I turn again to Song of Solomon,
chapter 2. Song of Solomon, chapter 2. Remember
last week that I mentioned to everyone that Christ speaks twice
in our text. That's Song of Solomon, chapter
2, verses 1 and 2. Christ speaks about Himself.
And we looked at this somewhat last week. I am the rose of Sharon
and the lily of the valleys. But notice he actually speaks
about himself in the first part of verse two, as the lily among
thorns. Well, who is the lily? He's just
stated, I am the lily of the valleys. So then he speaks of
himself again as the lily among thorns. But then Christ also
speaks about those whom he loves. And he says, as the lily among
thorns, speaking of himself, he said, so is my love, that
is the one I love, the person that I love, so is my love among
the daughters. So he's comparing the one he
loves to himself as he is among the thorns. Now remember the
precedent. Christ is the lily. So then, as Christ the lily is
among thorns, so is the one Christ loves among the daughters. I
think it's summed up this way, and I want to turn to it and
read it, because I don't want to misquote that. 1 John chapter
4. And I know when I read it, the passage is certainly familiar
to you. 1 John chapter 4, listen to what John writes, and he says
these words in verse 17. Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. And think
about that statement. That's a strong statement, that
we may have boldness, Mac, in the day of judgment. Look, because,
now here's why. Because as he is, He's exalted when John was writing
this. Seated at the right hand of God the Father. Because as
He is, so are we in this world. Isn't that a staggering statement
to consider? And what a blessing to be able
to believe that that is true of me. What a blessing for you
to believe that that is true of you. As he is, so is Christ. So are we, I'm sorry, in this
world. So we see again, Christ is the
lily and as the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
Hebrews chapter two, look at that. Truly Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter two. Jesus Christ
truly was the lily among thorns. Hebrews chapter two, and let
me read just verse 10 through 15. For it became him, for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies,
and they who are sanctified, are all of one. Remember, as he is, so are ye
in this world. Saying, I'm sorry, for which
cause? He is not ashamed to call them
brethren. The holy God of heaven and earth
calls me his brother. Isn't that amazing? Calls me
his brother, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren in
the midst of the church, will I sing praise unto thee. This
is Jesus Christ singing praises to God the Father concerning
us. concerning me. What a marvelous
thing. And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold, I and the
children which God has given me. So as he is, so are we in
this world. Now think of two things. Christ
was the lily among thorns. Go back to Hebrews 7 verse 26
sometime and just read that. He was in this world. According to Paul in Philippians
chapter two, he was made flesh, became a servant, but yet it
said he was still separate from sinners. Isn't it amazing? Now
this is not my message. It says, as the lily among thorns. Notice he didn't say as the rose
among thorns. You think about that? Because
when you look at a rose bush, the thorns, and the stems and
the rose are all equally the same thing. He's not a rose among
thorns, because that would make him a part of the thorn. He is,
and it's amazing how God states, I wouldn't even have seen this,
wouldn't even have thought about it, as the lily among thorns. Why? Because the lily got no
thorns. He got no thoughts. It says he wasn't, let me just
read that. That's, what did I say it was? Hebrews, let me find
my spot. Hebrews chapter seven. I hope that is the right one,
let's look at it. Hebrews chapter seven, it doesn't
look right. Hebrews chapter seven, yes it is, I'm sorry. Look at
it, Hebrews 7 verse 26. For such an high priest became
us. You see it? For such a high priest
became us who is, still yet, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. So clearly
Jesus Christ was the lily among thorns. And secondly, Christ,
as Christ is, even now exalted, I've already said this, as Christ
is, even now exalted, so are we whom He loves. If He loves
you, You are one with Him. If He loves you, you are in Him. And that's the title of my message
for this morning's Song of Solomon. In Christ. But I want to approach
it from this way. What does it mean to be in Christ? What does it mean to be in Christ?
Sadly, to most people, I think this is nothing more than a religious
phrase. It's just a religious phrase. If you're a Christian,
that means you're in Christ. They have no idea what it's talking
about. But there are at least four things, there are more than
this, but at least four things I wanna try to give you this
morning. First of all, let me just give you the four things
briefly, then we'll go back and look at them in a little more
detail. First of all, to be in Christ has eternal weight to
it. Being in Christ is not merely
a time thing. Being in Christ has eternal weight
to it. Secondly, those chosen in Christ,
as we will see, those chosen in Christ are no better than
all the others who were never chosen in Christ. That's the
second thing. Third thing, those chosen are
no better, but they are distinguished as to their place by a sovereign
act of God. And fourthly, even our walk in
good works is the act of God Almighty in Christ. So let's look at it now. To be
in Christ has eternal weight. Turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter
1. I understand that this is not
something that is commonly taught in most so-called churches today.
