Hi Joe and everyone,
Great topic and responses, the following verses came to mind as I pondered the question submitted by Joe, (for me) to be in Christ is to pick up His cross and learn of Him as we are being purified by Him, to share in His sufferings as we are promised to one day share in His glory.
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Rom 8:17 And 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.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
2Co 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
The following kind of sums it up for me;
Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified37 by God the Father, and preserved5083 in Jesus Christ, and called.
G37
ἁγιάζω
hagiazō
hag-ee-ad'-zo
From G40; to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.
G5083
τηρέω
tēreō
tay-reh'-o
From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfil a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried): - hold fast, keep (-er), (ob-, pre-, re) serve, watch.
This kind of gives me chills, those who are being sanctified (purified) by God, who were chosen before the foundation of the world are also being guarded and cannot escape, how awesome is that?
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe