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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. And reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

So He says, Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveeth in me. in me. Now Christ living in me means I’m here on earth now, Christ is living in me. Now we often make the statement that whenever you trust Christ’s Savior, well you’re a dead person and if you’re dead then the law can’t touch you. That’s why you can never be condemned again because the law can’t touch a dead man. So look what he says here in verse 19, for I threw the law and did to the law that I might live unto God.

The law killed me. I died. Why? Because it did it to Christ. He did it in my place. So in gods I see I died and I was crucified and I came back from the dead. So I’m now supposed live like a man who has literally died in this world and came back to life. So I have been born again. I was alive in the flesh. I died and I live again. Just like Christ was here, he was alive and he was buried in his, he rose again, he rose from the dead.

He’s living. You and I are supposed to be living as though we have already died to the world. Now that’s easy preaching. So how he said that was to preach that? What’s the hard part? Living it. Living your life, though, like that is true. How are you doing? That’s why you and I, well, if I died right now, I died right now. And my body’s laying up here. You could tell a joke and I wouldn’t laugh. Why? I’m dead.

If you told a sob story, I won’t cry because I’m dead. If you came up here and you poked me with your foot, I wouldn’t hit you back because I didn’t feel it. Why? I’m dead. See, if I’m dead, then there’s nothing this world should be able to do to me to upset me, Concerning that which God wants me to do So you see whatever you did to me if my body now belongs to the Lord You did it to him And he’s a gonna get you See I won’t have to but he’s gonna get you because you see my body is his body He’s using it.

It’s really mine But he’s using it and he can use it any way he wants for as long as he wants now Now if we really understood this, it could help us an awful lot in our attitudes about a lot of things. But see that power to do this is Christ in me here now. Now I was placed in Christ 57 years ago. That is my position that I have in Christ. His position is in me now. And one of these days, he’s going to quicken this body of mine and it’s going to be changed like unto his glorious body.

And then I’m going to be with the Lord. But the law see, can’t touch a dead man because when you’re dead, you don’t have to pay the laws anymore. If you’re paying taxes now and you died, you don’t have to pay them anymore. Your wife might. They may come after you in some way, but you’re dead. You’re not paying anything anymore. You’re dead. And it doesn’t matter what they do. Because, you see, when you’re dead, you’re dead. Now God sees you in Christ as a dead man to the world.

But God left you here so that He could use your body. Now let’s say if it was 50 people here and the Holy Spirit entwelt every one of us, He could use every one of us however He wanted to. Because all of our bodies, male or female, we belong to the Lord and He by the Holy Spirit lives in every one of us. If He has total control of every one of our bodies, shouldn’t we get along? Wouldn’t we get along?

We love each other like we should. Boy, this is easy-freezing. But it says, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. So there is a reason why we should do what we do, because we now belong to the Lord and our bodies is His temple. That’s where He lives. Now take your Bible and turn to 1 Timothy and chapter 1.

First Timothy and chapter 1. First Timothy, chapter 1. And look in verse 16. Verse 16. Verse 16 says, How be it for this cause? I obtained mercy. That in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. So once you and I trust Christ as Savior, it is the Lord who wants to make us a pattern. Just like Paul was. Now we don’t see Paul that we can follow around see what he’s like and what he’s doing.

We have the Word of God, but every one of us is supposed to be an example of the believer in Word and indeed. And so if the Holy Spirit got a whole of me and the Holy Spirit got a whole of you, then we both should wind up doing whatever it is God wants us to do. And we ought to do it and be in harmony about doing just that. Take your Bible down, turn to the book of Colossians, the book of Colossians.

There’s a lot of good information in the book of Colossians and I want you to look here at this verse 24, verse 24, chapter 1. In verse 24 Paul is making some statements here for the church, the body. Now our head is in heaven. We are on the earth, So I am in Him in the head in heaven and He is in me in my body on the earth. See the body is here, the church is here on the earth and that’s us.

So it’s Christ in me. He’s the head that has control of this body and the body of believers, he’s the head of the church. So we’re supposed to find out what is it that is the will of the head and we’re to do that. And so that’s why he says this is after the counsel of his own will. This is for his honor and for his glory. So all of us do whatever God wants us to do because we’re to magnify the one who did all of this, it made it possible for us.

