Lesson 23

IN HIM

Table of Contents

– In Him

Scriptures Cited:

John 11:47-52, 2 Corinthians 1:20-21, Ephesians 1:10, Philippians 3:8-9, John 14:6, Colossians 2:10, 1 John 2:27-28, 1 John 4:13, Genesis 6:16, John 10:9, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:41

In starting this lesson, I would again like to thank everyone who has continued partaking in God’s word with us through these lessons. It is my sincere prayer that the lessons have helped to strengthen your understanding of God’s word and also your relationship with Him – In Jesus’ name.

In this lesson we will continue on from where we left off in the last. It could almost be viewed as an addition to the previous two lessons Make Sure and Citizens and Aliens, in that both were focused on understanding the Kingdom which Jesus established, as well as how to enter into it.

We will continue our study by looking at an interesting prophecy. Normally when we think of prophecy in the Bible, we think of the Old Testament, but there is a prophecy in the New Testament that seems to get overlooked, in John chapter 11.

For a little context, this was when the Pharisees and the scribes were conspiring about what to do to stop Jesus. One of their concerns was that, because of the mighty deeds and miracles that Jesus was doing, the people were going to actually make Him a king. They feared that Rome would then come in and squash any kind of independence the Jews were looking to have under their own King. So, beginning in John chapter 11 verse 47, we read:

John 11:47-52
⁴⁷ Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. ⁴⁸ If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

⁴⁹ And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

⁵¹ And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
⁵² And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Keeping in mind what we have learned about the Kingdom that Jesus came to establish, verse 52 is our main focus. We can see it was prophesied that Jesus would gather together in one, the children of God which were scattered abroad. It even specifies that this was not only for the nation of Israel but for all the children of God regardless of their nationality.

It is interesting that many people mistakenly think that Jesus only came for the Jews but then when they rejected Him, God’s “plan B” was to let Gentiles in… but here we can see that the plan all along was that salvation was going to go out to all the world.

So, when it says here that He is going to “gather together in one” the children of God, obviously the “in one” – is “in Christ”. He is the one who the children of God are gathered in. Typically, we call that the church; those who are in Christ are called the church.

But as the theme of these lessons has been the Kingdom, let’s briefly list some of the ways that the church is referred to in the Bible. For example, we see: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Kingdom of God, The Kingdom of His Son. These are all different ways that the church is referred to.

Take a moment and see if you can think of any other terms used for the church in the Bible…

Did you come up with any that are listed here?

The body of Christ, The temple of God, God’s husbandry, The churches of Christ, The churches of God, Those of the way, The children of God, The church of the firstborn, The flock of God, The remnant, The family in heaven and earth, The assembly of the firstborn, God’s building, The house of God

And there are more which are not listed here. Even though there is only one church, we can see the Bible referring to it in many different ways (the Bible often does this with other subjects as well).

With all that being said, our focus here is still on this ‘gathering together in one’ that we read in John 11:52. As we continue, we will look at some things written in the epistles (letters to those who already obeyed the gospel) that tell us of this same truth. Those who have been gathered in one – in Him…they are the church. Inside of that “one” is the only place where there is salvation. This lets us know that outside of Jesus, there is no salvation. In Him is the only place where we can be right with God.

Let’s now go to 2 Corinthians, keeping a watchful eye for what the scriptures say about being ‘in Christ’ or ‘in that one’. In 2 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning in verse 20, we read:

2 Corinthians 1:20-21
²⁰ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. ²¹ Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

We see here as Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, that all the blessings of God for the church are ‘in Christ’ – ‘in Him’. Everything that Paul explains is only available ‘in Him’.

We are going to keep going from here over to Ephesians chapter 1 where we see the same theme mentioned there as well. In Ephesians chapter 1 verse 10 it reads:

Ephesians 1:10
¹⁰ 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:

So, you can see as we go through these different epistles, the same theme is given. These letters were written to help the church know where they now stand since believing and obeying the gospel. Paul made sure that they understood what God has done through Christ and what it actually means to be gathered ‘in Him’.

