All died when Christ died (2 Cor 5:14, 15), being His body (Eph 2:11-19). And when the Head resurrected, the body was made alive TOGETHER with Him (Col 2:13; Eph 2:4, 5). Hence, all are "in Christ". Simple.
You have trouble with pronouns, don't you?
All died when Christ died (2 Cor 5:14, 15), being His body (Eph 2:11-19). And when the Head resurrected, the body was made alive TOGETHER with Him (Col 2:13; Eph 2:4, 5). Hence, all are "in Christ". Simple.
Yes, even atheists are now "in Christ", but they will be blotted out from the book of life for not overcoming the evil of unbelief in God.Even atheists believe in God or they wouldn't bother claiming he does not exist. However, their faith in no God is useless and gains them nothing.
Don't get bothered with my pronoun problems. Be bothered whether you are this side of the fence with Christ.You have trouble with pronouns, don't you?
Yes, even atheists are now "in Christ", but they will be blotted out from the book of life for not overcoming the evil of unbelief in God.
You said atheists believe in God. Believing is a spiritual act doable only by the spiritually alive, those who are "in Christ" Who is our Life (Col 3:4). Therefore, the atheists are "in Christ", otherwise they could not believe for apart from Christ they can do NOTHING (John 15:5). Simple and biblical.Not biblical.
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14)
No missing of context. The context is clear because His words are clear: Apart from Me you can do NOTHING. No arguing. Just simply believing the words of the Master. And the Master said NOTHING. So if one can do SOMETHING (like believing), then he is "in Christ".Exactly! So how do you miss the context of the words of Christ? Or do you just like to argue from an imaginary position of self righteous exclusivity?
No missing of context. The context is clear because His words are clear: Apart from Me you can do NOTHING. No arguing. Just simply believing the words of the Master. And the Master said NOTHING. So if one can do SOMETHING (like believing), then he is "in Christ".
Because He had deleted them from the book of life. They did not overcome evil with good.You are confused because at another time Jesus said "Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
When one is apart from Christ, he cannot do anything spiritual, like believing. Believing is the exercise of faith. And faith is fruit of the Spirit. And only those "in Christ" can bear fruit. So, "in Christ" first BEFORE one bears fruit. Simple.Joining with Christ is a faith based decision by one is apart from Christ. That is the something they can do of their own volition.
Because He had deleted them from the book of life. They did not overcome evil with good.
When one is apart from Christ, he cannot do anything spiritual, like believing. Believing is the exercise of faith. And faith is fruit of the Spirit. And only those "in Christ" can bear fruit. So, "in Christ" first BEFORE one bears fruit. Simple.
So when is a person "in Christ"? After or before he believes?
So, spiritually alive first, before one can have faith.
Using the words of Christ is, I think, not quibbling legalism. He said that apart from Him man can do NOTHING (John 15:5)
You mentioned "estranged from God in spirit". That, to me, means you seem to believe that people were "in God" PRIOR to their being estranged from Him. And to be "in God" is to be "in Christ" Who is one with the Father. That supports my position that people are born "in Christ".
is actually a travesty of the very scripture you are commenting on. In the first place you change disciples to man in general and in the second place you change fruits to a very stressed 'NOTHING'. Jesus clearly meant that disciples will bear no fruit unless they remain in Christ. This is nothing to do with unbelievers. If you want to talk about unbelievers, try some other scripture.He said that apart from Him man can do NOTHING (John 15:5)
(Rom 10:2-3)For I am a witness to how zealous they are towards God but their enthusiasm is misplaced.
For, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and endeavouring to establish their own, they became incompatible with the righteousness of God.
Correct. And any spiritual act is doable only by the spiritually alive, by those who are "in Christ". The spiritually dead, those who are NOT "in Christ" can simply do NOTHING, as Christ Himself said.When one forsakes self and joins Christ they have made that decision in their hearts. They have done something spiritual.
Simply closing our spiritual ears to what our Savior said doesn't negate what He said: "Apart from Me you can do NOTHING (John 15:5). The fact that people are able to believe and repent is proof enough they are "in Christ".You are creating an issue where none existed.
Most Christian preachers teach that people are born NOT “in Christ”. And to be NOT “in Christ” is to be separate from Christ, to be NOT part of His body, to be spiritually dead because Christ is our life (Col 3:4). These preachers teach that to be "in Christ", people need to first believe and repent.
So, HOW can one who is still separate from Christ and is yet spiritually dead being NOT “in Christ”, able to believe and repent, when Christ Himself said that separate from Him one can do NOTHING (John 15:5)? These preachers seem to be saying that while separate from Christ, one can do things: they can believe and repent, making Christ's statement false.
If you are one of these preachers, you may choose one of the ff:
1. If you believe the brand of gospel you are preaching is true, then address the issue in the blue paragraph.
2. But if upon reading this post, you realized that what you are preaching is defective, then preach instead that people are born "in Christ" and that all they have to do to remain "in Christ" is overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21), because overcomers will not be blotted out from the book of life (Rev 3:5).
True, my brother. So, how many did He draw to Himself. Yes, All. Proving that all are "in Christ".That isn't what he said. You made that up because you are evil and trying to pull people from the faith.
John 12
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
Correct. And any spiritual act is doable only by the spiritually alive, by those who are "in Christ". The spiritually dead, those who are NOT "in Christ" can simply do NOTHING, as Christ Himself said.
Simply closing our spiritual ears to what our Savior said doesn't negate what He said: "Apart from Me you can do NOTHING (John 15:5). The fact that people are able to believe and repent is proof enough they are "in Christ".
That's why to be possible, people have to be "in Christ" first before they can do anything spiritual. Paul says he can do all things through Christ. And without Christ? NOTHING.Free Grace believers believe we are without God and without hope in the world and UNABLE to do anything about it......Salvation for us starts and finishes with God alone...How can we who are dead in sin repent and believe? "with men it is impossible but with God all things are possible"
True, my brother. So, how many did He draw to Himself. Yes, All. Proving that all are "in Christ".
