IF ANY MAN BE

IN CHRIST

2014 National Training NT 1401

REVIEW

2013

2012

CHRIST AMBASSADOR DOING A GREAT WORK

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

2014

IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST

A true Ambassador Of Christ must be in Christ

We can only do a great work to the extent that we are

engrafted in Christ

Only in Christ can we be made just. Only in Him can we live by faith and

do exploits

In Today’s Christianity

There are many in Church but not in Christ

In many climes, Christianity is one mile long but one foot deep.

There is a huge disparity between the profession and the practice of Faith

It’s high time we re-examined the very foundation of our Faith – Are we in Christ?

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

“…and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” (Mssg)

2 Cor 5:17

“When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” (LB)

“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (AMP)

2 Cor 5:17

A brand NEW Person Inside

The OLD Has Passed Away

A NEW Life Has Come

A recreated sprit. New person, not a better person

The old nature is gone with its bad practices

A complete turnaround with New values, habits, perspectives…

Benefits Of

New Life

His Presence (Col 3:2)His Power

(Eph 3:10)

His Provision (2Pt 1:3)

His Redemption &Forgiveness (Col 1:13,14)

2 Pt 1:1-4

In Christ we have Victory over…

Power of the enemy (Col 2:14, 15) Sickness & disease

(I Pt 2; 24)

Poverty (2 Cor 8:9)

Sin (Rom 6:14; 8:2)

Benefits Of

New Life

Benefits Of

New LifeWe became partakers of His divine nature 2 Pt 1:4

And beneficiaries of the ministry & power of the Holy Spirit

IF… THEN…

Any MAN is in

CHRIST

He Is A Brand New

Person Inside

But It Is CONDITIONAL

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13(KJV)

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. John 3:3,6 NKJV

“Be In Christ,” means to be united with Christ by faith; or to be in Him as the branch is in the vine-that is, so united to the vine, or so in it, as to derive ALL its nourishment and support from it, and to be sustained entirely by it.” John 15:2

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor 5:15

The New Life brings about new conversations and outward reforms

This experience deals with 3 forces of human character: DESIRE – thoughts & wishes Jas 1:4;

WILL – the power of choosing & determining Jer 10:23; HABIT – regular tendency & practice

Rm 12:2

It creates new impression concerning Self, GOD, Man,

Environment, Time & Eternity

Our Responsibilities

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

“…I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.

Rom 12:1-2(J.B.Phillips)

RENEWYOURMIND

Our Responsibilities

Let the New Life work its way out in your conduct in the Family (Gen 18:18-19), Workplace (Tit 2:7-12), and the society (Tit 3:1-2)

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Gal 5:16

WALKIN THESPIRIT

Our Responsibilities

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation… and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation 2 Cor 5:18,19

In the FGBMFI, we have the responsibility of calling dead men to life.

PASSION FOR & COMMITMENT TO EVANGELISM ARE PROOFS OF A

REGENERATED SPIRIT

PREACHTHE

GOSPEL

Tragedy!It is a tragedy for the New Life not to manifest itself in a transformed life lived in submission to the Spirit of God

Such men should not be found in our Fellowship

“They will maintain a facade of “religion”, but their conduct will deny its validity. You must

keep clear of people like this.” 2 Tim 3:5 (J.B.Phillips)

By far the greatest tragedy is to have men who are not born again in our Fellowship!

Your answer explains your life – spirit-led or fleshly dominated & where you’ll spend eternity

– heaven or hell

The New Birth is a basic qualification for membership of our Fellowship

“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

1. Acknowledge your sin Rm 3:23

3. Repent of it Lk 13:3

2. Confess it Rm 3:23

4. Believe Jesus died for your sin Jn 3:16

5. Receive Jesus into your heart Jn 1:11-12

UNDERSTANDING WHO IS IN CHRIST

The theme and you

Presentation 2

•2Co 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 KJV

•2Co 5:17 So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new. Bible in Basic English

ARE YOU IN CHRIST OR IN THE FELLOWSHIP?

KEY SCRIPTURE2Cor 13:5 (Message).

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

INTRODUCTION Evidence (Fruit) of their lives MUST

support the claim that we have met the Lord, not to talk of abiding IN HIM.

