“CHRIST IN YOU…”
SELECTED SCRIPTURES

I. Introduction
Greg and Colleen read Matthew 26:17-30 to open the service. Jesus instituted what we now call communion at the last supper. The symbolism is clear. When we eat of the unleavened bread we are reminded that it is a representation of Jesus sinless body that has been given for us. When we drink of the cup we are reminded that it is Jesus’ pre-cious blood that saves us. In both the bread and the cup we are to remember Him.
Luke 22:17-20
17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

Again, the symbolism is clear. In the communion service, or the Lord’s Supper, we take two essential elements into our bodies – food and drink – and we remember the One who gave Himself for us. He did do so by shedding His blood, that is to say, He died for us.
Just as you and I cannot live long without the physical reality of food and drink, so too, we cannot live eternally without the spiritual reality of Jesus Christ living in us.

Jesus has given His church two ordinances. They are baptism and communion. In the first, baptism, the believer is placed in Christ.
Romans 6:3-5
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, cer-tainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection…

So the water into which one is immersed has no saving power. The water isn’t Christ. But the water, the act of being immersed in the water, and the act of rising up out of the water, are all symbolic of the death of the old person, their burial, and their resurrection to eternal life. If you are a true Christian, you have been spiritually baptized in Christ whether you have been baptized in water or not.
Having said all of that, the fact remains that every Christian should be baptized in water. It is a question of obedience because Jesus commanded His followers to do so.
Matthew 28:19
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Furthermore, we do it because of what it means, what it symbolizes – our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is our immersion in Christ that makes us new creations. It is not our immersion in water.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things (have) passed away; behold, new things have come.

You can only become a new creature in Christ when you are united to Him in the baptism described in Romans 6:3-5. You are only united to Christ once. You are only made a new creature once. You are only born to eternal life once. You are only placed in Christ once. And so, you are only baptized in water once. Thus the symbolism of water bap-tism follows the reality of spiritual baptism. All true believers are spiritually baptized.
1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

It is when all those who have been baptized in Christ come together for worship that the second ordinance Jesus instituted comes into play. Jesus told us to remember Him. He told us how we should remember Him. We are to take in the elements that He pre-scribed. The symbols of communion also follow the reality. We eat of the bread and remember His body. We drink of the cup and remember His shed blood.

We are placed in Christ once, but how often are we to remember Him? Just once, or are we called to remember Him throughout our lives on this earth? Are we called to obey Him once, or are we called to obey Him as long as we live? The truth is that we never stop remembering Him. We never stop obeying Him. So we take communion over and over again. We will do so until He comes for us at the Rapture. Then comes the reality. We will no longer need to “remember” Him because we will be with Him.
Matthew 26:29
29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

So you and I remember and we obey. And although the Holy Spirit indwells us only once, we are reminded that we are called to be filled with the Spirit of God at all times.
Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. (“Dissipation” is the damage done when one wastes or squanders himself.)
Paul’s point is that if we are continually being filled with the Spirit of God, if we allow the Spirit of God to lead us, and if we do not quench the Spirit of God in our daily lives, then we will be able to commune with Jesus. Being filled with the Spirit of God means to consciously and deliberately live our lives in communion with Him.

Our communion with Christ is only possible because of our spiritual union with Him. When we take communion together it also emphasizes our spiritual union with each other. Just as water baptism symbolizes the true Christian’s place in Christ, so too the elements of the communion meal symbolize Christ’s place in the true Christian.

You in Christ and Christ in you! Think of it. These are the two magnificent and eternal truths that separate all true Christians from everyone else.
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II. Text
So this morning we have gathered together to remember Jesus and to obey Him. We will celebrate our union with Him and with each other. We will commune with Him and we will commune with each other. We will have fellowship with Him and we will have fellowship with each other. Why am I going on like this? Because the English words “communion, commune, communicate, partner, partake, participate,” and “fellowship,” all come from the same Greek root word. In the noun form it is “kŏinōnia.” In the verb form it is “kŏinōnĕō.”

These words mean that we hold something in common. Each of us has a share in the same thing. Did you know why we take a special offering for our benevolent fund on the days we celebrate communion? It’s because of “kŏinōnia.”
Romans 15:26
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 9:13 (Paul talking about giving)
13 Because of the proof given by this ministry (the church at Corinth) they (the church in Jerusalem) will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them…

Hebrews 13:16
16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

The words “contribution” and “sharing” in Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews is “kŏinōnia.” The giving to the needy of what we hold in common is known as “alms-giving.” When you give to our benevolent fund the deacons distribute it to those in need. This is a real part of true communion and true fellowship. Just as we hold Christ in com-mon, we are to give to the needy in common. Do you see the parallel? Just as believers have received Christ, we are to share the knowledge of Him with a lost and dying world.
So we call this a “Communion Service.” But we could just as easily call it a “Fellowship Service.” In a service like this we commune with the Lord by praying and confessing our sins, we fellowship together by partaking of the elements, and fellowship with the needy by sharing with them what we hold in common. Communing, fellowshipping, partaking, and sharing – it’s all “kŏinōnia.”

Before Jesus went to the cross He promised that, although He would be gone from this earth, He would send His Spirit to live in us.
*John 14:15-26
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever.
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 “After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also.
20 “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I (am) in you.
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and disclose Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you.
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Jesus says the Holy Spirit is not for the lost of this world, but for Christians alone. Look at v. 17. The reason the world cannot receive God’s Spirit is because it neither knows nor sees God. Then Jesus says His Spirit will not only live with us, He will be in us. He goes on to tell the apostles that even though His physical presence will soon be taken from this world, His spiritual presence will return to them. And He tells them that anyone who has His Spirit will live forever. In v. 19 He says, “…because I live, you shall live also.” Physical life isn’t eternal but spiritual life is.
Now look again at v. 20. When Jesus says, “…in that day,” He’s not talking about the Second Coming. He’s talking about the Day of Pentecost, the day the church will be born, the day when the Spirit will come and fill the apostles. Jesus tells them that in that day, “…you shall know that I am in My Father, and you (are) in Me, and I (am) in you.

