Funny how God has us looking at the same things at the same times sometimes, huh?? :lol:
Just last week I sent this email to a brother and a sister in the Lord about this very thing:
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Are ALL "in Christ"
(though some are asleep and some are awake)
Rom 8:1-6 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. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [/list:u]
Those “in Christ� WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. (So it doesn’t specifically say that those who do not “walk after spirit� are NOT “in Christ�.)
I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto CARNAL, even as unto babes in Christ.[/list:u]
Even those who are ‘yet carnal’ are spoken of as being “in Christ�.
A child is BORN and a son is GIVEN, right? And the “babes in Christ� are yet carnal.
So seems that (along with all the other scriptures below) that ALL are “in Christ� reconciled to the father… but we must be “born again�… first becoming “babes in Christ�, then “moving on to perfection� – or maturing in Him – in order to “enter into the kingdom OF HEAVEN�.
?
1Co 15:17-26 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then
they also which are fallen asleep in Christ ARE PERISHED.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (the FIRST resurrection).
Then cometh the end, (the final harvest… the tares (those who are ‘asleep’) and the wheat (those who are ‘alive and remain’) when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 2Co 5:17-19 Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [/list:u]
ALL are reconciled in/through Christ… but some do not KNOW it yet…. Because their eyes are NOT OPEN; they ‘sleep’.
neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 6:15 For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.Eph 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and
to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings
in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ:
Eph 1:10-12
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one ALL things in Christ, BOTH which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN HIM: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 3:1-21 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And
to make ALL MEN see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been HID in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in HEAVENLY places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom
we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the WHOLE family in heaven AND EARTH is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. [/list:u]
How does this relate to a new heaven and a new earth and NO MORE SEA?? Here, the WHOLE FAMILY….
HEAVEN AND EARTH is named. But it seems as though those who are in the “heavenly places� in Christ and those of “faith� have access (by that faith) to comprehend the “breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge�.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
For we are the circumcision, which worship God IN THE SPIRIT, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence IN THE FLESH.Col 1:2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 4:9-18 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And
indeed ye do it toward ALL the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly
toward them THAT ARE WITHOUT, (Without Christ? Or just without the kingdom?) and that ye may have lack of nothing. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, (those WITHOUT?? The kingdom??) that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which SLEEP in Jesus will God bring with him. (BACK TO HIM) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (the TARES; those who are WITHOUT; those who are ‘perished’)
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 2Ti 3:12-14 Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [/list:u]
It never says that those who do NOT live godly are NOT “in Christ� or that those who do NOT walk after the spirit are NOT “in Christ�… it simply says that those who are “in Christ� WHO DO “live godly� and “walk after the spirit� or who sit in the “heavenly places� (in Christ) COMPREHEND.
Certainly it’s not PERFECTLY clear, so perhaps an argument can be made either way…. But I cannot find anything that refers to those who are “NOT in Christ�… only those who are “without� and I do not see that as being outside of “Christ� for we are ALL reconciled to God through Christ….. but “flesh and blood cannot enter into THE KINGDOM�.
See what I am saying???
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I got a reply this morning to my email, but it will take me time to format it to post some of the verses I got back in response... maybe someone else would like to add though??
Chrissie