“I (Jesus Christ) am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for otherwise apart from Me (that is, cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing.”
-John 15:5
“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus- how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness, and of the unselfish love which you have for all God’s People.”
-Colossians 1:4
The bible teaches us from the above scriptures that as Children of God, we must always be properly connected or united to Jesus Christ at all times-maintaining a healthy and unbroken relationship (fellowship) and bond with Him. Just like a branch that dies or withers away without being connected to the main tree (that possess all the nutrients essential for growth and prosperity), we also can wither or die in our faith and union with God if we are not connected to or remain in Jesus Christ.
What have we received (as we or if we remain) in Jesus Christ?
- In Jesus Christ, we have received all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms. Therefore we are rich spiritually: We are rich in our relationship with God, rich in his glory, rich in his ways (both in knowledge and it’s application) which are peace, righteousness, truth and lovingkindness, rich in the knowledge of his will, rich in his inheritance-spiritual power/authority & eternal possessions, rich in his nature and attributes of holiness and love.
“Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
-Ephesians 1:3
- In Jesus Christ, we have received redemption & salvation. Therefore, we are free from sin-its power, guilt & consequences, free from our sinful nature, free from the curses and death that accompanies sin.
“In Him we have redemption that is, our deliverance and salvation through His blood, which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace.”
-Ephesians 1:7
- In Jesus Christ, we are finally reconciled to the father in heaven. All things in heaven and on earth will also finally be restored and reconciled to the original plan of God at His coming. Those that have strayed and rebelled against God (including Satan, his fallen angels & those that reject Jesus Christ) will finally be imprisoned in the lake of fire and sulphur for eternity.
“Not only that, but we also rejoice in God rejoicing in His love and perfection through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation with God.”
-Romans 5:11
“He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, both things in the heavens and things on the earth.”
-Ephesians 1:10
“For even the whole creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. For creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay and gain entrance into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”-Romans 8:19-21
- In Jesus Christ, we have received an eternal inheritance (a purpose and destiny that was designed after his will) before the foundation of the world.
“In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will.”-Ephesians 1:11
- In Jesus Christ, we have received the Word of truth and the good news of salvation. The mystery of His will is revealed to us but hidden to others (unbelievers).
“In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and as a result believed in Him.”
-Ephesians 1:13
- In Jesus Christ, we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit- a guarantee of things to come (kingdom of God, thrones, rewards, glory of God, eternal life).
“In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and as a result believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected by God. The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own purchased possession His believers, to the praise of His glory.”
-Ephesians 1:13-14
- In Jesus Christ, we are under the care and protection of God.
“But the Lord Jesus Christ is faithful, and He will strengthen you setting you on a firm foundation and will protect and guard you from the evil one.”
-2 Thessalonians 3:3
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience, and He rescues each of them. O taste and see that the Lord our God is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him. O reverently fear the Lord, you His saints (believers, holy ones); For to those who fear Him there is no want.”
-Psalms 34:7
- In Jesus Christ, we are made spiritually alive. We are now awake to righteousness, and to the plans and purposes of God.
“And you [He made alive when you] were spiritually dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world, influenced by this present age, in accordance with the prince of the power of the air Satan, the evil spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].”
-Ephesians 2:1-2
- In Jesus Christ, we are transformed into God’s workmanship-taking the paths which God set and living the good life which God pre-arranged and made ready for us.
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used for good works, which God prepared for us beforehand, taking paths which He set, so that we would walk in them-living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us.”
-Ephesians 2:10
- In Jesus Christ, we are made to sit in heavenly places (in spiritual authority-possessing His power over the lies and traps of Satan and also possessing his mind which is focused on heavenly things). We are seated and clothed always in the presence and glory of God forever.
“And He raised us up together with Him when we believed and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, because we are in Christ Jesus.”
-Ephesians 2:6
“But we who are in Jesus Christ have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”
-1 Corinthians 2:16
- In Jesus Christ, we bear much fruit to God (the fruits of love-unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, righteousness and repentance from sin).
“I (Jesus Christ) am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for otherwise apart from Me (that is, cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing.”
-John 15:5
- In Jesus Christ, we have received selfless humility (genuine love and care for others).
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with an attitude of humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus look to Him as your example in selfless humility, who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it; but emptied Himself without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man.”
-Philippians 2:3-7
- In Jesus Christ, we have received Holy faith (to believe in God and his ways). This confident faith preserves our soul.
“But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but we are of those who believe (relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah) and by this confident faith which preserves the soul.”
-Hebrews 10:39
“Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity.”
-Hebrews 12:2
- In Jesus Christ, we have received grace.
“I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Corinthians 1:4
“So that as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
-Romans 5:21
“For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
-John 1:17
“So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is to be found only in Christ Jesus.”
-2 Timothy 2:1
- In Jesus Christ, we have received the promise of life (spiritual life, long physical life and eternal life)
“Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus-the Messiah, the Anointed by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.”
-2 Timothy 1:1
“Jesus said to him, “I am the only Way to God and the real Truth and the real Life ( spiritual, physical and eternal);no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
-John 14:6
- In Jesus Christ there is no condemnation, no guilty verdict or punishment.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].”
