With Christ, In Christ, Through Christ

Q: What does the Bible say about being with Christ?

The Bible emphasizes that believers are with Christ, in Christ, and through Christ, signifying their union with Him. In Ephesians 2:5-7, the Apostle Paul states that even when we were dead in sins, we were quickened together with Christ by grace. This profound truth indicates that our relationship with Christ encompasses being with Him, in Him, and through Him, essentially affirming the vital union that believers share with their Savior. This union is not merely a concept but the foundation of salvation and assurance in the Christian life. Such a connection brings comfort and hope, revealing that all of God's dealings with His people are through Christ, who mediates grace and mercy abundantly.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of salvation through grace is true?

We know this doctrine is true because Scripture repeatedly affirms that salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. The doctrine of salvation through grace is central in Reformed theology, firmly rooted in passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, 'For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' This grace is not something we can earn or achieve on our own; it comes solely through the work of Christ. Additionally, Romans 3:24 reinforces this doctrine by affirming that we are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This assurance leads to hope and peace, as our salvation does not stand on our merit but on Christ's completed work on the cross.

Q: Why is understanding our identity in Christ important for Christians?

Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial as it shapes our relational dynamics with God and assures us of His constant presence. Our identity in Christ is foundational to the Christian faith because it defines who we are as believers. In Colossians 3:3, it states, 'For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' This means our old selves are no longer in view; instead, we find our new identity and purpose in Christ. Recognizing this profound union as being 'with Christ, in Christ, and through Christ' (Ephesians 2:5-7) brings immense comfort and security, enabling us to navigate life's trials with confidence. It assures us of God’s unwavering presence and love, reminding us that we are never alone, regardless of our circumstances.

Good morning, everyone. I'm delighted to be here. I have already worshiped. This has been such a blessing to me already. I just have enjoyed the music. The piano and this organ is beautiful. I love an organ. And the singing was beautiful. And that song was beautiful.

And I can't help but be here, I just, I love Don, and I love Shelby, and I love this congregation, and can't help but think of Don every time I come. And I was just thinking, as good as this is, can you imagine what they're doing right now? Can you, every, there's only one day there. And if we gave it a name, I guess it would be Sunday, in honor of the sun, spelled S-O-N. And, Boy, what a privilege.

I'm just so honored to be here. I'm very, very grateful. Turn with me, if you would, to Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2. I have something that I pray will be a real comfort and a real blessing to us. This has been to me. There are times that you You hear something, and once you've heard it, you can't unhear it. There are times that you see something in the scripture, and then once you see it, you just can't unsee it. And that has been the case for me ever since I saw this for the first time.

And it's just, it's something that is very simple, but very profound. This is so, so simple. But this is just so deep, it's three tiny little words, that's what we're going to look at for just a minute, that's what we're going to focus on three very, very tiny little words. That's what I want us to enter into for just a minute here, when I read these three little words and really got a hold of what they were saying, I thought, oh, the infinite vastness of this. Oh, the depth. Oh, the height. Of what is being said in these three little words. Now, I hope this grabs you, and I hope this comforts you. I hope this is a blessing to you. I pray that we will be blessed in this.

We're going to read verses 1 to 7, but the words that I'm talking about are in verses 5 to 7. And I'm going to go ahead and tell you what the three words are so that you can recognize them and enjoy them as we read through it, okay? Here are the three words. with, in, through. Those are the three words. Be looking for those in verses five to seven. Okay, verse one.

And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time 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 whereby nature, the children of wrath, even as others. but God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us.

Verse five says, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace, you 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. Now think about that declaration, verse five, he said with Christ. Verse six, he said in Christ. Verse seven, he said through Christ. With Christ, in Christ, through Christ, that's good.

Now that's what all of God's people want to be. And that's what all of God's people are, God's people. And that is every dead sinner. That's how the chapter started. Every dead sinner, every disobedient, lust filled, wrath filled, captive to Satan sinner that the father chose to quicken. This is who he's talking about. Every dead sinner that the Father elected to give life to.

This is specifically who he's talking about. Not talking to everybody. This is not a declaration to the world. He's speaking specifically to a particular people. It's every soul that the Father foreordained to draw nigh. Every one of God's redeemed people. Us. If we're included in that people. That's all we want. That's all we want. I mean, you cut down to the heart of everything. That is all we want. That is our comfort. That is our peace. That is our blessing. That is our hope.

The thought of being with Christ. because we were placed in Christ by way of or through Christ. Christ did it. How does a sinner get in Christ? You know, everybody's talking, you've got to be in Christ. How does a sinner get in Christ? Of God are you in Christ? Don't I have to make a decision? No. Of God are you in Christ? Don't I have to get baptized or take the table or walk the aisle? No. Of God are you in Christ? Don't I have to let Him? No. Of God are you in Christ? It was all through Christ. that we are in Christ, and that's why we have such a great hope of being with Christ. All of that was secured.