So now in verse 24, who now, see the word now, I’m not talking about when we get to heaven, we’re not there yet. Our position that we have in Christ is yet that settles the day you trust the Lord. But now, up on the earth, it’s Christ in me to do a work in us. And that changes from day to day. And God will bring certain things into our lives and let things happen because He wants us to manifest His character.

So Christ in me is supposed to make me like Him. When I get to heaven, I will be and there’s no problem, but I’m not there yet. I’m here. So Christ in me is to transform me to be like Christ is. Now that’s once again, easy, prayton, and maybe a little on the difficult side. In verse 24, who now rejoice in my suffering for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.

So Christ is going to suffer in this world but he’s gonna suffer. Through us, so we’re supposed to allow the Lord to use our bodies to suffer for His cause. This is why the Lord told the Apostle Paul, I will show him what great things He must suffer for my name’s sake. Isn’t that wonderful to know that you’re here to suffer for the Lord? See, heaven is such a wonderful place just being here in comparison to what heaven is like is a time of suffering.

So our whole life, since I’ve trusted the Lord 57 years ago, has been a time of suffering because of what we’re being eliminated from, enjoying in heaven. And here we have all the cares and the worries and all that, but Christ in me is supposed to help me to walk through all these things and just to trust Him and not worry about anything. How you doing? Worryed about anything? Scared? fill with fear? Are you trusting the Lord or is the fear of evidence that we might not be?

The sleepless nights? Is that a sign we’re not really trusting the Lord? We’re worried about something? Now, that’s a personal thing you can handle any way you want to. Now look what he says here in verse 25. Whereof, I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the Word of God.” Now this is not talking about opposition in Christ because that’s done once and for all. You’ve already been made perfect in Christ.

That doesn’t change, but I’m not there. I am here. So Christ in me now I am to study the Word of God so that I can fulfill the will of God here and now. And so He says in verse 26, even the mystery which had been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. Now what Paul is going to say is the reference to us. Why we’re here. What does he want to accomplish?

What’s the goal? What’s the purpose? So it’s Christ in me, this joyful anticipation to be used by God, to learn from God because God wants to teach me something. Now hold your place right here because I want to show you these couple verses but look in Ephesians in chapter 4. Ephesians and look there in Ephesians chapter 4 because once you have trusted the Lord and you’re now God’s child, God does not want you to live in the vanity of your mind.”

So he says here in verse 17, this I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth, that means now here on earth your purpose in life while you’re on the earth. He said, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened been alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Now you see those little words are the life of God?

You see while we are living in this world, now the Lord living within us is the life of God. The life of God living within us. To produce in us a life that’s like God. And isn’t that scary? Do you feel like you’re doing pretty good until tonight and you feel like, man, I’ve really come short. But with what else, he says, who being past feelings have given themselves over unto less seriousness to work all uncleanness with greediness? Now get these next two verses, but you have not so learned Christ.

You didn’t learn this about him. See, serving the Lord, you’ve got to learn. It’s not automatic. When you trusted Christ, you’re going to heaven, been made perfect and so forth and in him and the inheritance and all that, that was automatic. You didn’t have to do anything. But Christ in you to work a work in your life so that you can have the life of God here and now. Well, that’s comes from learning. See what he says in verse 20?

You have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been get this taught by him. The Lord wants to teach every one of us. Now are you allowing the Lord to teach you about the life of God, about his life. This is something that nobody can do for you. See, they can teach you what the Bible says and things like that. But are you being taught by the Lord? Do you let the Lord teach you?

That means reveal things to you, show you things, and then you walk in obedience to it. So you see, you don’t know the Bible until the Bible controls your life. And so he says, has been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus. Then he talks about putting on and taking off and so forth. Those are in. and the following verses had to do with the two natures. And I think you all have gotten that down by now.

Pretty good, at least I hope so. Now go back to Colossians. Back to Colossians and now look in verse 28. And it seems like we’re gonna say the same thing again as we just said over there in the book of Ephesians. You see there in verse 28, whom we preach, warning every man. Well see now this is not when we get to heaven. This is not our position in Christ in heaven. This is talking about Christ’s position in us on earth to do a work in our lives.

And so he says, teaching every man in all wisdom. Now you’ll find out that the Bible talks about as far as Christ goes, in whom are he all the treasures, all the wisdom of the Lord. So there’s nobody can come up short if you studied the wisdom of God. It’s in the Bible. So when you study the Bible, you’re studying the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of man. And so he says there in chapter two, just look at it real quick in verse three, in home Christ, or hit all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

But just because he has all the knowledge and all the wisdom that you and I need to direct our paths on planet earth doesn’t mean you have it. But if you allow Christ in you to teach you, you’ll learn wisdom. never would have known no other way. And you can make greater decisions for your life. And you can learn how to enjoy life and to trust the Lord and to have the peace and the love and the joy and the happiness and everything that God wants for you.

