CHRIST OUR NOW LIFE

The Christian journey is often misconstrued as a dualistic struggle with a heavy focus on a past event (the Cross) coupled with a distant hope for a future destination (Heaven). While both realities are fundamental, an abnormal focus on them frequently leaves a glaring disconnection in the middle: the present moment that has been seen as just a waiting area contrary to what the Christian life truly is. There must be life before death to have life after death.

There must be life before death to have life after death.

“Christ Our Now Life” is a study focused on the immediate, current reality of Christ as our present existence, strength, and identity. This study moves the work of the Cross and future glorification of the saint to explore the powerful dynamic realm of a present union with and manifestation of divinity based on the profound truth of Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” This study shifts the believer’s perspective from trying to live for God to allowing Christ to live through them right now.

The Doctrine of Christ

Believers must be instructed that Christ does not stand by Jesus in the Bible just in name representing the same thing. As taught in a couple of meetings from the beginning of the year, there is that which the historical Jesus represents, as well as what the cosmic Christ represents in the person Jesus Christ. Scripture does not use Jesus or Christ standing alone, just interchangeably, but to communicate certain deep truth [Matthew 1, 2, 3, 16, 27:22; Matthew 1:18, 11:2, 16:13, 26:63, John 6:69].

2 John 1:9 reveals that Christ is a Doctrine on its own and must be embraced to avoid missing out on the Father. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

Transgress here means setting aside, by passing, neglecting, violating, going past, overstepping, abandoning, departing from, turning away from, overlooking, etc.

Doctrine here means teachings concerning, instructions about, knowledge of something, enjoinment to, expounding about, unlike other uses which mean teachings from as in Heb 6:1 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God”. Doctrine in this verse means speech, utterance, verbal presentations, decrees, declarations, aphorisms, a weighty saying, dictum and many more.

Having understood these terms of scripture we can now appreciate that overlooking this centrally all-important doctrine has consequences to the overlooker.

Importance of the Doctrine of Christ

Central Trajectory

A major objective of Scripture is to reveal Jesus as the Christ, the God who has come to be man. Reading through the Pentateuch, the various covenants, typologies, direct witnesses as well as the epistles cohesively testifies to the doctrine of Christ. There is a convergence of all the historical, legal, poetical and wisdom narratives at the witness stand of the fact that Christ is divinity revealed.

[15] “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
[16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
[17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 16:15–17

[25] “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
[26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
[27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:25-27

[44] “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
[45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
[46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:” – Luke 24:44-46

[31] “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” - John 20:31

 "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." – Acts 18:28

Reception or Rejection of Divinity

 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” - 2 John 1:9

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” – 1 John 2:22

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” – 1 John 5:1

Ultimate Value

 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” – Philippians 3:8

[17] “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” – Colossians 1:17-19

The Ultimate Objective

[11] “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” – Ephesians 4:11-13

Hatred for the Doctrine

“These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” – John 9:22

“The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.” –  Acts 4:26

It was always against the Christ and simply the physical Jesus that they hated.

Need for Christ

God Is Uncontainable

Finite wisdom and understanding cannot comprehend God because His person and power transcend anything imaginable. God is boundless, limitless and unthinkable in all his being and doings. This truth was acknowledged by Solomon when he dedicated the temple he built for the Lord in 1 Kings 8:27: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”

“Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” - Isaiah 66:1

[48] “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
[49] Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
[50] Hath not my hand made all these things?” - Acts 7:48-50

[24] “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
[25] Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” - Acts 17:24-25

The sum of these verses is that God is uncontainable meaning no box whatever it is made of, whether theology or imagination cannot hold the supremacy, sovereignty and superiority of God. That God is continually so vast beyond any perceivable limits and beyond the totality of human comprehensions. How can we fully know God of this magnitude and be able to attend to him accordingly, it’s impossible humanly speaking.

God Is Invisible

Another important basis for the need of Christ is the invisibility of God inherently planted in his nature. So many references and scriptures establish this fact; these few examples suffice.

“No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” - John 1:18

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” - Colossians 1:15

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” - 1 Timothy 1:17

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” - 1 Timothy 6:16

These verses here clearly establish that the invisibility of God does not speak to his absence of existence. It rather speaks to such an enveloping presence that we are tempted to think of it as emptiness in existence. The saturation of God’s presence everywhere we find ourselves is so heavy that nothing pins Him down. Though invisible, Romans 1:20 tells us He has ways of making His attributes known to all. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

God Is a Terror

God is overwhelmingly unapproachably majestic existentially and in deeds that supersedes  any form of control. There is the invocation of pure dread when one encounters the immensity of His sacred self and power.

“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” - Exodus 33:20

“Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.” - Psalm 90:11

[6] “At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
[7] Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
[8] Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,” - Psalm 76:6-8

“And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” - Isaiah 2:19

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” - 2 Corinthians 5:11

[30] “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” - Hebrews 10:30-31

[18] “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
[19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
[20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
[21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)” - Hebrews 12:18-21

“For our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:29

Who among men in their right senses would dare approach a God of this greatness? No one can and no one will.

Christ Makes God Containable

In Christ the infinite, unapproachable, inaccessible, uncontainable God became reachable by man without losing His divinity. The Creator of all things including the seen and unseen, time, space all the heavenly hosts opted to compress Himself into humanity. This He did to make humanity access divinity in a most effortless manner. Let’s read the following.

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” - John 14:9

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:19

[9] “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” - Colossians 2:9-10

[18] “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” - Ephesians 2:18-19

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” - Colossians 1:15

Union with Christ

Union with Christ is a fundamental Christian doctrine establishing that believers are spiritually, organically and lawfully united with Christ by Grace through faith. Every good God has promised to humanity through the historicity of Scripture has aimed at this union. Offering forgiveness of sin, righteousness, holiness, adoption to sonship, salvation and eternal life are all aimed at bringing us to union with Christ. This union is not an abstract idea but immeasurably comprehensive and in-depth bond with only divine boundaries. The following in Scripture reveals how God has had His eye on bringing us to live in union with Him.

 [11] “And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. [12] And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” - Leviticus 26:11-12

Apostle Paul explains this Old Testament scripture quoting it to refer to union with divinity and the divine indwelling the believer.

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” - 2 Corinthians 6:16

“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. [20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” - John 14:19-20

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” - John 14:23

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” - John 17:23

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” - 1 John 4:13

This union is rooted in the past act of God – Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

This union, a present vitality in all that the believers is – Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

This union has a future – Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Implications of the Union of Christ

The Exchanged Life

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24

Navigational Strength

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

Power and Wisdom

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:24

“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:” - John 1:12

Word and Ministry of Reconciliation

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” - 1 Corinthians  4:1

 [4] “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: [5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; [6] Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

[17] “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Summary

The study so far is expected to have such a tremendous impact on your very person and life. Discovering how our current life of Christ empowers us to navigate daily pressures, relationships, and responsibilities with divine Grace and peace. This is not mere theological theory, but a call to a radical paradigm shift. It is an invitation to stop waiting for a future breakthrough and to step into the vibrant, immediate reality that Christ is your life today