THE DIMENSIONS OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIST AS BELIEVERS

Reference Scriptures: Titus 2:14, Galatians 4:19, 1 Peter 1:19, Matthew 28:20, Romans 6:4-8

Introduction
Titus 2: 14 “ Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
– Christ gave Himself for us so that He may redeem us from every lawless deed and purify us so as to obtain for Himself a people- special people zealous for good works.
– We as believers are a special people who have a privileged association with the Lord.

The dimensions of our association with Christ

1. Christ in Me
Galatians 4:19 Paul says he is labouring till Christ is formed in you. The Galatians were straying from the simplicity of the gospel that salvation is by faith in Christ and they were believing that salvation was by fulfilling the law- Judaism. Paul was concerned with the believers for turning away from Christ.
Judaism may not be a risk for us today in seeking to be justified but have you had Christ formed in you?
Ephesians 3:17 Are you certain that Christ is dwelling in your heart by faith?
If you have there will be a witness within you that testifies indeed you are a child of God Romans 8:16

Symptoms in our lives that indicate Christ is formed in our hearts:
• Displaying the fruits of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:22
• Showing progress in the life of sanctification. A growing life of holiness and purity within us. 1 peter 1:2
• Acquiring a Heavenly taste; a desire for the things of God.1 peter 2:2 A desire for the word of God is a true testimony that Christ is formed in us.
1 John 5: 12 He who has the Son has life and he who does not have the Son does not have life.

2. Christ with Me
Matt 28: 20 What a precious promise that Jesus Christ is with us through the agency of the Holy spirit. We have the presence of Christ to carry us through life.
Even though we have not seen him we rejoice; with joy that is inexpressible for we have the reality of Christ with us and in us.
The ‘I wills’ found in Isaiah 49:13;
-I will be with you! His presence dispels the spirit of loneliness and inspires confidence
-I will help you! He dispels weakness and strengthens and encourages us.
-I will uphold you! He causes a lifting up when you have been cast down or crashed by situations.

3. Christ around Me ( Union with Christ )
-There’s a union that is established between Christ and a believer that causes the events that happened to Christ to be counted to have happened to us as believers; when Christ died we died with Him, when He was buried we were buried with Him, when He resurrected we rose with Him, when He was glorified we were also glorified with Him. Romans 6:3-8
Ephesians 2:6 We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

John 14:20 it shows the intersection between Christ in us and union with Christ. There is an intertwining of our fellowship with Christ.

Conclusion
• May we Intensify our union with Christ by drawing near to Him. May the Lord intensify our desire for Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
•All these things; Christ in me, Christ with me and Christ around me must begin with the foundation of Christ being formed in us.