In Him, by Senior Pastor Fred Garcia
Pastor Fred talks about our position In Christ. We know that scripture calls us to be Holy, Perfect and Righteous (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Matthew 5:48…) If it’s something we have to do, it is impossible. However, if it’s something which I am, because of my position, it equips me for the impossible.
If it’s something I have to do, I will always disappoint others, it will always lead to failure, condemnation, & shame.
If it’s something that I am, and a position which I hold, I may still disappoint others but, that now becomes their issue and not mine. I may still need to help them sort things out, but it’s no longer about my failure
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Being and staying “in Him” is the position paid for on the cross of Jesus. You have been redeemed and this is now available Romans 8:1-4 1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
It is not about trying to become perfect and holy – It is about believing and receiving the revelation that Jesus, the Christ has made us perfect, righteous and holy and then learning and purposing to stay in Him and not doing it in our own strength.
James tells us that it’s not by works so that no man may boast, and Isaiah (64:6) tells us that our works are as filthy rags…It’s not just about turning from our sins, but remaining in Him so that we are able to resist temptation when it returns.
True repentance is turning away from ourselves or false gods, and back towards God. It’s getting back in Him and turning away from our ownwayness, or satan which caused us to sin in the first place. The turning from our sins is the fruit which comes from repentance. John the Baptist, when speaking to the Pharisees told them: Matthew 3:8 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; Our job in repentance is getting back in Him, because we left Him; and when I realize that I left Him I can no longer hold on to my sin if I want to return to Him, so I let it go; I then bear fruit because I am now IN HIM and therefore begin speaking the things He speaks and doing the things He is doing because I am IN HIM.
It’s not about enduring our sickness, but remaining in Him and daring to BELIEVE that Jesus has paid the price for our sickness and receiving His healing…It’s not about getting ourselves out of difficult circumstances, it’s about remaining in Him, learning to overcome the fear and anxiety surrounding our circumstances so that we can hear His plan of attack and step into what He is doing…
Summary: Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Here’s the take home: when we are in Him AND WILLING TO LEARN FROM HIM, our burden is easy and light. We get outside of Him, doing things in our own strength we will become weary and heavy-laden, and it will feel like the world is crushing us. We have remember as we keep moving forward that restoration is about helping others find their place in Him, and then helping them to abide there (John 15); it is a process and not an event; it is a marathon and we are preparing people to run with us, not sprint and finish the race. We have been Redeemed, and it allows us a position IN HIM!
