Pastor's Power Points

Found in Him

A fundamental component of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ is to be found in Him that we may acquire the excellencies of Christ.  The apostle uses the phrase “found in” also in Phil. 2:8 speaking of the second Person of the Trinity who was found in appearance as a man. The meaning is to be recognized in reality by another. Jesus did not just appear as a man, He was a man recognized by others.  So for us to be found in Him takes our faith out of the realm of a private subjective notion into the sphere in which the regenerate live.

A key description of the regenerate is the term in Christ. Barnes says that this points to our union with Christ – that we are truly and intimately connected to Him. We are in Him as a branch is in the trunk of the tree.  There is a permanent dwelling which makes the branch naturally at rest, all the while drawing resources, growing and producing.  We could say that the branch is in its element in the trunk just as a fish is in its element in water – the Christian’s element is in Christ.  With numerous exhortations to abide in Him, the Christian’s permanent address is Jesus Christ my Lord. The regenerate may be at home, at work or traveling abroad; he may be healthy, sick, abased or abounding – but he is always in Him.  Motyer colors the apostle’s statement in saying, “The Lord Jesus is a dwelling so attractive that Paul cannot bear to be away from home.”

To be found in Him, biblically, is an affirmed position, and it is the loftiest of human ambitions. When we ask, “Found by whom?” we will recognize this not as just a warm devotional thought, but as profound doctrinal truth about our essence and purpose with implications about our submission and habits.

Found by whom?

1.  When approaching or being approached, the finder finds a distinct absence of self-righteousness; that I (the one found in Him) do not have “my own righteousness” (my own attempts to achieve the divine standard) but “the righteousness which is from God by faith” – a righteousness which is permanent and perfect because it is divine.  While this righteousness speaks of the believer’s position (judicially) in Christ, it is not a stagnant, lifeless righteousness.  We are charged in Scripture to work out our own salvation, to show our faith by our works and to walk in newness of life – to walk just as Christ walked. This righteousness is one that moves from an inward reality to an outward manifestation, therefore, we are found in Him by those with whom we live and converse. Based on who we are, who are we to be?  Because we are found in Him, we are to be found in Him. Being precedes doing. Despite all our weaknesses, we possess the power to walk in, and lovingly confront this short-sighted, self-centered temporal existence to the glory of God.

Writing to the Corinthians, Paul stated that the believer’s position of influence in this world is in contrast to the nobility, wisdom and intellect of human splendor (I Cor. 1:26-31). He makes the distinction: “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”  Our wisdom is His, therefore we walk skillfully in step with the clearly revealed character and purpose of God. Our righteousness is His, therefore His goodness operates in us and through us. Our sanctification is His process of molding us (outworking the inward reality) into the character of Christ. Our redemption is His, therefore because we have been redeemed from every lawless deed and He has purified for Himself His own special people zealous for good works (Titus 2:14), we live in the sight of all as those who are truly free.  Man in his own wisdom (“futility of his mind” [Eph. 4:17]) is bound and controlled by his own devices and deceptive appetites. But the one who is in Christ is unleashed to fulfill that for which he was designed. Only the one found in Him can live up to the adage: “Be all that you can be!”

We are found in Him for all to take note. “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” Let your light shine!

2. How powerful the change in a person’s life that comes through God’s transforming grace. This contrast is outlined often in the New Testament like in Ephesians 1:1-2, And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. This truth is the result of being found in Him – clearly a knowledge of surpassing worth. But there is one who would like you to forget your status of newness in Christ. He is the “prince of the power of the air” mentioned in v.2, also known as the adversary, the slanderer (“devil”) and the tempter. He is named according to the nature of his activity, and from his name you can gather that he is neither indifferent nor benign but actively opposes Christ and all that are His.

The Christian may say, “I don’t have to worry about him – I am no longer under his dominion (Col. 1:13). He is a defeated foe.” It is true that the one in Christ need not fear the adversary, but we must be aware of his workings and the tactics he employs for they can be most subtle.  Heed this warning:  Your adversary uses slander against you and tempts you to believe his accusations in order to make you an insecure Christian. An insecure Christian will fast become an ineffective Christian and this is exactly his objective.  Revelation 12:10 records that his accusations are relentless – day and night. For this reason, Peter warns the believer (I Pet. 5:8) to be sober (self-controlled) and vigilant (watchful) so that you will recognize the tactics of the one who would like nothing more than to trip you up by hurling your weaknesses and sins in your face. His arsenal is stockpiled with grenades of guilt. He will make every attempt to make you believe that you are utterly unworthy, that you are an awful person, and that your life is worth nothing.  Just as he accused Job of worshipping God self-servingly – so he will slander you before God and to your face. He can work both ways: he can tempt you by guilt or he can lure you to focus on the idea that you are good enough not to be bothered with God.

It is at this critical juncture that one must be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, but that which is through faith in Christ.  The much loved song describes it well: 

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great High Priest whose name is Love who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart; I know that while in heav’n He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there, Who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; for God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.

 What knowledge of surpassing worth this is!

 3.  Probably one of the most sobering verses in all of Scripture is Hebrews 4:13, And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Many anecdotes are posited in regard to what we can certainly count on in our existence, but the inspired word of the living God offers this one – the ultimate accounting.  Whether one chooses to believe it or not is irrelevant.  Many do live in essential denial as the Psalmist David depicted: Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart; “You will not call to account?” (Psa.10:13). Existence without accountability (boundaries or restraint) is man’s warped view of freedom, but the final accounting looms as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Heb. 9:27).

Man’s basic grasp of ultimate accountability is betrayed by his varied efforts to appease and/or please the divine (in whatever form or essence he esteems it) or to at least appease his conscience. In every case (absent the grace of God) it results in laborious, wearisome bondage – even if to himself and his own devices. For all of these, the Creator will pass the judgment that says – Not good enough! None of it measures up to His standard of perfection and all of it must be ultimately cast away from unapproachable holiness.

In history, however, the Creator has done two things to prepare his creatures for this ultimate accounting. First, He has proved to man that on his own he is incapable of measuring up to the perfect requirement of God. Even those who thought they had arrived were told: unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20). Certainly in exasperation they must have thought “What more can we do?!”

Disclosing the second thing that God has done in history, the apostle Paul (having been confronted with the issue personally) encapsulates the answer to that question in Romans 3:21-22; But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, …the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Faith in Jesus Christ, incarnate Son of God, Creator, Redeemer – the One who absorbed God’s wrath on the cross for all people – results in the gift (free!) of justification to all who believe.  That is the righteousness that exceeds that of the very religious and self-righteous. It cannot be attained by doing much good or more good, but simply by being found in him, not having a righteousness of my own…, but that which comes through faith in Christ.

As the ark shielded Noah from the judgment of God because by faith he was in it, so those who are found in Christ by faith are no longer under judgment – today or in the end. For those in that position, the apostle affirms – there is no condemnation because those in Christ have been made the righteousness of God. The Pulpit Commentary aptly states, “God the Father regards sinners with favor because of the merit and righteousness of His Son.”  The apostle John expressed the benefit of abiding in Him: that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.  In Christ we benefit from His righteousness and His character.

We are free to live!