that she just sang there. Her
trophies. And her crown. You go to a lot
of services in the world today, a lot of the religious places,
and their trophies are, oh, I quit smoking. Oh, I go to church on
Sundays. Oh, I went down the aisle and
made a decision to follow Jesus at a certain time or another.
But God's people lay all that stuff down. at the feet of our
Jesus. You see, the only thing we have
is our sinful pride. That's it. And that ain't worth
nothing. But we lay what we have at the
feet of our Jesus, our Savior, our King. I'd like to ask you
to turn in your Bibles to the 17th chapter of John. In Romans chapter 8, verse 1,
we read these words. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus. That's the gospel. That's the
good news. If the Lord God Almighty has
convicted your heart to show you what you are before Him, destitute with nothing to offer
a holy thrice God. Then what joy these words can
bring to the hearts of His chosen people. There is no condemnation. No judgment. Yes, you are a sinner. Yet all of your sins have been
laid on the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the sins today, all of
the sins before, all of the sins that you will commit have all
been laid on our Savior. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus. This is my title for this morning's
message, In Christ. Are you with me in John chapter
17? Let's begin reading verse 17. sanctify them. This is our Lord Jesus Christ
who is praying to His Father. He has just mentioned a moment
ago that He had glory and that God had given Him the power over
all flesh. He says, I pray for them. I pray
not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me, for
they are Thine. This is our Lord in His wonderful
account as our priest, as our high priest. The One who could
go into the holiest of holies with blood, with His own blood,
and speak to the Father and say, Lord, these are Mine. Sanctify
them. Set them apart. Through Thy truth, Thy Word is
truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the
world, even so I have also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify
myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither I pray for these alone,
but for them which shall believe on Me through their word. How
shall we call upon the name of the Lord if we have not heard
who He is? How can you believe on one whom
you have never heard of? God is sending men and women
out into the world this very moment to hear the good news
that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Not to the whole world, but to
those who are in Christ. Oh, the importance of these two
words, being in Christ. That they all may be one as Thou,
Father, art in me, and I in Thee. That they also may be one in
us." Who is it that makes them one
in us? That they may be one in us is what He's saying. He's
saying, Father, sanctify them. Set them apart. He's not asking
God to do something. He's not asking God the Father,
do something so that they can be. Do something so they can
choose to be. Do something for them that they
might accept the offer. No, He's saying, sanctify them
that they may be one in Us. That they all may be one as Thou,
Father, art in me and I in Thee. that they also may be one in
Us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the
glory which Thou gavest Me, I gave them, that they may be one, even
as We are one, I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may
be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that Thou
hast sent Me, and has loved them as Thou hast loved Me." Did you
catch that? We know that God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all one, right? Now
we have just this little teeny picture of what love is about. We love our children. We love
our spouses. We love our family. Oh God, I
wish I could love them better. We love the Lord Jesus because
He first loved us. Now if God the Father loves His
Son, do you hear the Son's prayer? The Son's prayer is that the
Father would love us as He loves His Son. Wow! That boggles my mind. That God
the Father would love me, a sinner, condemned unclean, as He loves
His Son. There is now no condemnation,
no judgment of those who are in Christ. Father, I will that they also
whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, and that they
may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me. For Thou lovest
Me before the foundation of the world. Love My people, Father,
as You love Me. before the foundation of the
world. Are we getting the picture here? Our God has loved us before anything
was ever made. All things are made for our purpose
that we might glorify our Lord Jesus Christ in whom all the
glory belongs to. Oh, righteous Father, he continues
on in verse 25, the world hath not known thee, but I have known
thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me, and I have
declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the
love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them. And what's the next thing we
see? And I in them. The question you and I need to
ask ourselves. This is very important. Very
important question to ask. Are we in Christ? And is Christ in us? There's
a lot of people who go into the world, go around the world declaring
that Christ is in them. I accepted Christ, He is now
in me. And to prove to you, I did something
that I could not have done. I quit smoking. I quit drinking. I quit doing this. Put whatever
you want in there as something you have done. That's what the
world is saying. Christ is in me because I did
this, or I did that. And that's the wrong way to look
at it. I shared this in the Bible study,
and I'm going to share it again, because it's part of this message.