The usefulness of your life, you’re not going to go down this trail again. We’re not going to have these opportunities anymore. We got one trip through life and we ought to try to do all that we possibly can. But not go back up in verse 28. teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect or mature in Christ Jesus. See, this is what we do here. There’s another part of this of what God does for us there, but we’re talking about, hey, we’re here on planet Earth.

We got to get up tomorrow morning and we got to take care of ourselves and we got to eat and put on clothes and take baths and all that kind of stuff. And we got to live and there’s going to be people and there’s going to be problems and you’re trying to be a blessing. you just want to let God use you. However he wants, regardless of what he brings into your life, because you know he’s using you. So you don’t have to worry in question about all the things you have and all the things you have and all the things you have and all the things you have in the will of God.

Is that the will of God? Is that the will of God? Is that the will of God? Oh quiet. Just live. Just live. And respond according to what the word of God says. You can’t change everything that happens and something will happen to you is it the will of God for Bob Gilbert to have a car accident. Well, we’ll have to get out the old archives and go back before the foundations of the world and see if it was written in there.

It doesn’t matter. It’s how he responds to it. That’s the will of God. It doesn’t matter if he had an accident. Doesn’t matter if he demonishes the car. As long as he’s getting hurt, I’m glad you didn’t get hurt. But every one of us is gonna face some things down there and don’t keep worried about what I want to fight was a will of God. I want to fight was a will of God. Did it happen? Yeah, it happened.

It’s over. It doesn’t matter if it was or it wasn’t. It’s done. How does God want you to respond? What kind of an attitude should you have? What kind of Christian character should you have? Is there somebody you need to forgive? Did you hurt somebody? Did you wrong somebody? Was that Christ’s light? No, that wasn’t Christ’s light. Correct it. And you’ll be surprised. Don’t make life more complicated than it is. Now look at the next verse. Verse 29, where unto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Now see Christ in me is Him working in a mighty way. And this is what God wants to do in our lives. So when He goes all through here, He talks about, you know, being rooted and grounded in Him. See down there in verse verse six and seven, as you have therefore received Christ, she just the Lord so walk ye in him. How was ye saved by faith alone? So how should you walk? By faith, taking God at his word, just more of it.

And so when you go all the way through this and you’ll find that in your position in Christ, see what he says in chapter two and verse 10. Well, verse 9-10, he says, for in him, dwell of all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. See, he’s the in charge of the Godhead. He’s the brains, but he’s also in charge of the body. He is Lord of the universe. He’s Lord of the church that we covered the other day in the book of Colossians and Chimes.

And so look in verse 10, and ye are you are what? You are complete in him. That’s your possession that you have. I’m. I’m You are complete. You have a perfect birth in Christ. You are going to heaven. That cannot be changed. That is your position that you have in Christ. Now on a day-by-day basis in reality here on the earth, yes Christ is not living in you. And He wants to have control of your life. He wants you to have a God life.

Not just a human life where you are alive and then you do anything that you want to do, but you to have a God life, a Christian life. Christ is supposed to possess our bodies for His honor and for His glory. And when you go down through here, He says in verse 12, buried with Him. We were buried with Christ. We’re in You are risen with Him. This is Your position in Christ. Raised from the dead. And look in verse 13, and You being dead in Your sins and uncircumcision of Your flesh, hath he quickened or made a life together with Him.

Haven’t forgiven You all trespassed. That’s once and for all. that’s done. So yes, your position you have in Christ. And it’s because God took everything that was against us and nailed it to His cross. And that’s been over. That’s done with. Now you get to chapter 3 and you notice in verse 1, He said, if, if, if you did be risen with Christ. We’re pretending. We’re pretending we died. We’re pretending we were buried. We’re pretending we came back from the dead.

and we’re pretending we was raised and seated now in the heavenlies in Christ because that’s how God sees it. So let’s just pretend all that happened and then He let us come back and says, now I’m going to give you a chance I want you to do for me what I did for you. I did that for you. I took all of your sins, I’m going to give you my righteousness, not go down there and live my righteousness. I’ll I’ll live it through you.