All of that can be said because of the cross. In the cross. Those three little words tell us what happened on the cross of Calvary. Verse 4 says, but God, who is rich in mercy, For his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace you are saved. That's the announcement of the gospel. It's not, do you want to be saved? It's by grace you are.

Verse six, 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 and his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus, with, in, through. I can just go ahead and tell you that's the whole message, okay? This is the whole message. Our Lord said to the thief hanging next to him, he said, today, you're going to be with me.

You're going to be with me. Why? Because you're in me. How? Through me. Union with Christ. That's what this is. That's what this declares. Complete and total union with Christ. A vitally joined with, in, through Christ. Vital union. Now, is that not the most comforting thought you could imagine? Is that that is so comforting to me? That is just so comforting to me.

I have union with Christ. I am with Christ. I am in Christ. Everything concerning me, all of God's dealings with me are through Christ. All of God's dealings with me. Are through Christ. Did you know I'm no better today than I was back then? You know, the good old days. I'm no better now than I was back then, and I'm so glad that all of God's dealings with me are through Christ. They're all through Christ. That is the most comforting thought. that could ever come to a child of God.

Paul told the Ephesians right here, this is what you are. That's how he started with the first three verses. Now this is what you are, but you're with Christ, in Christ, through Christ. Now let's look at some other scriptures that repeat this. I believe that we will truly see, come the end of this message, This is the message of scripture. I believe we will see this is what all of the scripture declares. Let's move around a little bit here. Go with me to Colossians chapter three. Colossians 3 verse 1, it says, If ye then be risen with Christ. And that's the key, alright? That's who he's talking to.

God's people are with Christ. They were with Christ. They will forever be with Christ. That's the state of God's people with Christ. That's it. We are with Christ. You know what that means? That means He is with us. That's what it means. He is with us. Right now, He is with us.

I'm telling you, what if Jesus Christ walked through that door? What if we were in the upper room? All scared and worried and how are we going to get through this life? And then the doors being shut, all of a sudden he just walked through. What if he's with us? One day he's going to let us see him. But he's with us.

He said, I'll never leave you. That means there's no way he's not with us. He said, I'll never forsake you. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Well, Lord, what if I go to the end of the world? I'm there, too. David said, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'll fear no evil.

One reason only. They weren't with me. They weren't with me. Verse 1 right here says, If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. With in. There's security here. There is security here within. In Him we live and move and have our being. Verse 4 says, When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory. With Him.

That is so comforting. Look right here at Colossians 2 verse 20. Colossians 2 verse 20, it says, Wherefore, if you be dead with Christ, if you live with Christ, if you died with Christ, if you died with Christ, Paul told the Galatians, I was crucified with Christ. And that make you so happy to hear that?

We were with him in his suffering. We were with him in his judgment. We were with him in his death. We were with him in that tomb. We were with him in his resurrection. We were with him in his ascension. We are with him right now seated on his throne, even though he accomplished all of that by himself. We were with him. We were with him one with him, in him, through him. Look with me at Philippians 3. Verse eight, Philippians three, verse eight.

Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him. Paul said, that's all I want to be. Isn't that what he said? I count everything else? Dumb. He said, that's all I want to be. In Him. I'm telling you, that's all I want to be. That's all I want to be. What do you want to be when you grow up? In Christ. In Christ. I want to be found in Him. I want to be blessed in Him. With Him. Through Him. I want to be chosen in Him. I want to be accepted in Him. I want to be gathered in Him.

All of that is in Ephesians 1. That's what Ephesians 1 says. Go with me to Romans 8. Romans 8 verse 1, it says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." In Christ, in Him.

2 Corinthians 5 says, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Everything's brand new. Now, do we see the point here, do we see the word of the scripture telling us this is the message, this is the gospel, this is the hope. In him. With him. Through him, look at Romans six.

Verse 3, Romans 6 verse 3, Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, immersed into Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, not by Danville, Kentucky tap water, but by God's Holy Spirit, laying hold of the ones the Father chose and shoving them into Christ. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now, if we be dead with Christ. We believe that we shall also live with him. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more. Death hath no more dominion over him, for in that he died, he died unto sin once.

But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In him, with him, through him. That's what that says. In him, with him, through him, everything is made new. This is our hope. This is our hope. Don't turn. But Romans 5 says we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What do I have to do? Nothing. Christ already did it. How can I know if he did it for me?

You will believe this Word. You will believe this Word. You'll bow to this Word. You'll rejoice in this Word. Like a goat, you won't say, now wait a minute, but... Or I should say, unlike a goat, you won't say, wait a minute, but... But like a sheep, you'll say, Amen. Amen. That's enough for me. Amen. Don't turn Romans 3, 24.

It says we're justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that's in Christ. Christ is the key to it all. He's the key to it all. If we have Christ, we have everything. And if we have Christ, we are with him, we are in him and everything concerning us with God is through him. Everything.