I almost started preaching to you in the Bible study, by the
way. We almost didn't take a break. I had a conversation with somebody
this last week. And I don't know whether this
person is a child of God or not. I think they may be. It doesn't
matter. I can't see the hearts of men
and women. I don't even know if you are, to be really honest
with you. I think so. But I can't see your heart. Only
God can see that heart. So therefore, I'm speaking to
anyone who will hear these words. This man talked to me about how
we need to be an ensample. We need to be an ensample to
the world and not use cuss words, and not drink alcohol, and not
smoke, and not do this. And you can go on again, just
like I did a minute ago, and put whatever you want into that. But that's the example the world
is. And that's exactly how the world
looks at him as being holier than thou. Oh, okay, so now you're
a holy person. You don't do that anymore. No, the examples that we need
to be is this. I believe God. I believe my Savior
when He says, I shall never leave you nor forsake you. I believe
my Savior when He says, I have nothing, no crown, no righteousness
of my own. What I thought I had, I lay it
at the feet of Him who is righteous, of Him who has the crown. I cannot answer this question
for you folks. You have to ask this question
yourself. Am I in Christ? Is Christ in me? And the answer is actually very,
very simple. It's so simple it's right here
in the verses. It's actually a verse that many
take and use for a universal redemption. How can you say that Jesus died
for everybody? God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have everlasting life. And see that whosoever
means it's an offer. But they're missing the vital
point. The whosoever is meaning actually nobody. Whosoever believeth is the point. That's the answer. Do you believe? That's the difference between
you and I and the world that says that they're Christians.
We know that there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation. We know that we have no crown
worthy to put to offer as a gift to our Lord and Savior. We have no righteousness of our
own. If God is doing anything in me,
it's to God be the glory. All I can do is believe, and
that belief is a gift that God has given me. Turn to Ephesians
chapter 1. Whosoever believeth on Him, that's
the answer to, is Jesus Christ in you? Because in order to believe
the truths of this book, Christ must be in us. The preaching
to the world is foolishness. How dare you tell me that my
will doesn't have a part of it? How dare you say that I don't
have something to say about my... I'm not this robot. That's what
the world will say to us. God makes us willing in the day
of His power. That's what He tells us in the
Word. And the question is, do we believe the Word of God? Do you believe the Word of God? In the first chapter of John,
we read, I'm going to get to you with Ephesians in just a
moment. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God, all things were made by Him, and without Him was not
anything that was made, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. Do we believe God's Word? That's
the question. Is Christ in us? Is Christ in
me? Do I believe what God has written
here about Himself? That Jesus Christ, God Almighty
in the flesh, the Creator of everything that was, He who has
all power, do I believe that He was made flesh? Yes, I do. In 1 John 5-7, for there are
three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost, and these three are one. Do I believe? Is Christ in me? Yes, I believe
in the three in one. I can't explain it to you. I
can't tell you why this is true, but I can tell you that God's
Word says it is so. And that's what I'm here to do
this morning, is to tell you, this is God's Word. There are
three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost. And these three are one. In chapter
5, verse 8, it says, And there are three that bear witness in
the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And these
three agree in one. If you are in Christ, then you
will believe His Word, for His Word is truth. Isn't that what
we read, John, in the 17th chapter just a moment ago? When our Lord
was speaking to the Father and said, Your Word is truth. We hear all kinds of stuff in
the world, don't we? You want to know something that's
true? You come right here to God's Word, and every bit of
it is true. We must worship in spirit and
in truth. Don Fortner wrote a book on the
doctrines, basic Bible doctrines. And I've been reading it with
Kathy as much as we can in the mornings before I go to work.
