In the first nine verses of the first chapter of the Apostle Paul’s first epistle to the church located in the city of Corinth we find him, through the Holy Spirit, telling the people (and us) what it means to be IN CHRIST. This letter, combined with his letter to the church at Rome, lay out the “how to” aspect of being IN CHRIST which, as declared in part one of this series, is required for those who would spend eternity with the Godhead (God and Jesus) in the Kingdom of God. That kingdom will be located on earth in what is known as the Promised Land which, as God laid it out for Abraham, reaches from the Euphrates River to the Nile River.

Notice in verse two that Paul uses the God-commanded name for His church–the CHURCH OF GOD–the name used twelve times in the Holy Scriptures to identify the single body of believers whose Head is Jesus Christ and whose Father is almighty God. Paul also notes that those in God’s one and only church are SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS. The word “sanctified” means to be set apart, to be different, to be saints (holy ones) whom the Apostle Peter, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, identified as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people who … have been called out of (Satan’s) darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). In First Peter 1:15,16 the apostle also tells us the level of righteousness we must reach in this life in order to be God’s people. Here he commands us to “BE HOLY AS/BECAUSE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS HOLY.” This command confirms all that was written in the first posting of this series. The question then becomes, how holy is God? The answer is summed up in one word–“TOTALLY” because “in Him there is no darkness (sin) at all.”

In verse two Paul applies the premiere key to being IN CHRIST, ONE WITH CHRIST AND GOD AND A TRUE, SANCTIFIED, HOLY, PECULIAR, CHOSEN PRIEST OF GOD as commanded in First Peter 2:9. That key consists of making Jesus “OUR LORD.” In verses seven and eight Paul drives home the Truth of Christ’s LORDSHIP over His true saints. In order to reveal God’s insistence that we make Jesus our Lord and not our Savior in this life, His apostles used the Word “Savior” in reference to Jesus a total of 26 times in the New Testament. However, they used the Word “Lord” 670 times. The message is clear: in order for Jesus to be our Savior upon His return to earth and His revelation to the world (vs 7), JESUS WILL HAVE TO HAVE BEEN OUR LORD FROM THE TIME OF OUR JUSTIFICATION UNTIL OUR DEATH. As the Holy Scriptures make abundantly clear, A LORD MUST BE OBEYED BY HIS SUBJECTS. OTHERWISE, HE IS NOT THEIR LORD. THE BELIEVER’S LORD IS JESUS CHRIST WHO MUST BE OBEYED. THE BIBLICAL RULE FOR RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE IS: JESUS MUST BE OUR LORD IN THIS LIFE IN ORDER TO BE OUR SAVIOR IN THE NEXT LIFE.

In verse six Paul states that “the TESTIMONY OF CHRIST” IS IN GOD’S TRUE SAINTS. Now we will turn to the Book of Romans to see what else Paul says about the TESTIMONY OF CHRIST THAT IS IN HIS TRUE SAINTS. In chapter one verses 15-17 he writes to the church at Rome about the GOSPEL of Christ, which is His TESTIMONY/WITNESS. This is born out in 2:1 where Paul states that he came declaring unto the church the TESTIMONY of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 24:14 Jesus tells His disciples that He would return after the Gospel had been heard in every nation on earth as a WITNESS to all nations. The GOSPLE of Christ is the same as His WITNESS, His TESTIMONY and His TRUTH (vs 18). With that in mind, let us turn to Romans 2:16-18 where Paul tells the people that he has come to preach to them the Gospel of Christ. The reason for his emphasis on the Gospel is that “it is the power of God UNTO SALVATION … BECAUSE IN THE GOSPEL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED.” In these few Words Paul explains why it is essential that we know, believe and obey God’s Word in order to qualify for eternal life. He is saying that in order to receive eternal life upon the return of Jesus to earth WE MUST BE THE GOSPEL (RIGHTEOUSNESS) OF CHRIST IN HUMAN FORM AS HE WAS THE GOSPEL (RIGHTEOUSNESS) OF GOD IN HUMAN FORM. Notice that the Holy Bible is the power of God necessary for salvation. However, we must obey it to result in our salvation. We must manifest the righteousness of God as described in the Holy Bible. Notice that the Gospel CAN lead us to salvation, but only IF we become the righteousness of God that is found within it.

That obedience to the Gospel/witness/testimony/Truth of Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary in order to be saved is born out in verse eighteen where Paul tells us that the wrath of God will come upon any and all who “suppress the Truth (Gospel) in unrighteousness.” This means that those who do not obey God’s Word will feel the wrath of God in this life and will be rejected for eternal life at Christ’s return.

In First Corinthians 1:6-8 we are told that if we learn, believe and obey the testimony (Gospel) of God we will be confirmed so that we will not fall short of God’s requirements for salvation upon the revelation/return of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Then, and only then, will He become our Savior. We must be IN CHRIST AT THAT TIME IN ORDER TO BE TAKEN INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHERE WE WILL LIVE FOREVER WITH GOD AND HIS SON.

In Romans 8:9-14 we find Paul writing to the church at Rome, knowing that many therein were not living up to the standards set by the Lord. Here he repeatedly uses the most hated, despised and rejected word in the entire Bible to address those people in the church. That Word is IF. Here he warns church people that they will receive eternal life only IF they live in obedience to the Holy Spirit which dwelt within them. He tells them that IF the Spirit did not live with them and IF they did not obey that Spirit that they were not God’s people. He warns church people that IF they do not live in obedience to the Spirit of God, THEY WILL DIE. REMEMBER THAT HE IS WRITING TO CHURCH PEOPLE. He ends that segment by telling them and us that only those who are led by God’s Spirit are true sons of God. Only true sons of God will be saved at the appearing of Jesus Christ in the clouds with His mighty angels. Read The Three Resurrections, key word–Three. L.J.