The word of God is full of meaning. The Bible is exceedingly sententious. People multiply words to express their meaning, but the LORD is amazingly concise. It seems as if he writes in shorthand (summary form) and gives us a lot in fewer words. Many books have been written, but few are as precious as silver. But God’s Book is priceless in every page. The worth of its sentences is impossible to determine by human intellect.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Here we have two great truths: the believer’s position –he is “in Christ,” and the believer’s character – he is a “new creature.” There are three stages of the human soul in connection with Christ. The first stage is “without Christ,” and this is the state of nature. The next stage is “in Christ,” and this is the state of grace. The third is “with Christ,” and this is the state of glory. Without Christ, this is where we are all born and nurtured, and even though we hear the gospel, and the Bible is in all our homes, and even though we use a form of prayer – but until we are born again, we are without God, without Christ and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel. A person may be without food, though he stands at the feasting table –unless he reaches out with his hands and receives what is being provided. A person may hear Christ being preached every Sabbath/Sunday, and still be without Christ – unless he reaches out with his hands of faith and receives Christ. To be without Christ is a most unhappy condition. It is an inconvenient to be without gold, it is miserable and uncomfortable to be without health, it is shameful to be without a friend, it is despicable to be without reputation – but to be without Christ is the worst lack of all. May the LORD help those who now in that state –may they no longer be in that position of being without Christ.