We have come to another "to the praise" phrase in the text (v.12) which takes us to the last two blessings and these have a present-future focus.
When we respond to the "gospel of our salvation" and give our lives to Christ ("hear the word truth") we are "included" in Christ. This becomes one of Paul's favourite concepts - that we are _IN_ Christ.
Being IN Christ means that when God looks at us, He sees what Christ has done for us. Our past, present and future is "in Christ"! This is wonderful good news. When we pray, when we work, when we do anything God sees us IN Christ.
Our future is already taken care of when we are "in Christ."
To use the same language that Jesus used:
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
But this came at great cost: Christ came INto our world and died OUTside the city (the book of Hebrews (13:11-12) sees this as a symbol of His being cut off from God in our place) so that we could be saved.
We are _included_ in Christ - our present and future are not bound up to who we are and how we might succeed or fail. We are IN Christ. When God sees us, we are clothed IN His righteousness.
Thank You Lord for INcluding me!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