But listen to what the Apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy
chapter 1 verse 9. and go back and look at the context.
You'll see that I'm taking nothing out of context here, but for
the sake of time, I'm worried just the one verse, verse nine,
who hath saved us. and called us. But what's the
salvation here that he's talking about? Most of us, most of those,
most people who profess to be Christians think of salvation
in time and time only. They think about when they came
forward, when they prayed the sinner's prayer, when they gave
their heart to the Lord, whatever terms may be used in different
religious denominations or whatever. But that's not what Paul's talking
about here. He said, who has saved us and called us with a
holy calling placing even our salvation before even our calling.
And the calling he's speaking about here is not calling to
the ministry, I've heard it preached that way, but it's calling to
salvation. But yes, he speaks of us being
saved, of having been saved before we were even called. Who has
saved us and called us with a holy calling, but now he's gonna show
you what he's really talking about. Not according to our works. So when it comes to my salvation,
in my calling. When it comes to your salvation
and your calling, that has nothing to do with your works. But it's
not just, okay, I've done nothing in time. Look at what it says.
But, how did he save us and call us? But, according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began. So anyone who's ever in Christ
in time, Mac, they had to be purposed by God to be in Christ
before the world even began. That's what Paul is clear about
right here. First of all, on this first point, the election
has nothing to do with any foreseen good or evil in the individual
who was elected. Romans chapter 9 verses 11 through
13 are clear on that. I'm not even going there other
than to say this, those two children, Jacob and Esau, God said, I loved
one of them, I hated the other one. And he said, this election
and this love had nothing to do with, it was a fact, an established
fact by God before they were ever born. And then he says,
neither having done any good or evil. Most people today, if
they're taught anything at all about election, are taught that
God looked into the future, seen who would believe, seen who would
make the proper choice, seen who would do the right thing,
and God chose them. No, He chose us in Christ. Amen. Not in ourselves. Exactly. They cry for knowledge. Well, what did God foreknow?
He foreknew what He was going to do in the Son. It says he
chose us in Christ, Ephesians chapter one, verses three and
four. He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world,
having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ unto himself. So in the divine order, God predestinated
me before he ever even chose me in Christ. Isn't that what
it said? He chose us in Christ, having
predestinated us. And some says, well, that's double
election. I don't care, that's fine with me. Some say that's
double predestination. I don't care if it's triple or
quadruple predestination. God said he did it, and that's
what's done. That's just what's done. You know, they're trying
to make us feel bad about the truth of God. That's a losing
battle. You might make me feel bad about
me, and rightfully so, but by His grace, you will not make
me feel bad about God Almighty's sovereign purpose, His eternal
purpose, which He purposed in Christ before the world began. You see, the election has to
do with the Father's will and predestination based upon the
merits and excellencies of Christ Jesus Himself. We were chosen
in Him. We weren't chosen in ourselves,
we weren't chosen in faith, we weren't chosen in repentance,
we weren't chosen in baptism, we weren't chosen in church membership,
we weren't chosen in good works, we were chosen in Him. He stood
as my representative. And I want to say this only for
the sake of argument because I can say it no other way. He
chose me in Christ and predestinated me unto the adoption by Jesus
Christ and to himself before time ever even existed. If you're in Christ today, it's
because God Almighty purposed in Christ to save you before
the world began. And far as God Almighty's concerned,
it was done. And it was done. No merit of
us, no choice of ours, no act on our part. And the reason is,
is because these very people who are in Christ are no better
than everybody else who's not in Christ. Turn to Ephesians
chapter two. Again, people said, but it's
for knowledge. It's the election, elect according
to the foreknowledge of God the Father. That's exactly right.
But it's not foreknowledge about something you would be or something
you would do, but about what God had purposed to do in the
person of His Son. In other words, He foreknew me. If He foreknew me, Joe, that
means He knew me before I ever knew Him. Correct? He knew everything about me.
