Originally posted 10/9/20
Did you see the Star Wars movie “Rogue One”? A blind character named Chirrut had a saying, “I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.” He repeated this phrase over and over when he was in intense situations. Now, God is not an impersonal ‘force.’ He is a Person, and we can know Him like any other person. An amazing aspect of the Gospel is how He made us one with Himself. Perhaps you could even say, “I am one with God, and God is with me!” And to me, this is the coolest part of the Gospel that we hardly talk about… and very mysterious.
Your Are One With Christ
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” John 14:20 (ESV)
Jesus, speaking to his apostles on the last night they were to be together, gives them instruction about what’s to come. “In that day” speaks of the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was to come upon the believers and disciples. Jesus explains that 1) He is in the Father, 2) we are in Jesus, and 3) Jesus is in us. The “you” spoken of in this verse was spoken to the guys in that upper room with Him, but we know from Jesus’s prayer in John 17 that His words apply to believers who follow in the apostles’ footsteps (John 17:20). Speaking of that prayer, take a look at the next verse:
“that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21 (ESV)
Jesus prays for the unity of his disciples (that’s us!) and confirms that 1) the Father is in Jesus, 2) Jesus is in the Father, and 3) we are in both of them – the Father and Jesus. We are within this one-ness of God.
No Distance or Separation
There is no distance or separation between you and God. Do you feel it? Do you feel the tension leaving you? Do you feel the joy springing forth within your inner being? Just continue reading…
“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” 1 Cor. 1:30 (NLT)
There is no distance or separation between you and God. He’s closer than you think and better than you can imagine.
But some may try to object for who knows what reason, saying, “Isn’t there a verse that says my sin separates me from God?” Yes, there is.
“Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT)
Therefore, a person must consider if they truly believe, deep down in the heart and not just in the mind, and agree with God that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the World (Romans 10:9). Without Christ, there is separation. Sin blinds us from our true identity in Him, and it distorts our view of who He is and what He’s done for us. But your sin doesn’t hold a candle to Christ’s blood. Your sin is not powerful enough to negate what Jesus did on the cross for us and the whole world, for all of human history! The blood of Jesus covers every sin, and He’s already chosen to forgive you. Today, yes today! Consider what Paul wrote to a body of believing disciples in a town called Ephesus:
“remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” Ephesians 2:12-14 (ESV)
See? You were at one time separate from Christ, but now He brought you near by His blood. He is your peace, and He broke down that barrier that stood in between you and Him for all time.
What Now?
So what do we do now that we have peace with God, knowing that there’s not even a millimeter of space between us and Him?
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call– one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV)
I love that last line: “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Colossians 3:11 says “Christ is all, and in all.”
If we are in Christ and He is in us, and God the Father is over us and through us and in us, and if we have the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts as our guarantee (Eph. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22), then where can we go from Him?
As the Psalmist poetically proclaims in Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV):
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
There’s nowhere we can go to be separate from God. He is always with us and around us. It’s just our perception of the relationship that needs to change. He doesn’t put up barriers; in fact, he broke down the wall between us and Him. He broke down the brick wall between you and Him because He loves you. He kicked down the door to rescue you. He accomplished this for you on the cross.
If I’m confident in my oneness with God, then I never have to worry about separation. I never have to worry about screwing it up. You can be confident in your oneness with God, and you never have to worry about separation. You aren’t powerful enough to mess it up. His grace is sufficient for you and makes you holy and righteous.
He’s always available; He’s always here; He’s always within you; He’s always speaking to you. He knows your thoughts, and His Spirit searches you and helps you know how and what to pray.
If you’d like to pray this prayer, just go ahead and read it, or better yet, speak it to the Lord: My Heavenly Father, thank You for making me one with You through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for demolishing the dividing wall that stood between me and You. Thank You for making a way for me – Jesus is the Way. You are so good, Lord, and You have made me holy as You are holy, and You have made me righteous through the blood of Christ. I believe in our oneness; I believe the words that You have spoken; I believe what You say is pure and right and true. Continue to fill me up to overflowing with Your presence and Your Spirit; thank You for making me Your child. I sing praises to You, O Lord, and in Your name I lift up my voice. I am in You, and You are in me. I was created to live in the environment of You, just as the fish were created to live in the environment of the sea. Continue to speak into my life, and I will listen. You are my Savior and Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
This post was inspired by Pastor Bill Vanderbush. Check out his video on John 14:20 here.
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