And he brought something out in the chapter that we're in
that just blessed me great and I want to share with you. He
was talking about pieces of the puzzle. As we're going through God's
word, We see a little piece of the puzzle over here. We see
another little piece of the puzzle over there. We see another piece
of the puzzle right here. The picture I'm trying to point
to here is that God's Word is a puzzle. And the whole puzzle
makes one picture. If you leave one little bit out,
election. You leave that out, you've left
a part of the picture out, haven't you? If you leave out the doctrine
of sovereignty, God's ruling over everything, if you leave
that little bit out, then you don't have the whole picture,
do you? If you leave the depravity of man out of the picture, then
you don't have the whole picture, you just got a part of the picture. It's important that we see all
the counsel of God. And this is the counsel of God. If you are in Christ, then you
will believe the declaration of total depravity. In Romans
5, 12, it says, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men,
for that all have sinned. In the third chapter, verse 11,
it says, there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God. In the eighth chapter, verse seven, it says, because the carnal
mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be. Are you with me in Ephesians?
Look at verse one of chapter two. And you hath he quickened who
were dead in trespasses and sin. where in times past you walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature whosoever,
whosoever believeth, By nature, it wasn't us, was
it? By nature, the children of wrath,
even as others. If you're in Christ, then you
will believe the Declaration of Unconditional Election in
Mark 1320 and accept, our Lord speaking here, and accept that
the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved,
But for the elect's sake whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened
the days." He didn't say for the whole world,
did he? No, he said for the elect's sake he has shortened those days.
In John 15, 16 it says, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen
you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit.
Are you with me in Ephesians still? Look at chapter 1, verses
3 and 4. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places. Where? In Christ. According as He hath chosen us
in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him. Do you see election? This is
God's Word, folks. This isn't something that I'm
making up. I'm showing you right here in God's Word. Do you believe
God's Word? Christ in us. If you are in Christ, then
you will believe this Declaration of Limited Atonement. In the
book of Hebrews 9, chapter 9, verse 12, neither by blood of
goats or cows, but by His own blood, He entered in once into
the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For
if the blood of bulls and goats and ashes and heifer-sprinkling
and the unclean, if that sanctifieth the purifying of the flesh, how
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, how much more shall
it purge your conscience from the dead works to serve the living
God? In John chapter 6 we read, for
my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that
eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I
in him. Now, we're not actually drinking
blood or anything like that. Our Lord is referring to the
table that we come to in remembrance of Him. taking into our bodies, taking
into our souls the fact that He went to the cross and died
for us. Do you believe God's Word? He says it right there. Those who eateth My flesh and
drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me and I in them. Again, in Ephesians
1 verses 5-7, having predestinated in love, having predestinated
us under the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise and the glory of
His grace, whereith He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in
whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace. If we are in Jesus Christ and
if Jesus Christ is in us, we believe His Word. And right there
His Word declares His blood was shed for a people. The effectual
blood of God was shed on that cross. Not blood that offers a possibility,
but blood that declares salvation is of the Lord, as the last Sunday's
message was. If you are in Christ, then you
will believe the declaration of the irresistible call. In
1 Peter 2 verse 9 we read, But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood and holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of the
darkness and into His marvelous light. In John 10 verse 14 he says,
I am the Good Shepherd and I know my sheep. and am known of Mine." And then in 26, He says, but
ye believe not, because you are not of My sheep. As I said unto
you, My sheep hear My voice. And I know them, and they follow
Me. If Christ has taken up residence in your heart, you will hear
His voice. You will hear the truths of Scripture. You will see the picture coming
together as we go through and read the Word of God. As we go
through and look at the different things that our Lord talks about
Himself. He will expound these Scriptures
and show us the picture of His salvation for His people. Again, Ephesians chapter 1, verse
17. that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His
calling. This is the irresistible call. The call of power. The call that
each and every one of you and I have gone through and experienced. If we are in Christ. And if Christ
is in us. And what the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness
of His power to usward who believe. according to the working of His
mighty power. Irresistible calling. If you are in Christ, you have
heard the call. Lazarus was in Christ before
he heard the call. God had to put life in him in
order for anything to happen for him to even hear that call. And as I said last week, Lazarus
came forth bound. That's the power of God in the
calling, in the irresistible call to his people. If you are
in Christ, then you will believe the declaration of perseverance
of the saints. You cannot lose your salvation. If God meant you to be saved,
you shall be saved. There will be no empty seats
in heaven. Otherwise, the salvation of God
was worthless on the cross. That's not the God we see in
Scripture, is it? The God we see in Scripture in
the face of our Lord Jesus Christ is the God of all power, sovereign
ruler over everything. In John 17, 12 we read, while
I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, I
have kept. And none of them is lost. That's
the Lord Jesus saying that. He's doing the same thing today,
folks. He's doing it right here in His Word. He's telling you
right here in His Word that I have kept you. And none of you shall
be lost. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, He said. In 1 Peter 1.2 it says, elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the
sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and the sprinkling
of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, He who was obedient to
everything God commanded. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. to an inheritance, incorruptible. It can't be taken away. It's
not defiled. It's an inheritance. It's perfect.
