A Pitiful And Weak Statement.

[JarodAb]

There are those within every appendage of Evangelical Christendom who claim to be "in Christ." Pity they have such weak reading skills and spiritual integrity.

1.) A tenet of hermeneutics specifies no single Scriptural site is to be used to form a valid Doctrine or Theology. 2 Cor. 5:17 is the only place giving the phrase of a human being placed "in Christ."

2.) Those who are proud to dance with grammar and with busy verbation try to equate the influence of the Holy Spirit with being "in Christ." That is not a consistent ideology in Scripture outside of nonapostle Paul's imagination. The Holy Spirit spoke through Balaam's ass, and through sinful Samson, neither of which were "in Christ."

3.) No self ascribed Believer can even reliably describe what are the means and effects of being "in Christ." They merely ramble with speculations.

4.) Predestination for being elected by God includes those who are without the Holy Spirit and not "in Christ," even possibly for their entire lives.

5.) "In Christ" states one is living without any sins of either commission or omission, because Christ was sinless. Jesus stated one can be His friend only if they obey His Commands. No such person exists. Jesus said nothing about "trying" to obey His Commands. His Commands either are or are not obeyed.

"In Christ" is a bandied phrase, favored by those who rest upon churchy sounding aphorisms. Stand two people up together, with one claiming to be "in Christ" and the other not claiming so, and they are indistinguishable. There is no Scripture specifying those with obedience both to Jesus' Commands and to the Will of The Father are a priori "in Christ."

 

[Alofa Atu]

There are those within every appendage of Evangelical Christendom who claim to be "in Christ." Pity they have such weak reading skills and spiritual integrity.

1.) A tenet of hermeneutics specifies no single Scriptural site is to be used to form a valid Doctrine or Theology. 2 Cor. 5:17 is the only place giving the phrase of a human being placed "in Christ." ...

#1. What?

Rom_8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom_9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Rom_12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Rom_16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

Rom_16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Rom_16:9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

Rom_16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

1Co_1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

1Co_1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1Co_3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1Co_4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

1Co_4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

1Co_4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1Co_15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1 Cor 15:19,22,31, 16:24;
2 Cor 1:21, 2:14,17, 3:14, 5:17, 12:2,19
Gal 1:22, 3:28, 6:15
Eph 1:1,3,10, 2:6,10,13
Php 1:1,13, 2:1, 4:21
Col 1:2,28
1 Thes 2:14, 4:16
1 Tim 2:7
2 Tim 3:12
Phm 1:8,23
1 Pet 3:16, 5:14

What are you talking about? Have you read any scripture at all?

 

[Alofa Atu]

...2.) Those who are proud to dance with grammar and with busy verbation try to equate the influence of the Holy Spirit with being "in Christ." That is not a consistent ideology in Scripture outside of nonapostle Paul's imagination. The Holy Spirit spoke through Balaam's ass, and through sinful Samson, neither of which were "in Christ." ...

#2 Did you just say "nonapostle Paul"? That is a direct denial of scripture itself:

Act_14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

Luke wrote Acts under influence of the Holy Spirit. Deny that, and you just denied God's inspired and preserved word through Luke no less.

"verbation" is slang.

Yes, the Holy Spirit can use a medium such as an animal. Yes, Samson was sinful, but the LORD was still with him (hence God is long suffering), until:

Jdg 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Yet, he is mentioned in the Hall of Faith:

Heb_11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

He is a type of Jesus Christ, but you would have to desire from God to even see that.

As for "in Christ" outside of Paul, Peter says the same:

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Jude says the same:

Jud_1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

John the Apostle says:

Rev_14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

 

[Alofa Atu]

...3.) No self ascribed Believer can even reliably describe what are the means and effects of being "in Christ." They merely ramble with speculations. ...

Rom_8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Since I am "in Christ", I am free from the condemnation the righteous, holy, just and good and eternal Law of God (the Ten Commandments) which brought death (and rightfully so) to me, which was my earnings from my sins, which were transgressions of the Law. My old man of sin died, and I live the new life which Christ Jesus lives:

Gal_2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Rom_12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Since I am "in Christ" I am now connected to His (Jesus') body (His members, His people).

2Co_2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Since I am "in Christ" I do not corrupt the word of God as others, but speak as Jesus speaks, It is written - Isaiah 8:20.

Gal_6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Since I am "in Christ" I am a new creature, not the person I was before (who is crucified with Christ Jesus). Hating those things I once loved (sin, death, lies, evil), and loving those things I once hated (truth, righteousness, peace, love, good). All of my past things are long gone, burned, tore up, thrown away. I truly have done what these have done:

Act_19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

There are many other such examples. Do not confuse a 'babe in Christ' for a fully mature adult in Christ, even the 'head':

1Co_3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Eph_4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

There is a growing in Christ Jesus to do, from being "born again" (a child spiritually, learning to talk, walk, etc):

1Co_13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 

[Alofa Atu]

...4.) Predestination for being elected by God includes those who are without the Holy Spirit and not "in Christ," even possibly for their entire lives. ...

#4 Do not misuse the word 'predestination':

2Pe_3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

(Peter warned you and also just told you that Paul's epistles were also 'scripture'.)

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Eph 1:10 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:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Christ Jesus is the only 'chosen'. We have to be found in Him, through faith in the Father's choice, to be with that chosen.

Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Who did the Father give to Jesus? Anyone who would came to him, freely, of their own free will, by their own choice which God gave to all in Christ Jesus (Genesis 3:15), the "whosoever will".

What is the condition of being "in Christ"? Our 'belief'.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Joh 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Joh_6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Think of it like the Ark of Noah. Jesus is that Ark. Anyone may be saved, but you have to choose to believe in the method God chose to be saved and so get on board. Only one Ark.

 

[Alofa Atu]

...5.) "In Christ" states one is living without any sins of either commission or omission, because Christ was sinless. Jesus stated one can be His friend only if they obey His Commands. No such person exists. Jesus said nothing about "trying" to obey His Commands. His Commands either are or are not obeyed. ...

#5 A commandment of God is either obeyed or not obeyed, true. Yet, you seem to think that there are no 'babes in Christ' and all are fully grown to full maturity, even the Head. 'babes in Christ' make mistakes, are often ignorant, and God knows:

Deu 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Jon 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Isa_7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth

A 'babe' doesn't know everything, but must grow in knowledge of God by His word and Holy Ghost, and God winks at ignorance, but always instructing:

Php_1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Col_1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe_2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2Pe_3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The full man will come:

Eph_4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Even as it is written:

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev_6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

For it is written:

Rom_16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

[Alofa Atu]

1Pe_3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: