Brisbane Bible-Presbyterian Church

Welcome to Brisbane B-P	Doctrine	Weekly
Worship Service	Bible Study cum Prayer Meeting	Weblinks	Contact Us

WEEKLY

Volume 2 Number 18

30 September 2007

Christ Is All, and in All

(Message delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the Sunday Worship Service, 2 pm, Sep 23, 07)

Text: Col 3:10-11

We know that true believers are those who acknowledge their sins, repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour, but not all believers acknowledge that the Lord Jesus is their All. After being saved, they read the Bible and hear the messages from God’s Word, and “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). They understand that God wants them to be holy as He is holy, perfect as He is perfect, and humble, gentle, patient, loving, gracious, meek, faithful as the Lord Jesus is. They pray so hard that the Lord may grant them faith, love, peace, joy, strength, holiness, righteousness, faithfulness and many other spiritual virtues. As the years go by, they may think that they are more mature, godly, holy, humble, and more like Christ, but if those spiritual qualities are from their own efforts and strength, they are not true nor long lasting. Their spiritual life is ups and downs. Sometimes, they are spiritually strong and godly but sometimes they are weak and carnal. They experience the conflicts in their life and acknowledge their corrupt and depraved nature. Like Paul, they cry, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not… O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom 7:18, 24) and then they find the answer in the Lord Jesus Christ, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v 25). Truly, it is through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself alone, their All and in All. They start to learn to die to their “self” and submit themselves to the Lord and His Word and find true peace, joy and victory in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

The Bible text today shows us God’s purpose: “Christ is all, and in all” and we, as His children, are being “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created” us ( Col 3:10-11) until Jesus Christ comes and “we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Then, is the Lord Jesus Christ our All? What does it mean when we say that the Lord is our All?

Jesus Christ Is All, and in All

Not I, but Christ: In God’s sight, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all” ( Col 3:11) and “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). In order that “Christ is all, and in all,” our “self” must be crucified with Christ, “Not I, but Christ” (Gal 2:20), no more racial discrimination (Greek or Gentile, or Jew), but “Christ is all, and in all,” no more difference in culture or civilisation (Barbarian or Scythian), but “Christ is all, and in all,” no more inequality in social status or position (bond or free), but “Christ is all, and in all,” and no more sex discrimination (male or female), but “Christ is all, and in all” and we are “all one in Christ Jesus”. Dear friends, we come from different countries and different backgrounds, but if each one of us can say, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” then Christ is living in you and in me, and Christ will be all, and in all.

That is the cross and self-denial you and I are to take daily to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To deal with our sinful nature, the Biblical way is to keep it dead and not to improve it. There is no other way. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds them, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God… Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry… put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (3:3, 5, 8, 9). Then do you and I die daily so that we may not think of our “self” any more, no more “I am holy, I am spiritual, I am humble, I am wise, etc. but Christ alone is all, and in all?"

Only Christ’s Life Is True: No one can live a true Christian life without Christ. Our Lord says, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1) to confirm that He is our true source of spiritual life. You and I can neither have true love without Christ, nor true holiness without Christ, nor true wisdom without Christ, nor true faith without Christ, nor true peace without Christ, nor true happiness without Christ, nor true righteousness without Christ, etc. Our Lord Jesus confirms, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 5:5). God’s Word says, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” ( Col 3:3-4). As only Christ’s life is true, instead of trying to love those who despise or offend us personally, we shall ask our Lord to manifest His true love through us. Instead of trying to overcome temptations by ourselves, we shall ask our Lord to manifest His true holiness and overcome temptations through us. Instead of trying to humble ourselves, we shall ask our Lord to manifest His true humility through us, and so forth. Then, as Paul shared his experience, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor 4:10), our Christian life is Christ’s true life manifested through our body. “Not I, but Christ,” and all glory is unto Him alone.

