Jesus is Promise Covenant (3)

Possibly the central concept in this regard is a phrase which is the total theme of one of Paul's books - Colossians. We use the words "in Christ" to express it - but that is not everyday conversational communication. It is a covenant representative keyword.

What does it communicate ? Simply that what is done by the Representative "happens" to US. (Remember - David's victory over Goliath was for ALL Israel.)

Even today in some parts of the world, the Representative is treated like the King he represents. Especially if they hold in their hands the "Scepter" which signifies Kingly Power in the one who holds it - if they are on King's business. So - we might say wherever the Scepter is - the authority of the King is as well. In that regard, we are ALL ambassadors for the King - and we carry His authority with us. So - we might call that concept - "HE is in US" - because His authority rests in us and His identity is in us. One verse context helps us very much. Colossians - the "in Christ" book, explains that Jesus has all of the Godhead in Himself "bodily". (Colossians 2:9) and we just KNOW that to be truth. However, the following verse - which is part of the same sentence, gets almost ignored or explained away. Permit me to emphasize the concept with part of my own translation: "and You have come to this very fullness in Him" - wait - that's quite a concept - don't go on - STOP ! Think and thank !

Do you mean we have the identity of the Godhead in Christ ? NO - but I think Paul meant that - don't forget - I may think all kinds of stuff - if Scripture doesn't say it - then just forget it ! The "fullness" Paul is talking about is the same fullness he already talked about one verse (and the same sentence) earlier. Do we generally change meanings of the same word in two parts of the same sentence ? Of course not ! (As a language student - context is more important than even definition - because context controls definition. Remember, though - I said "Language student - not language "expert" or "authority".) I can't see any other concept allowed. We get Christ's identity since "HE is the firstborn among many brothers" and 1 John 4:17 "As He is, so are we in this world." We already know the concept of the "ambassador" - and in this case, Jesus uses "brothers" to represent Him and His anointing.

"In Christ" - means we get our identity as we join Him by faith - as Paul wrote - "You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" - Colossians 3:3. BUT - there is much more - our being "in Christ" or even getting in to Christ was how we got saved in the first place. Salvation is "in Christ". 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Acts 4:12; Luke 2:30. Originally the baptism symbol was meant to convey the "joining with Christ's life" and "rising to walk in newness of Life" and Jews used that ceremony to begin a new life a various stages of their development. We are privileged to use the ceremony to identify with Jesus - though many groups totally miss this original concept. Don't forget - the focus is Jesus - not ourselves. We are to be "buried with Christ" and "raised with Christ to walk in the newness of Life" - as Romans 6 teaches - but the conceptual construct is very simply portrayed in Ephesians 2 - "NOT of yourselves, NOT of works"- the focus is God showing off His grace - we get to "play dead". All of that to make sure the focus is CHRIST - but many groups make the focus on people - sad, very sad !

Once we receive the identity of Jesus - it is appropriate to continually focus on Jesus - as Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 3:18 - as "we are being changed from one degree of Glory to another - ever increasing !" That is the Christian life.

Don't forget though - we get Jesus' identity - we get Jesus' inheritance - we get Jesus' relationship with God (that's His relationship with God while He was here - the love from God towards us is just like the love God had for Jesus - is that amazing ? John 17:23)

The focus is Jesus - yes, I already said that - but we feel so special or un-special - and either way we focus on US - when God designed our lifestyle to be a Jesus focus continually - giving us security and peace. That was the context of the reference to 1 John 4:17 - peace and confidence even on Judgment Day itself - and I ask you now - do you know that ? Did John write that for nothing to Christians ? Is part of your privilege from God simply not claimed or enjoyed ? If you know that Jesus is "kept Covenant" and you are "in Him" - "not having a righteous of your own" (Philippians 3:9) but His actual righteousness - can you dare to not feel wonderfully and humbly proud of the God who bought you ? And - can you actually still think the focus is YOU ? How far does God have to go to show us that He is the one and only source of payment for sins and identity for those who trust His performance to be enough ? In the words of our Representative - on the Cross - "tetelusthai" - "It is totally paid - paid in full" and He is now our Life ! We are "children of The Promise" - more to come.