It is very dangerous to presume you are IN CHRIST when you are merely IN CHURCH or IN THE FELLOWSHIP

Every genuine encounter with Christ is definite, unambiguous and transformational. Acts 26:12-19.

What does it mean to be in Christ?

It Entails:

1. A Change in Nature - To be born again i.e. to receive a new birth or new beginning.

Jn 3: 3,5,16• To forgo the natural human nature inherited from Adam

which in itself is sinful, and to receive a new kind of life from Jesus Christ which by nature is sinless and hates sin. Eph 4: 22 – 24; Col 3: 9 – 10; Eze 36: 26 - 27.

What does it mean to be in Christ? Contd…..

2. Change in Relationship.

• To have been removed from the dominion of

Satan and translated into the kingdom of God’s

Son. Col 1: 13; Mat 1: 21.

• Father- Son intimate relationship s. 2Cor5:18-

20. Rom 8:16-17.

What does it take to be in Christ?4 Things God will have you do.

• Personal RepentanceAcknowledgement of sin Matt 9:12-13.Confess your sin 1John 1:9; Rom 10;9 Repent of your sin. Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; Isaiah 55:7 Bear fruit of repentance. Matt 3:8

• Personal Faith in the accomplished work of Christ in His death and Resurrection. Rom 6:1-7.

• Personal confession of the Lordship of Jesus over your life. Rom 10: 9 – 10.

• Personal connection to Jesus through His yoke of discipleship. Matt 11:28-30.

The challenge

•The Challenge of full understanding

•Secondly, some merely received Jesus as Saviour and not Lord (Master, Director) of their lives.

•The danger of seeing Jesus as provider

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ?

• A brand new life: not repaired, refurbished or polished. 2Cor 5: 17.

• Loss of appetite/interest for sin. 1Jn 3: 6 –10

• Strong desire and love for godliness and righteousness.1Jn 2: 3 – 6.

• An insatiable hunger for the word of God and prayer. 1Pet 2: 2 – 3; Acts 2: 41 - 42

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? Cont.

• Sincere love for God and the brethren. 1Jn 2: 9 – 11;

• Humility of Heart. Phil 2: 5-8.• Desire to live in the perfect will of God. John 4:34.

• An appetite for Soul winning. 1Cor 9:16.

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? cont.

• Break away from the love of the world. 1Jn 2: 15 – 17; Gal 6: 14; Rom 12: 2.

• The inner witness and leading of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8: 14 – 16.

• Walking in the light (obedience of God’s word). 1Jn 1: 6 – 7; Eph 5: 8.

What indicators (Fruit) show that a man is in Christ? Cont.

• Growth in grace and in the knowledge of God. 2Pet 3:18.

• An ever increasing trust/faith in the ability of God 1Jn 4: 4; Eph 1: 19 – 22; Col 2: 6- 15; Heb 2: 14 – 15.

• Progressive manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit (Character of Christ) Gal.5:22-24

Therefore…

“So if we say we are his friends but go on living in spiritual darkness and sin, we are lying. But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin”. 1 John 1:6-7 (TLB)

 

• “But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did”.   1 John 2:5-6 (TLB)

Therefore---1 John 3:5-10

• 5 “And you know that he became a man so that he could take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him, no missing of God's will at any time in any way.

• 6 So if we stay close to him, obedient to him, we won't be sinning either; but as for those who keep on sinning, they should realize this: They sin because they have never really known him or become his.

  7 Oh, dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: if you are constantly doing what is good, it is because you are good, even as he is.

 

 

As Leaders we are not exempt

Check ourselves regularly

• Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Keep our bodies under subjectiom

• 1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway

As Leaders we must be alert

Confess and repent of errors/sin

• 1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Contend for every part of what we receieved

• Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Therefore---

• 8 But if you keep on sinning, it shows that you belong to Satan, who since he first began to sin has kept steadily at it. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the devil.

• 9 The person who has been born into God's family does not make a practice of sinning because now God's life is in him; so he can't keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him-he has been born again.

 <<

• 10 So now we can tell who is a child of God and who belongs to Satan. Whoever is living a life of sin and doesn't love his brother shows that he is not in God's family; .

 

 

, So,

Are you

IN CHRIST

or

in the Fellowship?

And in what areas?

Let Us PRAY