TV: With, In, Through

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

The Bible teaches that being in Christ means having union with Him, experiencing salvation, and receiving every spiritual blessing. The concept of being in Christ is central to the Christian faith and is richly articulated in various passages of Scripture. Ephesians 2:5-7 highlights that even when we were dead in sins, God quickened us together with Christ. This union signifies that believers are not only associated with Christ but are spiritually united in His life, death, and resurrection. As a result, they experience salvation and are positioned to receive every spiritual blessing that is bestowed in Him, as seen in Ephesians 1:3. Furthermore, Romans 8:1 reassures us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, reinforcing the transformative power of this union.

Q: How do we know our union with Christ is true?

We know our union with Christ is true because it is a work of God where He places sinners into Christ, as described in Scripture. The assurance of our union with Christ rests on the sovereign work of God rather than our own actions. According to the sermon, it is God the Father who places sinners in Christ, as affirmed in 1 Corinthians 1:30, which states that Christ became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This divine placement is not based on our merit but on God's electing love. Romans 6:3 underscores that those who are baptized into Christ are also baptized into His death, illustrating the deep spiritual reality that believers share in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Therefore, recognizing our dependence on God's grace assures us of our union with Him.

Q: Why is the concept of being with Christ important for Christians?

Being with Christ is vital for Christians as it provides comfort, hope, and assurance of our identity in Him. The notion of being with Christ profoundly impacts the believer's life, as highlighted in Ephesians 2. When we say we are with Christ, it encapsulates our connection to Him and the benefits that flow from this relationship. It serves as a source of comfort, reminding us that, despite the trials and tribulations of life, we are not alone; God assures us of His presence and support through Christ. The sermon emphasizes that our comfort, peace, and hope all come from our union with Christ, where we find our identity, purpose, and ultimate security. Colossians 3:3 even states that our life is hidden with Christ in God, illuminating the eternal significance of being with Him.

Q: What does it mean to have access to God through Christ?

Having access to God through Christ means that believers can approach God with confidence, relying on Christ as their mediator. Access to God through Christ is a core aspect of the Christian faith, indicating a restored relationship with the Father. According to Ephesians 2:18, through Christ, we have access by one Spirit to the Father, showcasing the role of the Holy Spirit in facilitating this connection. This access is grounded in the completed work of Christ as our mediator, highlighted in Romans 5:1, where peace with God is achieved exclusively through our Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, believers can approach God with full assurance, knowing that Christ's sacrifice has reconciled them to the Father. This privilege of access encourages believers to maintain an ongoing, intimate relationship with God, supported by the truth that they are accepted in the beloved.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, located at 2709 Rock Springs Road in Kingsport, Tennessee, would like to invite you to listen to a message of Sovereign Grace by their pastor, Gabe Stoniker. For information and service times, visit www.ksgc.church. And now, Gabe Stoniker. If you would like to follow along, we will be in Ephesians chapter two today. Ephesians chapter two, I have something that I would like to bring to us that is truly wonderful.

It's something that I hope once we see it, we can never unsee it. We're gonna focus on three words, three very small words. And I'm gonna tell you what those words are. With, in, through. That's the title of this message. With, in, through. We are going to focus on those three words in Ephesians chapter two from verses five to seven. I'm about to begin reading in verse one. and we are going to read down to verse seven. But once we get to verse five, I want you to look for the words with, in, and through. And I pray the Lord will cause this to be very eye-opening, and I pray he'll make it to be a blessing to our hearts.

So if you want to follow along, Ephesians 2, verse one, it says, 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 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," now here we are at verse five, "'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 wonderful, isn't it? That is what all of God's people want to be. That right there is what all of God's people want to be. And that is what all of God's people are. Every dead sinner, that's how Ephesians 2 starts out. You hath he quickened who were dead. Every dead sinner, every disobedient, lust filled, wrath filled, captive to Satan, sinner that the father chose to quicken, to give life to. Every center that the Father elected to give life to, foreordained to draw nigh. Every one of God's redeemed people.

That's all we want. That's all we want. That is our comfort and our peace and our blessing and our hope. The thought of being with Christ. You think about that. That's our comfort, our peace, our blessing, our hope. The thought of being with Christ because we were placed in Christ by way of or through Christ. Christ did it. Christ did it. How does a sinner get in Christ? We talk about being in Christ, the need to be in Christ. The Scripture says, of God are you in Christ. We don't put ourselves in Christ. We don't make the decision to be in Christ. Any more than any baby makes the decision to be in his or her mother's womb. Babies don't make the decision to be in that womb.

