I have a great concern for the Bride of Christ, Jesus’ Beloved Church.
My concern is not for brick and mortar, but the people for whom Jesus shed His precious, sin-removing, guilt-removing, shame-removing, life-giving blood.
I’m concerned that much of the preaching and teaching, as well as many of the ‘Christian’ books being written today, promote a Christ-less Christianity.
It’s a perverted Christianity that moves people to focus more on themselves than on Jesus and His work on their behalf.
After 15 years of vocational ministry, I’ve noticed that many Christians are more concerned about avoiding sin than with worshiping Jesus.
because “the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56b) and “the mind set on the flesh is death.” (Romans 8:6a)
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
In order to avoid a dead, Christ-less Christianity, we must rest in our union life with Jesus. Leaders, we must point others to rest in their union life with Jesus.
To be “in Christ” means that our lives are woven—by the Spirit’s sealing work—into the very life of Jesus. (Romans 6:1-14)
Jesus becomes our life. (Colossians 3:3-4) Instead of living for Jesus, we need to let Jesus live for us, in us, and through us.
Friends, stop trying to live the Christian life in your own power, and by faith let Jesus live His life through you.
Let the Gospel reality of the union life with Christ soak deep into your heart:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:27-29 NLT
I have found Dr. Ken Boa’s book, “Conformed to His Image” (Zondervan, 2001), to be one of the best books on discipleship that I’ve ever read because every chapter is permeated with the understanding of how our union life in Jesus empowers the spiritual disciplines.
It’s my prayer that we’ll put Christ back into Christianity.
Marinate on that.