-Romans 8:1
- In Jesus Christ, we have divine truth.
“For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
-John 1:17
“Jesus said to him, “I am the only Way to God and the real Truth and the real Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
-John 14:6
- In Jesus Christ, we have received the goodness and kindness of God.
“But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ].”
-Titus 3:4
- In Jesus Christ, we received the unlimited love of God.
“For I am convinced and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the unlimited love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-Romans 8:39
- In Jesus Christ, we have been adopted as God’s own children.
“He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will.”
-Ephesians 1:5
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear of God’s judgment but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, the Spirit producing sonship by which we joyfully cry, “Abba! Father!”
-Romans 8:15
- In Jesus Christ, we have received the peace of God which reassures and guards our hearts.
“And the peace of God that peace which reassures the heart, that peace which transcends all understanding, that peace which stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus is yours.”
-Philippines 4:7
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.”
-John 16:33
- In Jesus Christ, we are built together into an eternal dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
“In Him and in fellowship with one another you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
-Ephesians 2:22
- In Jesus Christ, we have boldness and confident access to God almighty through faith.
“In whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him that is our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ.”
-Ephesians 3:12
- In Jesus Christ, we have spiritual, emotional and physical healing.
“But He (Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];The punishment required for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) and in Him we are healed.”
-Isaiah 53:5
- In Jesus Christ, we have Light (enlightenment of truth & the purposes and ways of God in this life and in the next life to come)
“Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
-John 8:12
- In Jesus Christ, we receive springs of living water (life-water that brings peace, tranquility, joy, happiness, wholeness, true purpose and immense satisfaction/contentment)
“Jesus answered her, whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up continually flowing, bubbling within him to eternal life.”
-John 4:13-14
- In Jesus Christ, we receive the righteousness of God.
“This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction.”
-Romans 3:22
“He made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
-2 Corinthians 5:21
- In Jesus Christ, we are sanctified (set apart, made holy) and made worthy to call and honor the name of our Lord.
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified (set apart, made holy) in Christ Jesus, who are selected and called as saints (God’s people), together with all those who in every place call on and honor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”
-1 Corinthians 1:2
- In Jesus Christ all our needs (not our selfish/sinful desires/wants) are met.
“And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippines 4:19
- In Jesus Christ, we receive sound teaching (doctrine) which empowers our faith and love for God and others
“Keep and follow the pattern of sound teaching (doctrine) which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
-2 Timothy 1:13
“But the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I (Jesus Christ) have said to you. What He teaches is truth and sound doctrine. He will take what He has heard from me and reveal it to you.”
-John 14:26
- In Jesus Christ, we suffer persecution and hate from the world along with him because his ways are holy, upright and truth. We are then glorified with him too.
“Indeed, all who delight in pursuing righteousness and are determined to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be hunted and persecuted [because of their faith].”
-2 Timothy 3:12
“Remember and continue to remember that I (Jesus Christ) told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If the world hates you and it does, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”
-John 15:18-20
“And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance, if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.”
-Romans 8:17
- In Jesus Christ, we become worthy vessels which God uses to glorify his name.
“So that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you by what you do, and you in Him, according to the precious grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
-2 Thessalonians 3:12
“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
-2 Timothy 2:20-21
- In Jesus Christ, we become worthy for God to use us to demonstrate His patience as an example to others.
“Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
-1 Timothy 1:16
Beloved we must always make an attempt through our surrender and choices and through the power of His Spirit working in us to remain in Jesus Christ. For the following scriptures teaches us that without him in us, we can do nothing:
“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith unless you remain in Me.”
-John 15:4
“Anyone who runs on ahead and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ [that is, one who is not content with what He taught], does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching [of Christ does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.”
-2 John 1:9
“The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive and take to its heart because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.”
-John 14:17
How do we receive Jesus Christ into our life and remain in Him?
- We must believe in Him (as the son of God-the messiah) and seek after him.
- We must invite him into our hearts with all our heart, mind, and soul.
- We must repent from our evil and selfish ways (turning away from sin and our acquired sinful nature and from the world-lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life).
- We must embrace diligently the ways of God which is peace, righteousness, loving-kindness,truth and die to the self (old self, flesh) and its ways.
- We must confess our sins and our sinful nature (with our mouth) before God.
- We must make a public statement (confession) to follow God.
- We must receive baptism by water.
- We must diligently read God’s Holy word learning about his kingdom, his will, his plans, and his ways.
- We must be under an anointed man/woman of God in a church/ministry to grow spiritually and to attain the maturity and nature of Jesus Christ.
- We must keep and follow the word of God, (his commandments) diligently.
- We must seek after and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- We must be fruitful in our lives (fulfilling the predestined purposes and plans of God).
- We must patiently hope, wait, and prepare for the coming of our Lord and His eternal kingdom.
Beloved If you claim to be in Jesus Christ today, Have you truly experienced all the blessings found in Him? Have you opened up yourself to receive all the benefits mentioned above? If not, please welcome Him into your hearts and minds today and be eternally blessed in Him.
-Evg. Samuel Meesala