That's something that is done without their decision. God does that. That's a work of God Almighty. That's a work of the Father, Son, and Spirit. It was through Christ that we are in Christ. And that's why we have such a great hope of being with Christ. It's because Christ did it. The Lord Jesus Christ did it. All of that was secured. All of that can be said by the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. It can all be said in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those three little words tell us what happened on the cross of Calvary. Those three words that we're pointing out in this message, they tell us exactly 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 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. Our Lord said to the thief that was hanging next to him, he said, today you are going to be with me. Today you're going to be with me. Why? Because you're in me. How?

Through me. union with Christ. That's what all of this is speaking of. Union with the Lord Jesus Christ. A vitally joined union with, in, through Christ. That is the most comforting thought that could come to a child of God. That's it. The thought that says, I have union with Christ. I'm joined to Christ. I am with Christ. I am in Christ. Everything concerning me, all of God's dealings with me are through Christ. That's what a child of God wants. Lord, don't deal with me directly. Only deal with me through Christ, through my mediator, through my intercessor, through my substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul told the Ephesians right here. He began Ephesians chapter two by saying, this is what you are. It wasn't good, dead, sinful, lust filled captive. He said, this is what you are, but you're with Christ in Christ through Christ. That's the redeeming factor. Now, let's look at some other Scriptures that declare this. What I would like for us to see is this is the message all through the Scripture. This is what the Scripture declares. This is our hope. This is it right here. If you have your Bible, turn with me to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians 3 verse 1, it says, IF YOU THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST. IF YOU THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST. THAT'S THE KEY TO IT ALL. That is the key to it all.

He is speaking to those who are risen with Christ. The word of God is not generally written to this entire world. He is not right here speaking to every man and woman on earth. He's speaking to those who are risen with Christ. This is a specific word to a specific people.

He said, God's people are with Christ. They were with Christ. They will forever be with Christ. If we belong to him, we're with Christ. If you then be risen with Christ, and if we're with Christ, what that means is he's with us. If we're with him, he's with us.

He said, I will never leave you. That's what he said to his people. He didn't say that blanketly to the world. He said that to his chosen. I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. I'm with you always, even unto the end of the world. David said, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

Why? Thou art with me. It's because you're with me. Colossians 3 right here, verse 1, it 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 and not on things on the earth, for you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. 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 comforting. That's the comfort of the child of God. in. Colossians chapter 2, if you just look back a chapter at Colossians chapter 2, verse 20 says, wherefore, if you be dead with Christ, if you be dead with Christ, oh, if you died with him, that's what a child of God wants to hear. That's what a child of God wants to know.

I died with him. And that's who he's speaking to is every soul that the father chose to die with Christ, every soul that the father gave to Christ to redeem by dying with them, for them, yes, but with them, with their sins, with the very essence of what they are. If you died with him, Paul told the Galatians, I am crucified with Christ. He said, this is my good news. This is my happy news right now. I'm crucified with Christ.

It's appointed unto man once to die. And for all of God's people, that's where they died. They died with Christ. When the moment comes for this body to lay down, God's people go to life. God's people inherit nothing but life. That's not death for God's people. That's life. The body of death is what's being laid down. That's the moment death dies, truly.

Paul said, I was crucified with Christ. God's people were with Him through that. God's people were with Him in His suffering. They were with Him in His judgment. They were with Him in His death. They were with Him in that tomb. They laid in the tomb with Him. They suffered their punishment, their condemnation, their separation from God with Christ in that tomb. They were with Him in His resurrection. They were with Him in His ascension.

They are with Him right now, seated on His throne. Even though He accomplished all of that by Himself, God's people were with Him. He did all the work, He did all the accomplishment, but God's people were one with Him, in Him, through Him. Look with me at Philippians chapter 3. Philippians 3 verse 8 says, yea, doubtless, this is the Apostle Paul speaking, he said, yea, doubtless, 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.

He said, that's all I want. That's all I want to be in him. I'm telling you, that's all I want to be. That is all that I want to be. People, you know, ask the question sometimes, what do you want to be when you grow up in Christ? That's what God's people want to be in Christ.

I want to be found in him. I want to be blessed. Every spiritual blessing that God could bestow on His sinful people, they are only bestowed in Christ. I want to be blessed in 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 said in Ephesians chapter 1. That's what God's people want to be.

Look at Romans 8 with me. Romans chapter 8. It says in Romans 8 verse 1, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Do you see how this is the theme of the scripture? Do you see how all through the word it's declaring this is the hope of the gospel? This right here is the hope.

