Have an In-Christ Consciousness

                            Today I'm a branch that abides in the vine;

                              I drink of his Spirit; I'm filled with new wine.

                              A million tomorrows will all pass away,

                              And each will be filled with the joy that is mine

                              Today.

We are in Christ and Christ is in us.  Our minds are so conditioned by the world that we are mostly unaware of who we are and what we have until we renew our minds by studying these "in-Christ" scriptures. We need to read them, meditate on them, and thank God for the revelation of them.  Then we begin to see and know who we really are. Then our carnal nature dies and our Christ-like nature (the new creation that we are) dominates.

In Christ we exist:  Acts 17:28 (NIV)  "For in him we live and move and have our being."  As some of your own poets have said, "We are his offspring."

In Christ we have eternal life:   John 3:14-18 (NIV)  …everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already….

 Romans 6:23 (NIV)  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Christ we have life and light: John 1:4 (NIV)  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Romans 6:11 (NIV)  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:1b (NIV) …the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

1 John 1:5b (NIV) God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

In Christ we bear fruit:  John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

In Christ we have justification (just as if I'd never sinned).  We have forgiveness, redemption, no condemnation.  In him we were chosen: Acts 10:43 (NIV) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Romans 8:1 (NIV)  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Galatians 2:16 (NIV)  Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Ephesians 1:4-11 (NIV)  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In Christ we have hope:  Romans 15:12-13 (NIV) …the Gentiles will hope in him.”  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ we have an anointing that teaches us in our spirits so we don't need a written set of laws or a teacher:   1 John 2:27 (NIV)  As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

In Christ we have spiritual circumcision:  Colossians 2:11-12 (NIV)  In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

In Christ we have sanctification (setting us apart from the world we live in):  1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV) …to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy….

In Christ we have the love of God; we have grace; we have faith: 1 Timothy 1:14 (NIV)  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 8:39 (NIV)  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)  I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)  who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

In Christ we have righteousness:  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 3:9 (NIV)  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

In Christ we have no sin:  1 John 3:5 (NIV)  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

In Christ we have wisdom and knowledge:  1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely,

Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Christ we are a new creation (not of the Adamic nature, but of Christ's nature):  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

In Christ we have understanding:  1 John 5:20 (NIV)  We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.

In Christ we have the fullness of God:  Colossians 1:19 (NIV)  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

In Christ we have salvation:  2 Timothy 2:10 (NIV)  …that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

In Christ we have the reality of all that was foreshadowed in the Mosaic Covenant:  Colossians 2:17 (NIV)  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

In Christ we are seated in heaven with God:   Ephesians 2:6-10 (NIV)  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

In Christ we have confidence talking to God:  Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

In Christ we have freedom:  Galatians 2:4 (NIV)  This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

In Christ we know the answer is "Yes" for us to all God's blessings:  2 Corinthians 1:19-20 (NIV)   For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

In Christ we are enriched with all riches:  1 Corinthians 1:5-9 (NIV)  For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge….  Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 

Philemon 1:6 (NIV)  I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

In Christ we have every spiritual blessing:  Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

In Christ we are children of God Almighty:  Galatians 3:26 (NIV)  You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

In Christ we are joined together:  Ephesians 2:21-22 (NIV)  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

In Christ we have order in this chaotic world:   Colossians 1:17 (NIV)  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

In Christ we have no fear:   1 John 4:13-18 (NIV)  We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.  There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

In Christ we have no shame:   Romans 9:33 (NIV)  As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

In Christ we have glory:  1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) …The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, ….

In Christ we have peace:  Philippians 4:7 (NIV)  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.