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February 2024 Printable 258 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God's unmerited divine favor be to you and an absolute end of all strife or trouble from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings by heavenly places in Christ. As He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of sonship by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the January 2024 teaching, we learned that the name Jesus is the Greek word Iesous which means "Jehovah our Savior." The expression "in Jesus" is not a scriptural expression. It occurred once in the English version of the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 4:14; however, the Greek word for our English word "in" is dia and should be translated as "by Jesus" or "through Jesus." God's Word never says to be "in Jesus." When we read God's Word, we are always told to be "in Christ." We know that the adversary is very subtle, sly, and cunning and has manipulated people in believing "in Jesus" the man; this focuses the attention on the cross or the scene of his crucifixion and not on his resurrection. The January 2024 teaching has more discussion on this topic.

In this month's teaching, we will search the scriptures for the Greek words for our English phrase "in Christ Jesus." We will specifically look at:

• What does the word "in" mean?
• What does the word "Christ" mean?
• What does the name "Jesus" mean?
• How do we get "in" with Christ Jesus?
• What do we have in Christ Jesus?
  

  Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.
  

Let's start with what does the word "in" mean? The English word "in" is a preposition. The Greek word év (e-n) means "in, on, at, by, with or a being or remaining within, with the primary ideal of rest in any place or thing; of place, in, within, among; of time, on, upon, expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else." As you can see, the Greek word év means much more than our English word "in."

Now let's look at what does the word "Christ" mean? The word "Christ" is the Greek word Christos and means "the anointed." "Christ" is the name of Jesus' changed position as a man once he was raised from the dead and exalted in glory. The phrase "in Christ" in the church Epistles denotes our position, blessing, and standing before God, as we are "in Christ;" we do not hold this standing in Jesus.

So then, what does the name "Jesus" mean? The name "Jesus" is the Greek word Iesous which means "Jehovah our Savior" and represents Jesus' walk on earth as a man. See January 2024 teaching for more discussion.

The question now becomes if we are not "in Jesus" because this represents Jesus as a man, how do we get "in Christ Jesus" or "the anointed" Christos? To be in Christ Jesus, you must first have Christ in you the hope of glory. Turn to the scriptures Romans 10:9-10:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Colossians 1:27:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [Bold added for emphasis.]

Once you take action on Romans 10:9, God creates His Spirit in you which is Christ in you, the hope of glory! So what benefit is there to this? In other words, what do we have in Christ Jesus?

Let's read some scriptures on what we already have in Christ Jesus. We exhort you to read the context of these scriptures to increase your understanding. We will bold the phrase in Christ Jesus in these scriptures for emphasis.

Romans 3:24:

Being justified freely by his (God's) grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

We are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in who? In Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30:

But of him (God) are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

We, the born-again believers, are in who? Christ Jesus. God made Christ Jesus to us in what? Wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. This is what God's Word says, and that is what it means! Why do we not believe God's Word? We tend to believe what the world says on the news or social media. We tend to believe what religion tells us to believe without even opening the Bible or quoting scripture. However, most of us just do not get around to believing what God's Word declares. We take other people's word or broadcast or tweet and do not go to the source directly - the Bible! I believe God's Word!

Turn to Galatians 3:26:

For ye are all the children of God by faith [believing] in Christ Jesus.

We are all the children of who? God! By believing in who? Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are all one in who? In Christ Jesus!

Galatians 6:15:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature [creation].

We are what in Christ Jesus? A new creation! Which is Christ in you the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27).

Ephesians 1:1:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ.

To the faithful in who? In Christ! The word "faithful" in this verse is the Greek word pistos which is an adjective of pistis. It means passively "faithful, trusty, worthy, of confidence; of persons, one on whom we may rely; of things, trustworthy, sure, firm, certain." See January 2021 and February 2021 teachings on pistis. The word pistis is continually used in correlation with believing or faithfully serving God with good works, doing the will of the Lord, being faithful or believing in Christ Jesus in your walk, in your action, in your believing. Never once does the Word of God talk about being faithful in Jesus. We are never in Jesus; we are in Christ Jesus. We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ on a horizontal or parallel level on this earth because we are in Christ Jesus. Got it?

What a tremendous truth! When we are in Christ Jesus, we demonstrate a steadfastness, a commitment. We are in alignment and harmony in Christ Jesus in our walk. I ask you, where in the Gospels does it talk about the believers being in Christ Jesus? The believers could not be in Christ Jesus because Jesus was not yet glorified (see John 7:39). Being in Christ Jesus was not available until Acts 2:4.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Turn to Ephesians 1:3:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing by the heavenlies in Christ.

If the Bible said "in Jesus," it would collapse to fragments because we are not in Jesus as this represents him as a man, his humiliation, his sufferings, and his death. We are in Christ Jesus' resurrection, his ascension, and we are seated on the right hand of God (see Ephesians 2:6). This is what God's Word says, and that is what it means!

It is written in Philippians 3:10:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.

That I may know him (Christ) and the power of his what? Resurrection! There is no power in Jesus' death! What do the scriptures declare about death?

Psalms 6:5:

For in death there is no remembrance of thee [Lord - Jehovah]: in the grave who shall give thee Lord - Jehovah] thanks.

Psalms 146:4:

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 6, and 10:

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Also, their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

These scriptures declare what God's Word says about death.

