Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Believe and Embrace Part 4 – In The Name


Gtcotr/ws081518

So far in our current mid-week series we have covered verses 15, 16 and part of verse 17 in our study of Mark chapter 16. This evening we will complete verse 17. For context and continuity sake let’s recap a little before we begin.

Mark 16
15  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17  “And these signs will follow those who believe …”

Three things we have learned from Mark 16 thus far:
·        Our lives are meant to be an expression of the Gospel on God’s terms.
·       By Faith we make an eternal commitment to God while Water Baptism is a public profession of our trust in Him.
·      Signs follow believers … Believers do not follow signs.

Mark 16
17  “And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

·        In My name … What does it mean to be “In the Name of Jesus”?

2 Corinthians 5
17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The New Testament is filled with the benefits of being “In Christ”. No less than 85 verses are used to detail those benefits.

Acts 24:24  And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Romans 3:24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 6:11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9:1  I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 12:5  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 15:17  Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
Romans 16:3  Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
Romans 16:7  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Romans 16:9  Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
Romans 16:10  Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
1 Corinthians 1:2  To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:30  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — 
1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:10  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
1 Corinthians 4:15  For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:17  For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Corinthians 15:18  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
1 Corinthians 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:31  I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1 Corinthians 16:24  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:21  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
2 Corinthians 2:14  Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:17  For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:14  But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:19  Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.
Galatians 1:22  And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
Galatians 2:4  And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
Galatians 2:16  “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3:14  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:17  And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Galatians 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:6  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Ephesians 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 1:10  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.
Ephesians 1:12  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:20  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 2:6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 3:6  that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
Ephesians 3:11  according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Ephesians 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Philippians 1:1  Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Philippians 1:13  so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
Philippians 2:1  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Philippians 3:9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Philippians 3:14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:21  Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
Colossians 1:2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
Colossians 1:28  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:5  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:14  For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 5:18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Timothy 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:7  for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1 Timothy 3:13  For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 Timothy 1:9  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
2 Timothy 1:13  Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1  You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 3:12  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:15  and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:6  that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:8  Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,
Philemon 1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
1 Peter 3:16  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 Peter 5:14  Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

These are just the scriptures that actually say the words, “in Christ”. These 85 do not nearly account for all of those verses which point to the same reality but use the words, “In Him”, or “In the Name”, or “In Jesus” or other such indicators. There is clearly a position into which we move when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
·        We become new creations
·        We are washed and become clean before God
·        We are forgiven, justified, sanctified, purified and made righteous
·        We are born-again as saints, heirs, joint-heirs, sons, daughters, kings and priests, as children of the most high God.

How does a person get “In Christ?” …
1.   Recognize they need a Savior
2.   Repent of their sin
3.   Receive Jesus on God’s terms

1 John 5:13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Next week we are going to discuss those signs which follow those who believe.

Mark 16
17  “And these signs shall follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18  “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 ¶  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

James 5:14  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.