darinhouston wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:34 am
dwight92070 wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:36 pm
darinhouston wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:13 pm
What PRECISELY does "in Christ" mean to you in this context?
Dwight - I think the answer is found in what Jesus said: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is IN ME?" and "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."
You lean heavily on this term - I think it's fair to know what you think it means and how that uniquely proves your point. You've provided not an explanation or a definition, but an example. Other examples have been provided how we are said to be "in Christ" as well, so it strikes me that it doesn't prove your point. I'm trying to reason with you fairly. Can you elaborate?
Dwight - Yes, I do lean heavily on the term "in Christ", because the Bible does. Paul does in Ephesians 1 - the term or a close equivalent of the term is used 15 times in that chapter: vs. 1 - in Christ Jesus, vs 3 - in Christ, vs. 4 - in Him, vs. 5 - through Jesus Christ, vs. 6 - in the Beloved, vs. 7 - in Him, vs. 9 - in Him, vs. 10 - in Christ, in Him, vs. 12 - in Christ, vs. 13 - in Him (twice), vs.15 - in the Lord Jesus, vs. 17 - in the knowledge of Him, vs. 20 - in Christ
Dwight - Paul never explained to us exactly what he meant by "in Christ", as far as I know. He assumed that we would understand.
Dwight - But, to me, it means to "stay close to, stay in fellowship with, stay in His word, stay in prayer, stay in obedience"
Dwight - Jesus said, "Abide in Me" several times in John 15.
Dwight - Did you notice that Jesus did not explain to Philip what He meant by "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? Jesus did not elaborate for us exactly what He meant by "Abide in Me". He did say that we are like branches, connected to the vine (Him), and that we should stay connected.
Dwight - But for US to "be in Christ" has to be quite different than "GOD in Christ", because we are not God. Now I think it is implied that "God in Christ" is ontological, that Paul was referring to Christ's Being and God's Being, that they are One, as Jesus Himself said.