Are you a true born again Christian? Then you are in Christ. You are a member of the true church and Christ, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, is in you. In v. 21 Jesus makes it clear that this is how He will disclose Himself to His people. If you are a true Christian, that is precisely how Jesus’ disclosed Himself to you. His Spirit came to you, took up residence in you, and supernaturally revealed the truth to you. That is how you came to saving faith. That is the only way anyone will ever come to saving faith.

Look once more at v. 22. Jude asks Jesus why God’s children will have this disclosure, that is to say, why we will understand, and the lost of the world will neither have the disclosure nor understand. Jesus’ answer comes in v. 23 and the first part of v. 24. It’s as plain as it can be. It’s because the Spirit of God lives in the believer but does not live in the non-believer. In fact, v. 23 illustrates the absolute unity within the Trinity (Tri-unity).

Jesus says that those who keep His word will be loved by the Father and, “…We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” So if one were to ask the question, “Is the One living and abiding with me the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ,” the answer is, “Yes!” What a picture of the Holy Trinity of God!

Then in John 14:27 Jesus speaks of the first great blessing that accrues to us as a result of the Spirit’s indwelling.
*John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

This is the peace that the Apostle Paul tells us about in his letter to the church at Philippi.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

But the peace of God is only the beginning of the divine blessings that are poured out on believers. The one who is our “Helper” is God Himself. He is the One who makes it possible for you and me to keep God’s commandments and His words.
Romans 8:8-11
8 …those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10 And if Christ is in you, though the (your) body is dead because of sin, yet the (your) spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

So we are blessed by being enabled to obey God. Another of the blessings Christians are given is the ability to do God’s will and live a separated life on this earth. In our own power we can do neither.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

*2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship (kŏinōnia) has light with darkness?
15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial (Satan), or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the tem-ple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.

This does not mean we are to end all associations with unbelievers. That would neither be practical nor possible. What it does mean is that we are not to enter into any spiritual relationships with unbelievers such as marriage or placing such a person in a position of leadership in the church. Personally, I believe it applies to business partnerships as well, but I know that is open to some conjecture.

In any case, without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, you and I would find, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world…,” and “Do not be bound together with unbelievers…” difficult, if not impossible, to obey.

But there is so much more. “Christ in us” blesses us with a supernatural union with God.
The blessings redeem us, and deliver us from spiritual darkness into the light of His Son.
Colossians 1:13-14
13 He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 John 1:7
7 …if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship (kŏinōnia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin.

“Christ in us” means that, as adopted children of God, we are also made heirs of God.
*Romans 8:15-17
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (“daddy-papa”)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

Wait a minute. Suffering is a blessing?
*1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exaltation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name (“Christian”) let him glorify God.

Your suffering is a blessing? If we glorify God in our suffering we will be blessed.

“Christ in us” means that we are made members of His own house and that we have been given life in a spiritual family.
Ephesians 2:19
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.

“Christ in us” means that we have been given a new nature. The new nature is Christ’s. With His nature comes the ability to experience victory over sin.
Paul talks about this in his letter to the churches in Galatia. His point is that the “old man” is dead because…
Galatians 2:20
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”

Beyond that, “Christ in us” means that we are members of a royal priesthood. How important is that? Remember that only a priest can enter into God’s presence. One of the gross errors of Roman Catholicism is that they have usurped the very idea of the priest-hood of believers and taken it for their own clergy. But you and I are priests of God. You, as a true Christian, do not need anyone to go before God for you. One the great blessings of “Christ in us” is that we can go directly into the throne room of God.
1 Peter 2:5, 9
5 (You)…are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 …you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…

“Christ in us” means that you and I are already citizens of heaven.
Philippians 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Christ in us” means that our justification has saved us from the penalty of sin. Our sanctification is saving us from the power of sin. And when Jesus takes us into His pre-sence, our glorification will save us from the presence of sin itself. All these blessings –

• our peace with God
• our ability to love, remember, obey Him and live a separated life
• our deliverance from spiritual darkness and ability to walk in spiritual light
• our adoption as sons and daughters
• our being made heirs with Christ
• our privilege to suffer for Him
• our new nature
• our priesthood
• our citizenship in heaven
• our eternal life itself, and infinitely more –

are all blessings that come with “Christ in us.” But there is one more I must mention.
Colossians 1:27
27 …God (has) willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Might this be the greatest blessing of them all? Christ living in His church is a mystery that was not revealed to Israel in the OT. The Jewish Messiah would come and build His church, and that church would consist primarily of Gentiles. This was a mystery that had been hidden, but with the writing of the NT, the mystery was now made clear. God would no longer reside in the Jewish temple. No, He would live in His people. The NT teaches and confirms this truth.
Acts 7:47-48
47 “…(King) Solomon …built a house for Him.
48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands…”

Hebrews 9:11
11 …when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation…

So if Christ doesn’t dwell in houses made with hands, where does He dwell? You already know, don’t you? Listen once more to the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 6:16b
16b For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
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III. Conclusion
Listen Christian, “Christ in you” is your hope of glory. “Christ in you” absolutely guarantees your future. The absolute promise of heaven, the absolute promise of eternal life, and the absolute promise of a glory to come that you and I can barely even imagine is yours. All of that and more is because the Spirit of Christ is in you.

In just a moment we will partake of the elements. As you take these two elements into your body, think of the beautiful and meaningful symbolism and remember Jesus. He is in you.

Will you join me at the table?