Now here's what he knew about me even before. Ephesians chapter
two. And you hath he quickened who
were dead in trespasses and sin. You want to talk about what God
foreknew about me? This is what he foreknew about
me. This is what he foreknew about me. This is what he foreknew
about you. Wherein in time past you walked
how? 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. In
other words, that which motivated me, even though I was chosen
in Christ before the world began, doesn't mean I was born in Christ
to my mother and my father. I was born dead in trespasses
and sins. At the same time, God had already
chosen me, Joe, in Christ before the world began. among whom also
we all had our conversation, that's not just what we said,
but how we conducted ourselves. Among whom also we all had our
conversation in time past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature,
in us, our nature, the children of wrath, not God's wrath, our
wrath toward God. We were the children of wrath,
what? Even as others. By nature, Jacob hated God just
as much as Esau did. By nature, Moses hated God just
as much as Pharaoh did. By nature, I hate God just as
much as any other reprobate did. And that's just a fact. That's
just the way it is. Those chosen are no better than
all the others because look at that next word in verse four.
but here's the difference not but you he's not going to start
with but you because you never can tell the truth and start
with but you if you ever start with but you you've already missed
the truth here's what we were by nature he's given us that
but There's the difference. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, what did he do? When Christ come out of that
grave, I came out of that grave with him. Why? I was chosen in
him before the world began, even while I was dead in sins. As
a matter of fact, for those of us who are alive today, we didn't
even exist yet. We didn't even exist yet. even
when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together, not by
Christ, but with Christ. And I remember Earl saying this,
it's like Paul couldn't stand it any further. He said, by grace
are you saved. You see that? Well, by grace
are you saved. And raised us up together and
made us sit together in heavenly places, how? In Christ. So when you talk about being
in Christ in this sense, from this point, it's not about where
you personally are, look where you personally were. It's about
who he is and where he was, because where he was, if I was chosen
in him, I was there too. Mason, when he hung on that tree,
I hung there with him, if I'm in Christ. When he was buried,
I was buried with him. When He raised, I was raised
with Him. When He ascended, I ascended with Him. When He sat down, I
sat down with Him. That in the ages to come, He
might show the exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. A couple things here briefly.
Truly, we are thorns. He said, I am the, as the lily
among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. You see, God sees
me in his son. God does not see me in myself.
That's the dangerous lie of this foreknowledge of God that looks
into the future and sees what man would do or what man would
be. It is a lie that robs God of
glory. Those chosen are no better than
all the others. First of all, we are thorns.
We are among the daughters. No merit. God didn't look at
me or God didn't look at you to see any merit in us. What
did he see in us? He knew it all, Joe, before the
world began. What did he see in us? No merit. No righteousness
in me. Read verses one through three
there of Ephesians two again, see if you can find any righteousness
whatsoever there. The only possible righteousness
you find there is, and you hath he quickened. And that's all
about something God did for you, not about something you do for
God. Truly we are thorns. Truly we are among the daughters.
Not one ounce of merit, not one stick of righteousness in me
for God Almighty to choose me based upon that. In other words,
my brothers and sisters, we desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But oh God Almighty,
God help us to never grow above our union to fallen humanity. In other words, you're never
going to grow above the fact that you're a sinner. even in glory. Once everything
settled in what men call the eternal state is ushered in,
all praise will be going to the LAMB. Even after I'm finally
perfected fully, Mason, I'm still gonna worship Him as my Lamb,
my Redeemer, my Savior. And I can't explain that, but
I believe even then I'll know I was a sinner back yonder. I
was a sinner back yonder. I was corrupt. I walked according
to deceitful lust. This is what God's seen in me.
Oh, aren't you glad what He's seen in His Son? and he purposed,
he predestinated that his son represent you when he came to
this world. Never grow above our union to
fallen humanity, but never hope in any merit other than Christ's
own personal merit in his person and his work. I don't want to jump ahead, but
as I said, even our walking in good works is ordained of God
in Christ and in Christ only. Any work you do or any work I
do that's outside of Jesus Christ, that's not in Jesus Christ, whatever
the best way. If it's not in Christ, it's not
a good work no matter what it looks like to us. Never grow
above our union to fall in humanity. Oh, God help me not to be like
the Pharisee. who says, I thank God I'm not
like other men. You know why? Because you're
a liar when you think that way. I'm not going to be around that
person because I'm better than they are. No, you ain't no better
than they are. Aren't you glad God Almighty didn't make God's
people decide we won't go hide in a cave somewhere from everybody
else? God Almighty sent men and women
to us to preach the gospel to us when we were hateful and hating
one another. Never grow above the fact that
you're a sinner. Not that you used to be a sinner.
