupied by Him 4. Live in the life-giving Spirit, giving Christ ample space to grow in us	1. Know and exercise our sonship 2. Inherit and fully enjoy the Triune God as our inheritance 3. Cry "Abba, Father" through the Holy Spirit 4. Grow to maturity in the divine life, becoming responsible members in God's household
Interrelationship	Christ being formed in us is the cause, becoming mature sons is the effect. Christ being formed in us is the process, our becoming mature sons is the result. The two complement each other and neither can be missing. When Christ is fully formed in us, we reach maturity in the divine sonship.
Relevant Scripture Passages	1. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me..." (Gal. 1:15-16a) 2. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal. 2:20)	"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son...that we might receive the sonship. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!" (Gal. 4:4-6)

 

Conclusion:

l   According to the Bible, Christ needs to be formed in us so that we may become mature sons, heirs who inherit God's promised blessing, and mature in the divine sonship. When Christ matures in us, we become heirs (Gal. 3:29) to fully enjoy the Triune God as our inheritance (Eph. 1:14, 1 Pet. 1:4). The Holy Spirit is the pledge of this inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14).

l   The book of Galatians reveals that God's intention is to work Christ into His chosen ones so that they may become sons of God. To become sons of God, we need to be saturated and permeated by Christ; Christ must occupy our entire being. However, the Galatians had been distracted and turned from Christ to the law. Believers should return to Christ, who is the seed that fulfills God's promise to Abraham and is also the good land, the all-inclusive Spirit, for our enjoyment. We believers in Christ need to fully enjoy this blessing, which is to fully enjoy the life-giving Spirit. We need to be permeated, possessed, and fully occupied by this Spirit.

l   Christ has been born in us, that is, revealed in us, and now lives in us, and will be formed in us unto maturity. May the Lord lead us into the experience and enjoyment of Christ; He has been born in us, is now living in us, and will be formed in us unto maturity, so that we may become mature sons, heirs who inherit God's promised blessing, and mature in the divine sonship.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim Training in California, USA Experience, Enjoy and Manifest Christ (II) Week 19 The One Formed in the Believer

The Seven Aspects of Letting Christ Be Formed in Us (Growth, Saturation, Making Home, Possession, Mingling, Constitution, Renewing)

 

The Seven Aspects of Letting Christ Be Formed in Us (Growth, Saturation, Making Home, Possession, Mingling, Constitution, Renewing)

Galatians 4:19: "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you."

Ephesians 4:13-16: "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, .... But holding true in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, even Christ, out of whom the whole body, being joined and knit together by every joint of the rich supply and by the operation of each part according to its measure, makes the growth of the body unto the building up of itself in love."

2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit."

Colossians 3:4, 10-11: "When Christ our life is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory. And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all."

 

Topic	Method	Explanation	Example	Application	Related Scriptures
1. Growth	Allowing Christ to grow fully in us.	Formation is an organic process that requires Christ to grow from the infant stage to maturity within us.	Just as a fetus gradually grows and takes shape in the mother's womb, Christ needs to gradually grow in believers until He is fully formed.	Pursue spiritual maturity, not remaining in the infant stage, allowing Christ to be fully developed in us.	Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
2. Saturation	Allowing Christ to saturate our entire being and permeate every inward part.	When Christ occupies our inward being, He is formed in us; we need to allow Christ to permeate every part of our inward being.	Like water saturating a sponge, Christ wants to saturate every part of our being, filling us with His elements.	Allow Christ to enter and permeate every area of our life, including our thoughts, feelings, and decisions.	Psalm 51:6: "Behold, You delight in truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom." Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
3. Making Home	Allowing Christ to settle down in us and make home in every part of our inward being.	Christ is not just visiting, but wants to settle down and make home in every part of our heart, including our mind, emotion, and will.	Like a person moving into a new house, not just occupying one room, but living in every space of the entire house.	Invite Christ not only into our spirit but also into our soul to make home, becoming the Lord of our inner life.	Ephesians 3:17a: "That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith." Galatians 4:19: "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you."
4. Possession	Allowing the all-inclusive Spirit to possess every part of our inner being.	Christ should not only expand into our mind, emotion, and will, but should actually become our mind, emotion, and will; everything apart from Christ must decrease, and Christ must become our everything in our experience.	Like a king possessing and ruling an entire country, Christ wants to possess and rule every part of our entire being.	Let Christ possess our whole person, including our thoughts, feelings, choices, etc., so that He becomes our all in all.	Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." 1 Corinthians 2:16: "For who has known the mind of the Lord who will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."
5.  Mingling	Allowing Christ to mingle with our entire being.	Christ should mingle with us in every part of our being; Christ must saturate us and permeate us until He is completely mingled with us.	Like two elements mixing to form a new substance, Christ wants to mingle with us so that we become one with Him.	Experience the mingling with Christ in daily life, so that our thoughts, emotions, and decisions are mingled with Him.	1 Corinthians 6:17: "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." Ephesians 4:23: "And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Ephesians 3:17a: "That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith." Romans 12:2a: "And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind." Romans 8:29: "Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers."
6. Constitution	Allowing Christ to live in us and become our constitution.	Christ is living in us, being formed in us, and becoming our constitution; eventually, our entire being will be constituted with the elements of Christ, because He will constitute every part of our soul, making every part of our being have His shape and image.	Just as a building is constituted with bricks, cement, and other materials, we are gradually constituted with Christ's elements, giving us His essence and nature.	Seek to be constituted with Christ's elements so that our life nature is changed, becoming a person who bears Christ's image.
7. Renewing	Allowing Christ to permeate our mind, emotion, and will, replacing the self and the world in our soul with Himself.	For our mind, emotion, and will to be renewed, Christ must permeate our mind, emotion, and will, replacing the self and the world in our soul with Himself; if we are thus renewed, every part of our inward being will bear Christ's image.	Just as an old computer system is updated, our mind, emotion, and will also need to be renewed with Christ's elements, so that our thoughts, feelings, and decisions reflect Christ's mind.	Seek the renewing of the mind in daily life so that our thoughts, feelings, and decisions align with Christ's heart.

 

Conclusion:

These seven aspects represent an interconnected and progressive process of Christ being formed in us, beginning with Christ growing in us, continuing through saturation, making home, possession, mingling, and constitution, and ultimately reaching the renewing of our soul, so that we are completely conformed to the image of Christ. This process transforms us from within, changing not only our spiritual condition but also our mind, emotion, and will, until Christ is fully expressed through our entire being.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim Training in California, USA Experience, Enjoy and Manifest Christ (II) Week 19 The One Formed in the Believer