Christ Is All, and in All: We have learnt about our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our true Vine or our true Source of spiritual Life, without whom we shall wither and die spiritually as a branch is detached from the Vine. This reminds us to humbly depend on our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word with our trust and submission moment by moment so that we may have His life and bear much fruit for His glory. We have learnt about our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light of Life, without whom we shall blindly walk in darkness without spiritual discernment and guidance. This reminds us to walk humbly after our Lord in His Light of truth, holiness, love, faith and Biblical separation. We have learnt about our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Bread of Life, without whom we shall be dissatisfied, empty, spiritually hungry, thirsty, exhausted and faint. This reminds us to do God’s will and do everything with Christ so that we may be satisfied and strengthened. We have learnt about our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our living and true Way, without whom we have no access to the Father, to Heaven, to all spiritual blessings and victory. This reminds us to look unto Him alone and follow Him in the narrow way of submission to Him and His Word. We have learnt about our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Good Shepherd, without whom we have no guidance, loving care, or protection. This reminds us to trust in Him, hear His voice and walk after Him alone.

Then, dear friends, Christ is truly our All, and in All. Instead of seeking His blessings, let us seek Him alone, as having Him, we have All. Let us hear the testimonies of God’s servants and children in the Scriptures:

Moses and the children of Israel sang this song after being delivered from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (Exod 15:1-2). Our Lord not only strengthens us and saves us but also becomes our strength and our salvation.

How about David? He said, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup… The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my hightower… The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 16:15; 18:2; 23:1; 27:1).

How about Asaph? He said, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever” (Ps 73:25-26).

How about the apostle Peter? He said, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious…Unto you therefore which believe he is precious” (1 Pet 2:4, 7) and “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Pet 3:18).

How about the apostle John? He said, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin… And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 1:5, 7; 5:11-12).

How about the apostle Paul? He said, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor 1:30), and “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him…Christ, who is our life…Christ is all, and in all” ( Col 2:9-20; 3:4, 10) and “Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope” (1 Tim 1:1), etc. Christ not only gives us wisdom, but is also our Wisdom. He not only justifies us but is also our Righteousness. He not only sanctifies us but is also our Sanctification. He not only redeems us but is also our Redemption. He not only gives us life but is also our Life. He not only gives us hope but is also our Hope. Truly, Christ is all, and in all.

How about you and me? Is Christ our all, and in all? Is Christ our Portion and our most Treasure? Is that “Not I, but Christ” alone?

Proper Attitudes

If we die to “self” daily and the Lord Jesus Christ is our All, and in All, we shall always seek Him, look unto Him and trust in Him with our full submission and dependence, appreciate His presence and keep our living fellowship with Him.

Seeking Jesus Christ :“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek (keep on seeking) those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set (Keep on setting) your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth” ( Col 3:1-2). As Jesus Christ is our All, and in All, we shall keep on seeking Him first in all things. Whenever we need guidance, strength, holiness, hope, peace, joy, victory, etc., we just seek our Lord and His Word, coming “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).

Looking unto Jesus Christ: As Jesus Christ is our All, and in All, we shall not look at ourselves or others but “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). Jesus Christ is not only the Author who can inspire and strengthen our faith but also the Finisher who fulfills our faith.

Keeping a Living Fellowship with Jesus Christ: As Jesus Christ, the living Divine Person, is our All and in All, we must maintain our fellowship with Him and appreciate His presence in our lives above all things. When God was angry with the children of Israel due to their unbelief, disobedience, and murmurings in the wilderness, He said to Moses, “I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way” (Exod 33:2-3), but Moses acknowledged, highly valued, treasured and appreciated God’s presence, saying unto the Lord, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (v 15). How about you and me? Do we highly value and appreciate the Lord’s presence in our lives above all things else?

Conclusion

Dear friends, God’s purpose is that Jesus Christ is All and in All, and that His children will be renewed day by day and be like the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes. May God open our spiritual eyes so that we may know more about our Lord Jesus Christ, our All, and in All. Then we may be willing to take our cross, deny ourselves, and regard all things but loss so that we may “win Christ and be found in Him” (Phil 3:8-9).

As our Lord Jesus Christ is our All, and in All, we shall keep on seeking Him first, looking unto Him and maintaining our living fellowship with Him in His light.

As only Christ’s life is true, we shall be willing to die daily and “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor 4:10). Then, we can say, “Not I, but Christ,” and give Him all the glory. Amen.

Top / Back