You just yield to me. And you’ll find out it’s so much easier, but when you understand it, it can change your life. But now, he says, seek those things which are above. So evidently we’re not there, we’re here. So you gotta know where you are. What is your position? And so as long as you’re here, we’re gonna talk about your state. We talk about there, we talk about your standing in Christ. And that standing never does change. And that’s why he says in verse two, set your affections on things which are above, not on things of the earth.

Do you realize who you are and what you have in Christ? Now chapter 3 goes into an awful lot of things and it’s almost exactly like reading over there in the book of Ephesians because it’ll tell you about the take off and to put on. But now what I want you to see is this one verse before we close there. Look Look there in verse, this is in the book of Colossians, chapter three, and look there in verse 16.

Because this is what he says, to teach you, he wants to educate us. And so he says in verse 16, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. That’s not when you get to heaven. That’s not your position in Christ when you get there. This is now, this is here on the earth. And this is a choice. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and see those two words always. Now who has all wisdom?

The Lord. You are not gonna think like he does, live like he did. You’re gonna have to study and get to know him better. So every day, regardless of what happens, just draw a little closer to the Lord. Just draw a little closer to the Lord. And let him be more real to you than he’s ever been in your life. Don’t let him just be somebody, I know a little bit about him. No, but I know him and I love him and I walk with him and I talk to him and I share things all the time with you.

The Lord ought to be more real to you than the clothes you have on your back. You’ve heard me say that before, but I believe it and nobody can do this for you. All right? Look up here. This end represents you and me. The wall of represents sin, but you all have sin on us. God, he loves us. Oh, he hates our sin, but he does love us. And so this is our position. We are separated from the Lord.

We were enemies of God and we are trespasses. And so therefore we are in debt. We got a debt to pay. And that debt is eternal separation from God in hell. But God loves us and wants us to go to heaven. So we’re going to change our position. Not to go there, but to go there. But I can’t go there because I got to get rid of this. And that’s why this salvation is so important. So God, before He made a man, He had a plan.

Now He was going to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, and He was going to die on the cross for everybody. He was going to pay for all of their sins. And He was going to come back from the dead, and He was going to do that for us. He was gonna pay for my sins so that I wouldn’t have to pay for my sins. He came back from the dead and all he wanted me to do is believe he did it for me.

So when I believed this, this payment is put to my account, I get to go to heaven because you see, Christ died for me. So I died. Christ was buried for me. So I was buried. Christ was raised from the dead. I was raised from the dead. Now I should walk in newness of life. And Christ ascended into heaven, and He never has to make another payment. Why? Because this one payment covered all my sins for all time. So by trusting Him, I have this new position.

I am in Christ. And I’m still here. I’m not there yet. So he indwells me here and promise he will never leave me and never forsake me. And by the person of the Holy Spirit, he gave me a book and he wants me to learn his words so that in this life, I can demonstrate the righteousness of God by doing right. How right would God do? Would he love people? Would he forgive people? where you show kindness, or we come mean and ugly and unforgiving.

You’d be surprised how much this takes place. But all the time and whether or not you understand it, nobody can do it for you. Let’s pray, shall we? With headbound night of clothes, no one looking around. If you are here tonight and you never trust the Christ as your Savior or if you’re watching by the internet, realize the only thing you have to do to go to heaven is believe that what Christ did, He did for you. Would you Nato you?

Would you believe that? He said, if you trust Him, He would give you as a free gift everlasting life. He’d never cast you out, never lose you. I pray you’ll trust Him. He loves you so much. And if you will trust the Lord, right on the screen says, yes, I’ll trust Christ as my Savior. I’d love to hear from you. Father, we thank you again for your blessing. Thank you for each one here. And we pray, Lord, It’s so easy to say all these words, but the truth of understanding, only the Holy Spirit can enlighten our minds and then help us to see how we can apply it in our life.

But we want the life of God manifested through us. Bless each one here. Once again we ask for wisdom and that your will would be done then. And we thank you for all you’ve done for us and thank you for the opportunities you give us. trust you to give us the strength and the grace that we need to do what needs to be accomplished in Christ’s name and pray. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr.

Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones. book The Gospel Driven Man covers all those topics and we want all new listeners of Bible line to receive a free copy. There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771 or write to us and request your free copy of The Gospel Driven Man.

The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. And now, a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound and we will be changed.

caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believe in that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.