YOU’VE GOTTA BE IN IT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The title of our lesson this morning is:  “You’ve Gotta Be In It.”

 

B.      The Bible plainly teaches that to be a new creature one must be “in Christ” (II Cor. 5:17).

 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

C.     The words, “in Christ,” seem elusive, meaning that they do not accommodate a clear perception or mental grasp.

 

I.                   WHAT IT MEANS TO BE “IN CHRIST”

 

A.    To understand what it means to be “in Christ,” we have to understand the relationship between Christ and the church.

1.      The Bible teaches us that Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

 

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

 

2.      The church is the body of Christ.

a.      There is one body (Eph. 4:4).

b.      Each Christian is a member of that one body (I Cor. 12:14).

 

For the body is not one member, but many.

 

1)      The body of Christ can be likened unto our physical bodies.

2)      There is one body, but many members that carry out different functions within the body.

3.      When we obey the gospel, which culminates in the action of baptism, we are added by the Lord to the body.

a.      I Corinthians 12:13a

 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…

 

b.      Acts 2:47

 

…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

1)      The saved are those who believe and are baptized according to Jesus (Mark 16:16).

2)      When a person is saved, the Lord adds him to the church, the body of Christ.

c.       I Corinthians 12:18

 

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

 

d.      NOTE:  When a person is in the body of Christ, he is “in Christ.”

 

B.      The Bible teaches that there are many important things that are “in Christ.”

1.      A short list:

a.      Liberty (Gal. 2:4)

b.      Redemption (Eph. 1:7)

c.       Inheritance (Eph. 1:11)

d.      Grace (II Tim. 2:1)

e.       Salvation (II Tim. 2:10)

f.        All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3)

2.      Remember, to be in the church is to be in Christ.  Therefore, in order to receive all of these blessings you must be “in Christ.”  This is the meaning of the title of our lesson.  “You’ve Gotta Be In It.”  You have to be in the church to have all of the blessings that are found in Christ.

 

II.                PLACES IN WHICH YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE

 

A.    In the world

1.      The world involves everything that is not in Christ.

2.      I John 2:15

 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

a.      Money, career, school, family, recreation, clubs, and sin.

b.      There are many who are wrapped up in the world so much that they have no care for God at all.

 

B.      In Judaism

1.      There was a time when Judaism was the God-given religion.

2.      That religion, however, served its purpose.  Having served its purpose, it was done away.

a.      Galatians 3:24-25

 

For the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

 

b.      Hebrews 8:13

 

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.  Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

 

C.     In the Catholic Church

1.      The Catholic Church has deceived many into thinking it is the true church.

2.      It, however, did not exist in the first century.

a.      The Bible was written by the conclusion of the first century.

b.      In the Bible, we do not read of the pope, the veneration of Mary, the clergy/laity system, the Vatican, the Rosary, indulgences, the Confessional, the Mass, transubstantiation, the elevation of saints, etc.

c.       But, we do read of the Lord’s church (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16).

 

D.    In a man-made denomination

1.      Denominations did not come into existence until the 1500s.

2.      These religious organizations were formed by men. 

3.      They are founded upon creeds, manuals, disciples, and catechisms issued by men.

4.      They promote religious division instead of the oneness prayed for by Jesus in John 17:20-21.

5.      Jesus said that whatever has not been planted by God shall be rooted up (Matt. 15:13).

 

E.      In a man-made world religion

1.      World religions are much like denominations.  They were formed by men.

a.      Islam:  Muhammad

b.      Hinduism:  Brahma

c.       Confucianism:  Confucius

d.      Baha i:  Baha u llah

2.      They, too, are based on the teachings of men.

3.      They, too, divide the religious world into sects and factions.

4.      Jesus foretold that tares (darnel, false grain, grain that was not wheat but resembled wheat) would be sown among the wheat and would produce children of the wicked one (See Matt. 13:36-43).

 

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire:  there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 

F.      In the wisdom of men, science and philosophy

1.      There are many people who have a fascination and a trust in the wisdom of men.

2.      They will often trust men before they will trust God.

3.      We do not need to rest in the wisdom of men.  In I Corinthians 1, Paul discusses God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom.  Two statements are pertinent to our discussion.

a.      I Corinthians 1:25

 

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men…

 

b.      I Corinthians 1:19

 

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

 

G.     In nature

1.      Some like to think that they are closer to God in nature.

2.      This has to do with their feelings. 

a.      It is quiet.

b.      It is peaceful.

c.       It is majestic.

d.      It is clean and pure.

e.       They are away from people.

f.        They are not involved in their jobs.

g.      They can forget their problems.

h.      Because they are where they are, they can focus.  Thus, they focus on God. 

3.      Nature is not divine.  Nature was created by deity.  There are blessings found in nature, but nature has no redeeming value.  One cannot be saved through nature.  One day, nature will be burned up (II Pet. 3:10).

 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

H.    In some self-made spirituality

1.      We hear from some people that they want to be spiritual, but they do not want to be religious.

2.      These individuals attempt to devise their own ways to be with God and to be saved.

a.      Walks on the beach with prayers

b.      Bible study and prayer at home

c.       Some type of online devotional system

3.      Jeremiah 10:23

 

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself:  it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

 

4.      We need the attitude of the psalmist (Ps. 119:133).

 

Order my steps in thy word:  and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

 

I.        In the forces of opposition   

1.      Some believe that their salvation comes in opposing God and His ways.

2.      They feel that man save himself.

3.      They believe that in order to be truly free man must free himself from God.

4.      Thus, they oppose Him with abandon, that is, without any restraints, concerns, or worries.

5.      Isaiah 3:11

 

Woe unto the wicked!  It shall be ill with him:  for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Where are you seeking your salvation?

1.      Are you seeking it in the right place, that is, in the church?

2.      Or, are you seeking it in the wrong places like that that we just mentioned.

 

B.      Remember, the Bible is true.  If you desire salvation, grace, and redemption, you gotta be in the church.

1.      Jesus purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

2.      Jesus gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:25)

3.      One day, He is going to come back for the church and take it home to glory with Him (Eph. 5:27).

 

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.