Living "In Christ."

This Sunday the burden had to do with what it means to be "in Christ." So often being "in Christ" is translated as "accepting Christ"; making a profession of belief in Christian doctrine. However being "in Christ" is not referring to what we believe but how we are living.

(2/8/2009) We began in the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians, where we find the expressions "those who sleep in Jesus," and "the dead in Christ shall rise."

I digressed a bit by pointing out that this "pre-tribulation rapture" passage has nothing to do with a catching up of the believers in order to escape Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.

Rather, Paul was comforting those whose Christian relatives had died by telling them that they had no need to worry, because Christ would bring their deceased loved ones with Him when He returns to set up His Kingdom on the earth. Honestly, it is really ludicrous to use the words of the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians to teach that Christians are going to be caught up to Heaven in order to escape Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.

Ordinarily when the "pre-tribulation rapture" is preached, no mention is made of the fact that Christ is bringing with Him all true saints who today are in the spirit world. Since there may be a relatively small number of believers on the earth when Christ returns, the returning saints will greatly outnumber the living saints.

It is less than reasonable to suppose that the returning saints, after having been resurrected, need to be caught up to escape Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.

It is equally ridiculous to imagine that the saints alive on the earth, who are given immortality in their bodies, need then to be caught up in order to escape Antichrist and the Great Tribulation.

The "rapture" doctrine, whether pre-tribulation or post-tribulation has nothing to do with the New Testament. First Thessalonians is referring to the return of Christ with His saints to set up His Kingdom on the earth. The reason they meet Him in the air is that Satan is the ruler of the authority of the air. It would be nonsensical for the saints who have returned with the Lord and who have received their bodies to then return with Christ to Heaven.

The fourth chapter of the Book of First Thessalonians is telling us of the beginning of the Battle of Armageddon. This is why the loud command is given, the archangel is present, and the trumpet is blown.

We need to think carefully about the expressions "fallen asleep in Him" and "the dead in Christ." What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

Today we use the expression "in Him" to refer to maintaining a belief in the doctrine we accept as being sound. This is not what it means. It signifies, rather, that we are living as a disciple. We are looking to the Lord Jesus for everything we think, say, and do. We literally are living "in Him." I believe this is true of very few Christians in America. Therefore they are not prepared for the return of the Lord. They are not going to be transformed when He returns or caught up to meet Him in the air.

"Accepting Christ," if we choose to use this unscriptural term, might be compared to enrolling in a university. Enrolling in a university does not give us a diploma. We have to pass many tests before we are granted a diploma. This is true in Christ. We have to work patiently each day at the lessons given to us by the Holy Spirit if we expect to be considered to be "in Christ." And yes—we can be in Christ for a period of time, and then, by neglecting prayer, reading the Bible, and obeying Christ, remove ourselves from Christ. Many believers have done this. In fact, you may know of some.

Let us think about some passages that give us an idea of what it means to be "in Christ":

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (I Corinthians 9:24-27)

But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13)

But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebrews 3:6)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12)

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:6)

It is obvious from the Scripture that to be "in Christ" Is referring much more than believing in accepted doctrines. It refers to a way of life.

To be "in Christ" means we are living, or, if we are deceased, have lived, as a disciple, pressing forward at all times in Christ, gaining victory each day over the challenges presented to us that day.

If we do not have the sense of forward movement, if we basically are the same person we were a year ago at this time, we probably are not being saved from sin. We merely hold certain beliefs, but we are not being redeemed.

First Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes the resurrection and catching up of the saints when the Lord returns. Revelation 20: 12-15 sets forth the general resurrection of the dead, that which will take place at the conclusion of the thousand-year Kingdom age.

The difference between the two resurrections is that those who are raised (or transformed) when the Lord returns have been judged in advance. The sentence passed upon them is to be caught up and be forever with the Lord Jesus.

You can be judged in advance if you choose to do so. Just follow the Holy Spirit each day. When He points out some spiritual darkness in your personality, confess it as sin and resolve through the Lord’s help never to practice that behaviour again. God will forgive you and remove the uncleanness. It is an eternal judgment. You can continue in this process until you have been judged completely. Then, when Jesus comes, your body will be raised and clothed with a robe of eternal life.

If you are alive when the Lord returns, your mortal body will be made alive by being clothed upon with a robe of eternal life from Heaven, if you have been faithful in confessing and turning away from the deeds of your sinful nature.

Those believers who have unjudged sin in their personality when Jesus returns, will not be raised from the dead. at that time. They will be raised from the dead at the resurrection that takes place at the conclusion of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. Also, the bodies of all other people, except those who attained to the prior resurrection, will be raised and stand before God. Then the books of record will be opened.

The sentencing and disposition of those who are judged at the final resurrection is not clear to me, except that those whose name is not in the Book of Life are thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is a destiny so terrible as to be inconceivable to us at this time. It is a final, irrevocable sentence.

The remainder will be saved to the new world of righteousness. The elect will receive their robe of righteousness and enter the new Jerusalem in the spirit world, in preparation for its descent to the new earth as the eternal government of the new world of righteousness.

The members of the nations, those who are not of God’s elect, of His church, will be held in their redeemed bodies in the spirit world in preparation for their citizenship on the new earth.

This is how I see the two resurrections, and there only are two periods in which human beings receive immortal bodies.

The point is, we are determining today the nature of our resurrection. If we, as a Christian, live "in Christ" as a genuine disciple, we will be redeemed and caught up to meet Christ at His appearing.

If we have received forgiveness through Christ but have not lived a victorious life, for whatever reason, it is certain that our future will be painful. Either we finally will be judged unworthy of the new world of righteousness and incarcerated somewhere, or we will be chastened and instructed until finally we are willing to accept Christ as our King, whom we are to obey in all matters.

If we would enter the Kingdom of God we must accept Jesus Christ not only as the atonement for our sin but also as our lawful King. This numerous Christian people have yet to do.