Back to what we have "in Christ Jesus." Turn to Ephesians 2:6:

And hath [past tense - had] raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

God made us, the born-again believers, sit together in heavenly places in who? Christ Jesus! It is in Christ Jesus that we have a seat. We have authority sitting in the heavenly place, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27)!

Ephesians 2:10:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

For by grace, you were saved through believing and that not of ourselves. It is the gift of God (see Ephesians 2:8). For we are his workmanship or handiwork, having been created. The word "created" means to bring into existence something that never existed, which only God can do. How? By God creating in us in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared aforetime in order that we should do what? Walk in them, the good works! Let's continue with Ephesians 2:11-13:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

But now is an emphatic but! Let me expound to you these verses of scriptures from Ephesians. Let's repeat Ephesians 2:12:

That at that time ye [Gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Why were the Gentiles without Christ? Because Christ came to redeem Israel (see Luke 24:21). And because the Gentiles were uncircumcised, not of Israel, they were without God in the world. Ephesians 2:13 tells us that in contrast to verse 12 we are now in Christ Jesus:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who once were far off [Gentiles] were made nigh by the blood of Christ.

What a tremendous thing! The word nigh in verse 13 literally means "next of kin." We are made next of kin by the blood of Christ. What an elevated position we are in! This is in contrast (but now) to the previous verse where we were strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. So, in contrast, but now, we are in Christ Jesus, brethren! Wow!

Hebrews 2:11:

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brethren.

We are brothers with Jesus Christ! No wonder the adversary blinds people's eyes and wants people to fight all the time. We were "made" next of kin by the blood of Christ. We did not work for it; we were made it! What a magnificent truth people! When are we going to confess God's Word? When are we going to stop saying we are in Jesus, but rather confess we are in Christ Jesus?

Philippians 2:5:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

This verse is very specific for it declares Let this mind be in you, which was also in who? Christ Jesus!

Philippians 3:3:

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

We worship God how? In the spirit or by speaking in tongues! And we rejoice in who? Christ Jesus. And we have no confidence in what? The flesh. This is God's Word and Will, people! See April 2016, May 2016, and June 2016 teachings on speaking in tongues. We are to do three things in this verse: 1. Worship God in spirit by speaking in tongues, 2. Rejoice in Christ Jesus, not in Jesus, and 3. Have no confidence in the flesh. In other words, not listen or believe in what we hear from the senses' realm such social media, news, or people who do not walk in the Word of God.

Philippians 3:14:

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upper] calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We are told here to forget the past and press toward the mark for the prize of the upper calling of who? God in Christ Jesus!

Colossians 1:4:

Since we [Paul and Timothy] heard of your faith [believing] in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints.

Once again, this verse states since Paul and Timothy heard of your believing in who? Christ Jesus. This is referencing how Paul and Timothy heard about the believing of those in Colosse.

Colossians 1:28:

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Who does Paul state that we may present every man perfect in? Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18:

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This verse reminds us that in everything give thanks, for this is the will of who? God in Christ Jesus concerning you. See February 2020 teaching.

For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. See 2 Corinthians 2:17. So, given all that we have learned about what the word "in" means, what the word "Christ" means, what the name "Jesus" means, and how we can get "in" with Christ Jesus, we can ask what do we have in Christ Jesus? The scriptures in the Epistles are rich with all the benefits and blessings we have. Here are a few:

• Justified (Romans 3:24)
• Redemption (Romans 3:24 and 1 Corinthians 1:30)
• Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)
• Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)
• Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30)
• Children of God by faith [believing] in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26)
• All one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)
• A new creation (Galatians 6:15)
• Blessed us with every spiritual blessing by the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
• Raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)
• Created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:10)
• But now in Christ Jesus ye who once were far off [Gentiles] were made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)
• For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3)
• Press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upper] calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)
• Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)
• Teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28)
• In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
  

In this month's teaching, we searched the scriptures for the Greek words for our English phrase "in Christ Jesus." We learned the English word "in" is the Greek word év (e-n) means "in, on, at, by, with, a being or remaining within, with the primary ideal of rest in any place or thing, of place, in, within, among, of time, on, upon, expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else."

We learned the word "Christ" is the Greek word Christos and means "the anointed." "Christ" is the name of Jesus' changed position from a man, as raised from the dead, and exalted in glory. "Christ" in the church Epistles denotes our position, blessing, and standing before God. In other words, we are not in Jesus but "in Christ." We were reminded that the name "Jesus" is the Greek word Iesous which means Jehovah our Savior and represents Jesus' walk on earth. See January 2024 teaching. We learned that to be in Christ Jesus, we must first have Christ in us the hope of glory, according to the scriptures. And we do this by taking the actions laid out in Romans 10:9-10:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Once you performed Romans 10:9, God creates His Spirit in you which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Father, thank you, for we are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works by your greatness and surpassing majesty. Father, we pray that you may give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you and what you have accomplished for us in Christ Jesus. We pray that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened so that we may know what is the hope of your calling, and what are the riches of the glory of your inheritance in us the born-again believers. We pray that we may know what the exceeding greatness of your power to us is who believe according to the working of your mighty power, which you wrought in Christ, when you raised him from the dead, and set him at your own right hand in the heavenly places. May we understand that Christ is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. May we rejoice in the knowledge that God has put all things under Christ's feet and given him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. Our love be with you all in Christ Jesus, Amen.

The Word of God is the Will of God. And the Will of God is the Word of God.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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