Just as all things that God does is perfect. And it doesn't fade
away. It's reserved in heaven for you. for you who are kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last
time. Again, we read in Ephesians chapter
one, verse 19. And what is the exceeding greatness
of his power to us who believe according to the working of his
mighty power, which he wrought in Christ. Are you in Christ
this morning? Am I in Christ? I believe God's
Word. I believe that I was saved by
the power of God through Jesus Christ my Savior. And if it wasn't for Him, I'd
still be lost and on my way to hell, which is what I deserve. reserved, raised in Him from
the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.
Far above all principality and power, my Lord Jesus Christ is
sitting right now on His throne saying, you can't have this one,
this one's mine. I shed my blood for this one.
My perfect blood paid the price of this one. far above all principalities
and powers, nothing can separate us from the love that is in Jesus
Christ. And might and dominion in every name that is named,
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and
hath put all things under His feet, and given Him to be the
head over all things to the church, the called out, the congregation,
which is the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Folks, if we are in Christ, then
we were in him before the foundation of the world. Before a star ever twinkled in
the sky, God looked upon each and every one of his people and
said, you're mine. And nothing will pluck you out
of my hand. Not even you. My love is greater than your
will. That's so precious to me. I don't know about you folks,
but that is so precious to me. Because I remember what my will
was at one time. And the Lord moved in. He moved
in to John. Cutting away that old stony heart
that said, I will not have this man rule over me. And He gave
me a new heart. A new vessel that bows to the will of God,
willingly. If we are in Christ, we have
been there since the foundation of the world. We were in Christ when He went
to that cross. God the Father made God the Son
sin. He made our Savior our sin. He who is perfect in everything,
bore our sins upon Himself as He went to that cross. If we are in Christ, then we
are in Him right now where He is. And that's on His throne
of glory. Look at Ephesians 2 verse 4. who is rich in mercy, for His
great love, wherewith He loved us, wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved
and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come he might
show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. Are you in Christ this morning? If so, then He is in you and
His promises are sure. Look at verse 10. For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God
hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. Wherefore,
remember that ye, being in times 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 you were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers
from the covenants of the promise, having no hope." If you are not
in Christ and Christ is not in you, you have no hope. But if
you are in Christ, and if He is in you, then we have all the
hope in the world. We have a great hope. A hope
of salvation, a hope of a place in heaven, a hope of eternal
life. Whosoever believeth in Me, the
Lord says, shall have eternal life. Do you believe? That's the difference between
us and the world. It's not our works. It's not
what we do. It's not what we've quit doing.
It's what we believe, and we believe the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He is in us. Because
He has given us that gift of faith. that at that time you were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers
from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God
in the world. But now, in Christ, you, ye who
were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." You see where all the glory goes,
folks? This is what we do on Sunday mornings. This is our
purpose for coming here. Our purpose is to come here and
glorify our Lord and Savior for what he's done for us. And it's because he is in us
and we are in him. That's his promise. That's something
you can count on. That's something you can stand
on. In fact, let's stand and sing about that very thing.