In Him. It's all about Him. It's not all about us but about how we are spiritually grafted into the lineage of Christ. We have, after all, Jewish ties, Jewish roots since Jesus was a Jew! A wild olive tree is grafted into a good one that has lost its ability to produce quality, fruit-bearing trees, and we are grafted into the Jewish heritage to produce a body that is in one accord. This is contrary to the idea that a good plant should be grafted onto a wild one. It shows how God's grace is extended to us through salvation "in Jesus Christ." Romans 11:5 - ...at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Many Jews still do not accept Christ as their Messiah. Back in those days some of the good branches were removed from the good tree to allow for the wild ones. That was God's plan. He chose Gentiles to stir up the Jews. The good olive tree in the Bible is symbolic of Israel. We know the roots of any tree are where it's strength lies. The wild olive branch (Gentiles) is grafted into the good olive tree's root. That root symbolically is Jesus Christ! We, being not of the heritage or lineage of Christ must be grafted in. So, it's all about how we enter in to relationship with Christ! We become "in Him" when we enter into that relationship, when we are grafted in to the lineage of Christ. Romans 11:17 - ...you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree…
Christianity does not replace Israel as some religions try to say. This also brings up the question when Jesus returns, what religion will there be? I don't think it will be Christianity. Jesus was a Jew; it will be His religion...if there even is a religion. I think it will be just one people in one accord, worshiping one Man. That's why it's not about a religion but a relationship...with Him, in Him.
In Ephesians Paul tells us how we were chosen by God before the foundation of the world. We are predestined to adoption into His family. It is He who seeks us and draws us to that perfect place of knowing a time when we willingly acknowledge Him in our lives. If we have been given that opportunity, we should take hold of it or we miss out on a lifetime of so much.
In Him...we have redemption through the blood of Christ. In Him...we are shown the mystery of His will. In Him...we are gathered together in one accord that we may share the inheritance of the heavens. We are set apart to receive spiritual blessings according to His good will. Praise God!
When we trust in Him and receive Him all these things are given to us through our relationship with Christ. Our relationship is in Him. When we hear the truth of who He is and believe in Him His Holy Spirit is our guarantee until Christ returns. We remain a purchased possession. We don't automatically receive this right but we are given that right when we receive Christ. It's being "in Him."
We may obtain the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. We can know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance and the exceeding greatness of His power.
In Him...we have been made alive like Jesus is alive, resurrected from our old sinful selves into the growing image of Christ. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus! We have been brought near to God through Christ. He has created one new man in Him, taking all who were separated from Him and bringing us together with His own, Gentiles one with Jews, wild olive trees with good, that we might all be reconciled with Him.
This is all part of the great mystery. God has it all planned out. Amazing. Hidden from the beginning of time until Christ's appearing, teaching, preaching, good news and gift of salvation for all mankind. All part of God's eternal purpose accomplished through and in Christ. Being grafted into this great inheritance.
Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
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