There's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh. You know, everybody's so concerned about the things of this flesh. Our Lord told Nicodemus in John chapter three, that which is flesh is flesh, that which is spirit is spirit. Salvation is not in the flesh. Salvation is in the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Father, Son, and Spirit.

And it says in Romans 8 verse 1, There's 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. Being in Christ has set me free from all of that. Second Corinthians five, verse 17 says, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. If any man be in Christ. Now again, how does a man or woman become in Christ? That's a work of God almighty. God, the father places a center in Christ. God, the father did the choosing. God, the spirit does the placing. But that's the work of God. And the gospel is the notification of God by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. The Father placed you in Christ. How can I know? How do I know he placed me in Christ?

Because he said he did this for sinners and you're a sinner. Now, if you can hear that and say, I'm not a sinner. Well, then there's no hope of being in Christ. But if you can hear that and say, I'm about the most wretched sinner I've ever known, there's much hope for you being in Christ. If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. That is the message of scripture.

Look at Romans chapter six, Romans six, verse three, it says, Know ye not that so many of us, as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Now that is not talking about water. That is talking about the Holy Spirit of God immersing God's people into Christ. God's Spirit literally has immersed God's people into the Lord Jesus Christ. And it says, know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death, immersed into his death. Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death. God's spirit buried God's people with him, in him.

The 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. We were risen with Him. 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." Do you see how it just keeps saying this over and over and over again? 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, if so, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. If we died with him, we 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. reckoned that to be so all through the living and dying, the work, the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ in him, with him, through him.

Everything's made new. Everything is made new. This is our hope. This is our hope. Romans 5 verse 1 says, We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, you hear these old Western movies, you know, before a gun slinging showdown, they'll ask, have you made your peace with God? Well, that's not something that a sinner can do. I cannot on my own make my peace with God and you cannot make your peace with God. We need someone else to make peace with God for us and that someone else is the Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God only through him through the sacrifice of him.

Romans 3 verse 24 says, we are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ. That's how we're justified with God. That's how God could look at us and say, justified, welcome, well done, through the redemption that is in Christ.

Christ is the key to it all. Christ is the key to it all. If we have Christ, we have everything. If we have Christ, we're with Him. We're in Him. Everything concerning us with God is through Him. And I'm telling you, that's what we want. We want everything concerning us with God to go through Christ. Otherwise, it's certain death and certain condemnation for us. If Christ did not bear that for us, we must bear it ourselves. We need Him. Back in Ephesians chapter 2, just watch how many times this chapter tells us we're with Christ, in Christ, and what has been done for us through Christ.

Verse 1 says, 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 time 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. 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. When He was made alive again, when Christ was made alive again by His resurrection from the dead, we were made alive again by His resurrection from the dead. He's raised us up together, made us sit together in heavenly places with Him.

Everything that God has done for His people has been given through Christ. Verse 10 says, we are His workmanship. created in Christ Jesus. Verse 13, it says, but now, in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. In Christ. Verse 15, it says, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. All of that happened in him.

Verse 18, it says, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Verse 21 says, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord. Verse 22 says, In whom. You also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. In Him, in Him.

Now let me just leave us, let me close this message with this word. I hope this will be a word of comfort for every elect child of God. This word right here is for every elect child of God who sees these things, sees Christ, sees Him as being our only hope, sees what sinners we are before God, saying within ourselves, I must be with him, in him, through him. All right.

To the called, to the saints, the true saints, to God's believers, wherever you are in life, remember this, you are with Christ, in Christ, through Christ. Whatever is going on in your life, I'm speaking to God's believers, whatever's going on in your life, whatever you're going through, You're with Christ. You are in Christ. And you're going to make it through Christ.

Remember that. This world can seem so lonely. It can seem so empty. But it's not. You're with Christ. You're in Christ. And God's presence is going to be made known to you through Christ. The trials may seem like more than you can bear, and the heartache may seem greater than you ever thought it could be. You may think you're going to be consumed by all your anxiety and your despair, but you're not. You're not. And it's because you're with Christ, you're in Christ, and God is going to show his kindness to you through Christ.

Look to Christ. Hold to Christ. Trust Christ. Amen. You have been listening to a message by Gabe Stoniker, pastor of Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. If you would like a copy of this message or to hear other messages of sovereign grace, you can call or write to the number and address on your screen or visit www.ksgc.church. Tune in at this same time next week for another message of God's free and sovereign grace.

TV: With, In, Through

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being in Christ?

How do we know our union with Christ is true?

Why is the concept of being with Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean to have access to God through Christ?

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TV: With, In, Through

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being in Christ?

How do we know our union with Christ is true?

Why is the concept of being with Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean to have access to God through Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Gabe Stalnaker

Comments

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