Now, go with me, if you would, back to Ephesians 2. Watch how many times this chapter tells us that we're with Christ, in Christ, and what has been done for us through Christ. Verse 1, you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time 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 the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace, You are saved. When he made Christ alive again by his resurrection from the dead, he made us alive again with him by his resurrection from the dead. Verse six, it says, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. You know, I always think about being in glory with Christ. I think about that often being in glory with Christ.

I think about being seated at his feet somehow among a number no man can number. And it feels like I'm going to be one of the last ones to get there. But somehow I'm going to have a front row seat at his feet. talking with Him, you imagine talking with Him, walking with Him, like those two on the road to Emmaus. It's amazing to think about.

But how glorious is it to think about the fact that His people are not just with Him, but they are in Him. That's amazing, isn't it? They are with Him. He quickened us with Him and seated us in Him. We're seated in Him. I can't even understand that. But that's the case. Verse seven says.

That in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Everything that God has for his people, I hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love him. I think Danville is beautiful. We woke up this morning and looked out of that big window and said, both of us said, this is a beautiful place. But we haven't seen anything yet. I have not seen. Can you imagine?

Where is the edge of space? Where's the edge of space? Well, God knows where it is. He made it all. What if he takes you on a tour? I want to show you a planet I made. Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard. Everything God has prepared for His people, it's all given through the Lord Jesus Christ. It's all because of Christ. Verse 8 right here says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God.

I had a very dear brother call me two weeks ago. And he said, Gabe, I have a question for you. And I said, OK, I always say I hope I have an answer. But he said, I'm just curious, he said, if Christ is the grace of God. If he is God's gift for God, so love the world, he gave Christ if if if he is God's favor toward us. If he's grace. And if ultimately He is faith, meaning faith is not of ourselves, it's His faith. We don't have any in here. It's His faith. He's the author of it. He's the finisher of it. He's the performer of it. It's of Him. It's through Him. It's to Him. He's the object of it. Every time faith works, it says Christ. Every time faith is working, that happens.

So he said, if ultimately when you get to the heart of it, he is grace and he is faith. He said, would it be right to say in Ephesians 2 verse 8, for by Christ are you saved through Christ? I said, I think it would. I think that is a very accurate definition of that verse. And then when we got off the phone, I was thinking about it and I thought, well, let's just take it to the end.

Christ is God. Jesus Christ is God Almighty, God manifest in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. For by Christ are you saved through Christ, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of Christ. It's Christ.

Verse 10 says, For we're his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Verse 13, but now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes are far off are made now by the blood of Christ. Verse 15, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. Verse 16, that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. Verse 18, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Verse 21, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Habitation of God, that's where God lives. And he said God's people are that place.

In Christ. With Christ. Through Christ. Now, I told you that I hoped this would be a comfort and a blessing. I pray it already has been. But I told you that for this reason right here. To the called. This is specifically who this message is for. This is who this is speaking to.

To God's true saints. God's believers. Wherever you are in life. You are with Christ. In Christ. Through Christ. Wherever you are in life. Whatever is going on in your life, whatever you are going through. At all moments of all times. You are with Christ. You are in Christ and you're going to make it through Christ. You are not living your own life. You are not making your own decisions. This world can seem so lonely, it can seem so empty, but it's not. You are with Christ. You are in Christ. And God's presence is going to be known, made known to you through Christ.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ, the trials may seem like more than you can bear. Trials come in the world, you shall have tribulation. The heartache may seem greater than you ever thought it could be. You may think you're going to be consumed by all of your anxiety and all of your despair.

But you're not. Because you're with Christ. You're in Christ. And God is going to show His kindness to you through Christ. He is going to. And why is He going to do that? It's because He is rich in mercy. This is the reason why. He is rich in mercy and that's why He sent Christ. That's why He sent Christ in the first place. He is going to do every bit of this for every single one of His people.

No one will be left out. No one. As though you were the only soul He chose to redeem out of all of earth. You will not divide His love and favor with everybody else. You get all of it. All of His love. All of His favor. All of His countenance. All of His protection. All of His leadership. All of it. Every child of God gets all of it.

And He cannot lie. And He has promised. And He will not go back on His word. This is not a maybe. This is not an if. He is going to do that for you. And he's going to do it because of his great love wherewith he loved you. You're not alone. Not at all. You have Christ. You have Christ. And it's because Christ has you. Christ has you. If everything was taken away and all you had left was Christ, would that be enough? Absolutely. Absolutely. I pray the Lord will make that to be a comfort to all of us. Reminder to all of us. Amen. Thank you.

With Christ, In Christ, Through Christ

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being with Christ?

How do we know the doctrine of salvation through grace is true?

Why is understanding our identity in Christ important for Christians?

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About Gabe Stalnaker

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With Christ, In Christ, Through Christ

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being with Christ?

How do we know the doctrine of salvation through grace is true?

Why is understanding our identity in Christ important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Gabe Stalnaker

Comments

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