You're still a sinner. Still a sinner. Thirdly, those
chosen are no better. but yet they are distinguished
as to their place by an act of God. You know the passage, 1
Corinthians 1. Verse 26, for you see your calling,
brethren. Now here's something you can
see. Not necessarily something you see with your eyes, but you
see it by experience. Paul's saying you went through
this. This has happened to you. For ye see, your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble are called. And that's just what it says,
doesn't it? Think of it, Joe, God doesn't even call some people.
Right? But God, there you go. But God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the
wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound
the things which are mighty. And base things of the world
and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things
which are not to bring to naught the things that are. That no
flesh, and remember this, it will not, We as mankind may brag
now, but we will not brag before God. That no flesh should glory
where? In His presence. At the judgment, there will be
nobody bragging about themselves. We may do a lot of it now, but
we won't do it then. Look at it, but of him. Who's the him? This is the work
of God, isn't it? This is an act of God. But of
him are ye, what? In Christ Jesus. In what way? In any way that the Bible speaks
about being in Christ. Chosen in him before the world
began, God did it. Right? Placed in him by an act
of regeneration, who did that? God Almighty did it. placed in
Christ by an act of conversion through the preaching of the
gospel. Who did that? God Almighty did that. Paul said,
I sowed, Paul's watered. Who gave the increase? God did. God did. And somebody said, well,
somebody's got to sow, somebody's got to water. Somebody will sow.
Somebody will water. But Paul says those that sow
and those that water, they are both together nothing. They're
both together nothing. But of Him are you in Christ
Jesus? And here's the glory of being
in Christ in this respect, who of God is made unto us. Made
unto us. It doesn't matter whether I see
it to the extent that it is or not. Mason, I probably don't. But of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. And if you believe
this, Paul says, you ain't gonna be able to help but brag about
God Almighty himself. That according as it is written,
he that does brag, he that glories, he that boasts, you can read
it either way, any of those ways, he that glorieth, let him glory
where? In the Lord. So those chosen are no better,
but they are distinguished as to their place by an act of God. Who maketh thee to differ? God
did. God did. Fourthly, even in our
walk, good works is an act of God in Christ Jesus. Turn back
to Ephesians chapter two again. Remember this, look where we
were. What did God foreknow about me? He knew how sinful and corrupt
I would be. But God, But God was pleased
to have his son represent me when his son lived on this earth
and when his son ascended back to glory. And then, and then
only, does Paul say, for by grace are you saved through faith.
And that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of
works. That's the grace is not of you.
The salvation's not of you, the faith's not of you. It's all
the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, for
we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. False Christianity
says this, believe on Jesus, God'll put you in Him. Give your
heart to Jesus, God'll put you in Him. You will never believe
on Jesus till God Almighty's first put you in Jesus Christ.
Created in Christ Jesus. So I was chosen in Him, Jay,
before the world began. But there is a time, in time,
that He actually creates each one of these individuals in Christ
Jesus, right? Look at it, for we are His workmen. Whose workmanship? God's workmanship. For we are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus Unto good works which God hath before ordained
that we should walk therein and This should is not a should based
upon the capacity for human if it is a should based upon the
permission of God Almighty I don't have the right to walk in good
works Do you understand me? I don't have the right it ain't
about a right God commands us to walk uprightly I This ain't
about some rights you got. Oh, what a blessed privilege
that God Almighty even ordained the very walking in good works
that we do. Paul made it clear. It is God
talking to God's people, talking to those he's created in Christ
Jesus. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do
of his good pleasure. Any work I've ever done that
could be considered as a good work, God Almighty created me
to do that. Therefore, God Almighty gets
the credit for even my works. Even my works. Now let's just
wrap this up. You boast in you about anything,
God abhors it. because it dishonors His Son.
