Going to Jesus

Daily Thoughts

 Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:

• Collection

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• Month

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• Day

  10-01 Preparing for the Truth 10-02 A Saved Sinner? 10-03 "He Will Save His People from their Sins" 10-04 The Disciples' Prayer, Part One - "Forgive us our Trespasses" 10-05 The Disciples' Prayer, Part Two - "Our Father . . . Thy Kingdom Come." 10-06 The Disciples' Prayer, Part Three - ". . . as we forgive others." 10-07 "Willing to Receive Rebuke" 10-08 "Two Secrets" 10-09 "The Bride and the Bridegroom" 10-10 "Afraid of Love" 10-11 "In the Flesh" 10-12 Inheriting the Kingdom 10-13 "Getting into Christ" 10-14 "Who is My Family?" 10-15 "Playing Both Ends of the Line" 10-16 The Holy Land 10-17 The Wise and the Foolish, Part One 10-18 The Wise and the Foolish, Part Two 10-19 "Let us Fear" 10-20 At Ease in Zion 10-21 Two Kinds of Unity 10-22 "The Least of These, My Brethren" 10-23 "As Long As I Am in the World . . ." 10-24 "Who is Right?" 10-25 The Results of Obedience 10-26 Because You Belong 10-27 Who is Lost? 10-28 The Lord's Anointed 10-29 "Nations and Denominations" 10-30 Wanderers among Denominations 10-31 Don't Be a Fool

 

Thought for Today
Oct. 13

"GETTING INTO CHRIST"

Paul taught the saints at Colossae that they were "complete" in Christ. In other words, being converted to Christ Jesus and belonging to his family made them completely acceptable to God the Father. They did not need to undergo any secret ritual; they did not need to perform the works of the Law that God required of the Jews; they did not need to join anything. "In Christ" was all they needed. In him, they were complete before God.

Since being in Christ is all we need in order to stand in a right relationship with God, we ought to be very interested in knowing how to get into him. Teaching people the way into Christ ought to play the most important role in all that servants of Jesus do on earth. Do you know what the Bible says about "getting into Christ"?

Paul mentions the phrase "in Christ" often, but he wrote only three verses that tell us how it is done. These are the only three verses in the entire Bible that state in simple, easily understood terms what it is that places us "into Christ". Here they are:

1. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3)
2. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Jesus Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27)
3. And in case there is any confusion as to whether the baptism of the holy Ghost or some form of water baptism is the baptism that accomplishes this, Paul wrote,
   "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body . . ." (1Cor. 12:13)

There is absolutely no question as to what Paul taught about when a person is born again; that is, when he gets "into Christ". The way, and the only way, for anyone to get "into Christ" is by receiving from Jesus the baptism of the Spirit (also called the baptism of the holy Ghost). Repeating Scriptures won't do it. Joining a Christian church certainly won't do it. Believing that it has happened and claiming that it has happened isn't it. Even repenting isn't it, though that must come first.

When Jesus baptizes you into his body, you are in Christ, and you stand complete before God. You will never be more "born again" than on that day. Every person on earth with the holy Ghost baptism is as much a member of the kingdom of God as Paul and Peter ever were. In other words, a holy Ghost baptized person is 100% in Christ.

If you have received the holy Ghost, rejoice that your name is written in heaven. But be mindful to walk worthy of your calling, for our God is a "consuming fire" and He is "no respecter of persons." If you have not yet received the holy Ghost baptism but desire it, you can also rejoice because that desire to be in Christ is not from you. We love God only when He first loves us. When anyone desires from his heart to be in Christ, it is really that Christ from his heart is desiring and calling that man.