Blessed Assurance (Part 3)

By Clifton Angel “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a).     In Christ. The phrase in Christ occurs some 77 times in the New Testament. In the Lord can be found some 111 times throughout the Bible. The Bible gives definite importance to one being in Christ. What is so great about one being in Christ?     It is in Christ that the fulfillment of prophecies and eternal plans are found (Eph 1:10). It was in Christ that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished (Eph 3:11). It is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are found (Eph 1:3). Think about the blessing of approaching our Father in prayer (Luke 11:1–4; 1 Pet 3:12). Think about the blessing of forgiveness of sins. Think about the blessing of offering up spiritual sacrifices in spirit and truth on the first day of the week (John 4:23–24; 1 Pet 2:5; Acts 2:42). Think about the blessing of walking in the light (1 John 1:7–9). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in the Light, it is the same as saying we are walking in Christ! Sometimes we do not realize how saved we are! God is not like human beings in that He is not watching our every move with intentions of catching us in a fault. He does not want to condemn us! He wants to save us (1 Tim 2:4)!     Read Philippians 4:4-8.      These words are from a man that was in prison when he wrote them. They are from a man that received 195 stripes from the Jews (but only 39 stripes per instance, so that they satisfied their self-righteous view of the law), had been stoned and left for dead, was beaten with rods on three occasions, was shipwrecked on three different occasions. No one could stop a man like Paul because he had blessed assurance. It has been said: “If you set Paul free, he would convert the world. If you put him in prison, he would write the Bible. And if you kill him, you will put him right where he wants to be: with Christ.” Paul said, “I 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” (Gal 2:20).     “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long” (Fanny Crosby, Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a). Are you “in Christ” (Rom 6:3–4; Gal 3:27)?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/