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This is a sermon based on a thought I have borrowed from another writer. We are either out of Christ or in Christ, and if we are in Christ then we will get to be with Christ for eternity. So the sermon asks, "Where are you?"
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
I remember reading sometime ago that someone had pointed out the way that the Apostle Paul refers to people and their location in regards to Christ. If you study various statements that Paul makes, you will learn that his references indicate that there are only three possible locations for people to be in reference to Christ. Those locations are: Out of Christ, In Christ, and With Christ.
Out of Christ – in a state of sin; In Christ – in a state of grace; With Christ – in a state of glory
Today, with the help of God’s Spirit, I want to speak to you about each of these conditions as presented in Scripture with the purpose of asking you the all-important question: “Where are you?”
In regards to your relationship with Christ, are you out of Christ or in Christ? Your answer to this question will determine whether your final destiny will be with Christ. At the end of the message I will be giving an opportunity for those who are still out of Christ to get in Christ so you can have the privilege of going to be with Christ when this life is over.
I. To be out of Christ is to be in a state of sinfulness.
Ephesians 2: 11 “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
There are at least three implications included in the condition of being out of Christ or without Christ.
The word “without” literally means - apart from or separate.
A. It is a condition of estrangement.
In verse 12 Paul uses the terms “aliens and strangers” to describe the condition of these Ephesian Christians while they were without Christ. In the O.T., to be a Gentile was to be an alien, a foreigner or an outsider. It meant you were outside of God’s blessings and promises. It meant you were not included in the covenant that God had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
What was true then in a national sense is also true, even today, in a spiritual sense. Unbelievers are often compared to Gentiles in the sense that what was true nationally for Gentiles is true spiritually for unbelievers. In the very beginning of Scripture we are told that God created us to fellowship with Him. Yet, because of our sin, we are separated from God and are strangers and foreigners to the family of God. All sinners are foreigners to the blessings and promises that accompany salvation; especially the covenant promise of heaven.
B. It is a condition of hopelessness.
Again, in the same verse, Paul describes them as “having no hope.”
· We had no hope of salvation.
Gal. 5:5 “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
In this context, Paul is contrasting the hope of the believer against the hope of someone who is trusting in the law. In the sense that he uses the word “wait” here, he is including the future and complete hope that includes resurrection, heaven and everything else that is future. But it also includes all that salvation presently offers as well.
· We had no hope of a future resurrection or the return of Christ.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
· We did not have any hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
C. It is a condition of bondage.
At the beginning of this same chapter, Paul gives a vivid description of their previous condition before their conversion to Christ.
Eph 2:1-2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Yes, to be Out of Christ is to be an alien / foreigner to God’s promises, and to be completely without hope.
II. To be in Christ is to be in a state of grace.
The Apostle Paul also spoke freely and passionately about the position of being In Christ. That is, in a state of grace.
If we look at the Scriptures that use the phrase “in Christ,” we learn that there are at least five ways that we benefit by being in Christ.
A. Being in Christ means genuine freedom and liberty.
Freedom from condemnationRom 8: 1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Those of you who are in a relationship with Christ, do you remember the guilt and condemnation you had? Do you member those nights when you laid your head on your pillow and was afraid you would die before morning or that Jesus would come back?
What a happy day when Jesus washed my sins and my guilt and condemnation away!
Freedom from the bondage of sin and its consequences
Rom 8: 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
B. Being in Christ means genuine life both now and eternally.
Rom 6 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 1: 1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 Cor 5 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Cf. John 10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Rom 6 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)
C. Being in Christ means equality for all.
Gal 6 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
The reference here to circumcision and uncircumcision is basically saying Jew or Gentile.
Gal 3 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Someone has said, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”
D. Being in Christ means membership and unity in the family.
Rom 12 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Gal 3 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
E. Being in Christ means a cleansing and a calling.
1 Cor 1: 2To the church of God which is at Corinth
This literally means those who are the holy ones in Christ.
III. To be with Christ is to be in a state of glory.
Finally, Paul presents to various churches and readers the prospect of being With Christ, which has spiritual significance even now, in this life, but has literal significance in the next life. To be with Christ is to be in a state of glory.
A. Being with Christ means sharing in (the benefits of) his death.
Rom 6 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
If you read the preceding verses in the context, you will notice that Paul is definitely talking about a present reality; not the future death and resurrection. His point is that our spiritual death with Christ will result in a spiritual resurrection to new life.
This truly is a state of glory!
Gal 2 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
B. Being with Christ means sharing in his life now.
Eph 2 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
C. Being with Christ means sharing in his life forever.
Rom 8 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Php 1 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
To be with Christ means unspeakable glory for all eternity. The Scriptures describe the future glory as a time that is absent all pain, sorrow, trouble and everything that we associate with the curse of sin. To be with Christ means having every tear wiped away.
Conclusion:
Where are you today? Are you without Christ or are you in Christ? Are you still in a state of sinfulness or in a state of grace? There are numerous blessings to be enjoyed by those who have confessed their sin and placed their trust in the blood of Christ. There is unspeakable joy and blessing for all eternity. Without Him there is bondage and despair in this life, but everlasting torment in the next life.
Maybe you’ve never heard how you can know that you are in Christ. Or, maybe you’ve forgotten.
To put it as simply as I can it means…
Confessing who we are and confessing who Jesus is.
1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9
Repenting and abandoning what we have been.
Acts 3:19
Believing in the sacrifice Jesus has made on the cross and trusting only in His blood for salvation.
John 3:16
I stated at the beginning of the message that I was going to give an opportunity for anyone who is out of Christ to get into Christ today so that you can go be with Christ after you die. We are going to sing just a couple of verses of an invitation hymn as we close this service. If you recognize that you are not in a vital, living relationship with Jesus today, why not come and let us pray with you before you leave?
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