|
WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE
A ChristIAN
by
Islip Collyer
|
|
|
|
Life
In Christ
Everything
depends on those two thoughts expressed by the Lord in those
words which have often been regarded as strange and almost
meaningless! "You in me, and I in you." The language
is so simple and elementary, the idea so profound. Through
Christ life is offered to a perishing world; only "in
him" is there safety just as the ark offered the only
deliverance from the waters of the flood. Having believed
and rendered the initial obedience of baptism we are "in
him". We must "abide in him" all through life.
Under the cover of his righteousness the best conduct we are
capable of rendering will be accepted, although in itself
it would be totally inadequate. We are "called to God's
kingdom and glory", invited to be "partakers of
the divine nature", called with "a high and holy
calling", far beyond anything for which we are naturally
fitted (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:4; Philippians 3:14;
2 Timothy 1:9). Through Christ we are offered deliverance,
and all who are "in him" in the final sense when
he has passed judgment will be "made alive" in the
full and final change of nature, this mortal putting on immortality,
and this corruptible putting on incorruptibility (1 Corinthians
15:53).
|
|
Chapter 12
|
page
15 
|
|
|
|
|
The
first step for us to take is easy. If we believe in Christ with
that heart-felt confidence which makes for righteousness (Romans
10:10), - if as a beginning of that righteousness we submit to the
simple ordinance of baptism in accordance with his command-we are
in him, at least in a nominal sense. His final verdict will depend
on the other phase of the simple formula. Is he in us? Have we taken
his spirit-quickening words into our minds and built them up into
our characters as completely and as literally as on the physical
plane we build up our bodies with food and drink?
"Be
not conformed to this world", says the Apostle, "but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:2).
The only way to effect this transformation is by continually thinking
of Christ and keeping his teaching and example before us in the
ordinary experiences of life-his devotion to the will of the Father;
his kindness and service to humanity; his complete forgiveness even
of the deepest wrongs; his humility, self-sacrifice and steadfast
courage. Gradually with the sustained effort to put his principles
into practice such thoughts may be built up into character. The
essentials for Christian discipleship may be expressed in these
simple words of one syllable. We must be in him, and he must be
in us.
END
|
|
Chapter 12
|
|
|
|