That's just a fact. No matter how religious it may
be, no matter how moral it might be, no matter how much it may
seem to conform to certain commands of Scripture, you boast in you,
I boast in me. If either, any of us do that,
God Almighty abhors it. Christ himself said that which
is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in God's sight. And go back and look at the context
of that. He ain't talking about fornication there. He ain't talking
about homosexuality there. He ain't talking about drunkenness
there. He's talking about self-righteousness. That which is highly esteemed
among men. What do we highly esteem? Ah, done. Jesus Christ said God abhors
that. That's exactly right. Boast in
Jesus Christ, however. Yes, sir. And boast in Jesus
Christ only. God delights in that. Amen. And God doesn't honor you because
you boast in Christ. You boast in Christ because God
has already honored you in Jesus' name. Now let me sum up. Let's
look at this. I know that there's a lot more
that could be said about in Christ. Believe you me, I understand
that. But you want to get a little quick explanation of what it
means to be in Christ Jesus, turn to John chapter 17. And
we will read our Lord's words himself because he can say it
far better than I ever could. Look at John 17 to verse 20.
Neither pray I for these alone. This is an amazing statement.
He was praying for 11 men. He had 12, but he was only praying
for 11. He makes that clear, okay? But then he says that.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word. The 11 he was praying for. That's
amazing. Mac, back there in that garden,
back there, wherever, where is that, wherever it was. He was
thinking about me. He was thinking about you. He
is the high priest. He's not went to Calvary yet.
He is the high priest, still has the names of all of his people
right there on them stones on his chest. Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their worship. Even my believing, I can't even
credit to me. He said somebody else come and
told you the message about it, didn't he? We didn't come up
with this ourselves. Well, I'm glad I discovered the
gospel. We didn't discover no gospel. He sent it to us. He sent it to us. Now look, though,
that they all may be one. As thou, Father, art in me, and
I in thee, now there's some in God, there's some in Christ,
is it not? 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 they will one day at the final judgment.
When God Almighty's gathered all of his elect together, and
he shows them as the trophy of his grace, all the world will
be made to confess Jesus Christ came into the world to do that
very thing right there. He wasn't talking about now.
He said, I pray not for the world. That's right. Now I'm getting
my air up there. And the glory which thou gave
us me. Here's what it means to be in
Christ. I have given them. Mason, I can't see that. I don't
see it in me. And I love you, but I don't see
it in you either. but it's there. It's there, blessed guy, is it
not? It's there, and the glory which thou gavest me, I have
given them. Think about it in this light.
When Christ was in this world, he lived for 30 years on this
earth. Before he started his public
ministry, nobody was going around accusing him of how great he
was, what a child he was. For 30 years, he lived in obscurity. This is absolute righteousness.
This is absolute holiness. And as one preacher said, it
must have been something inside. It wasn't something outside that
could be visible to the naked physical eye. And the glory which
thou givest me, I've given them, that they may be one, and think
of it, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that
they may be made perfect in one. Not in themselves, in one. Who's
the one? God's the one. may be perfect
in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast
loved them. See, that's what I said. And
hast loved them as thou hast loved me. One of these days,
everybody's gonna be made to confess that free, sovereign
grace through Jesus Christ was the truth after all. And maybe God'll let me just
say some more along the line, some of us preachers say, we
told you so. Father, I will, this is, that's
strong. Look at it. Father, I will that
they also whom thou has given me be with me where I am. There's a sense in which that's
true now. But I think he's talking about
even later. Look, Father, I will that they
also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they
may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovest
me before the foundation of the world. So what does that mean?
If God loves you, he loved you before the foundation of the
world. If God didn't love you before the foundation of the
world, he don't love you at all. He hates you. That's the truth
of Scripture. O righteous Father, 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 that the love wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them. That's probably the best summary
of what it means to be in Christ you'll ever read anywhere. Why?
Because the one that you're in is the one talking about it.
Mason, if anybody knows what it means to be in Christ, the
Christ knew. And that's some amazing words
right there, isn't it? Mason, if I believe, based upon
the declaration of this book, if I believe, then that includes
me. If you believe, that's what these
men, those men he's talking about, some of them wrote this book.
If you believe this book, you believe what this book says,
that is true of you. You are in Christ in that way.
Isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing? Father, oh
Lord, help us. Teach these things to us, Father,
not just as doctrines, but as the realities that they are for
us in your Son. Help us to lay hold of them by
faith and not look for experiences or deep things in that sense,
but God, simply to believe your word and believe the record you
gave of your Son. Thank you in Christ's name, amen.