Let’s now keep going to Philippians chapter 3, where we see Paul giving some of his own personal testimony. We will begin in verse 8, but verse 9 is where we see our theme and focus.

Philippians 3:8-9
⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Here we see that Paul is even saying of himself, that the old life he left behind is counted as nothing to him because his true desire is to “be found in Him” – to be found in Christ.

Like I said earlier, outside of Christ there is no salvation, there is no safety, there is no relationship with the Father (John 14:6). There is truly nothing good outside of Christ. And so for us, the key is to make sure that we are in Him. Like the prophecy said, He is going to gather in one, all things in Christ.

Next, we will go to Colossians chapter 2. And in verse 10 it says:

Colossians 2:10
¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Once again, this is just another place where we see that it is all about being in Christ – in Him. You could pretty much go to any book in the New Testament and see the importance of being in Jesus.

We will look at just two more examples that tell of being in Him, but these will be from the apostle John who also describes how Christ is in us. First, we will go to 1 John chapter 2 beginning in verse 27:

1 John 2:27-28
²⁷ But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

This is similar to what we read from Paul when he wrote ‘to be found in Him’. And here we have John saying to ‘abide in Him’, so that when Jesus comes we won’t be ashamed or found in a condition that we should not be in (outside of Him).

Lastly, we will stay here in 1 John chapter 4 and go to verse 13. It reads:

1 John 4:13
¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

So, there it is again. Here we see John letting the church know that the Spirit is in us and that we are in the Spirit. And if you remember in our previous lesson, we saw Jesus saying that the Kingdom is within us, and we also learned that those who have obeyed the gospel are in the Kingdom. So, we see in many places throughout the scriptures the importance of being in Christ – in the one church of which He is the head, and that He founded.

In closing, with all the craziness going on in the world it is easy to see the need for a place of safety. And the way that Jesus put it was that in the last days there would be evil all around like in the days of Noah – most of us know that story. In the days of Noah there was only one place of safety, and that was inside the ark. That ark was a picture and foreshadow of the salvation found only in Jesus.

In the instruction that God gave Noah, there was only one door to be “set in the side” of the ark – signifying that there is only one way in (Genesis 6:16)… Only one way into safety. For us, Jesus tells us the same in John 14 verse 6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” He also said something similar in John chapter 10 verse 9: ”I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…”

There is only one safe place and there is only one way into that safe place. And that is why it is a good thing that God has given us His word through the scriptures. We have been given clear instructions on how to enter this one safe place. And just as important as the instructions, are the examples given to us of people entering Christ throughout the book of Acts.

In the book of Acts we actually get to see it in practice. We get the history of how it is that people were able to go from being outside to getting inside this one safe place. There is only one way in, and we see that one way repeated over and over throughout the book of Acts… and it is to ‘repent and to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and receive the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). That is how you get into the Kingdom and receive the Kingdom within you. It is His Spirit in you, and you in His Spirit.

This is what Jesus came preaching after He Himself was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He overcame the temptation in the wilderness and began His ministry, preaching that the Kingdom was at hand. He came to make a Way for us through His death, burial and resurrection. And right before He ascended, the last instruction that He gave to His apostles was to preach the gospel of this Kingdom – this safe place.

The devil has his kingdom, and we see his kingdom is raging right now. The border line is getting more and more defined, showing the difference between his kingdom and God’s Kingdom. Which kingdom are you going to be a part of? As Jesus said about the wheat and the tares, they grow up together. But there is going to come a time when the reapers will come and they are going to divide. They will divide those who are in His Kingdom, those that are in Him – from those who are outside of Him.

We will leave it there for this lesson, and it is my prayer that we all are mindful to make sure that we be found in Christ at His coming – just as Paul said.

So, if you are someone who has not yet come into the church – this body of Christ, this building of God – if you have not come into it the way that we see exampled, where we also can read the result of what they did (Acts 2:41)… If you would like to come into that Kingdom where there is safety – or come into that “ark” which is Christ Jesus, please contact us and we will help you in any way we can to enter… in Him.