One With Christ

One With Christ

By Apostle Felix

28  And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ with no distinction between us. 
29  And since you’ve been united to Jesus the Messiah, you are now Abraham’s “child” and inherit all the promises of the kingdom realm! 

Galatians 3: 28, 29

Our oneness in Christ is an equalizer. There is no superiority or inferiority in Christ. Jesus was born in a society that had classes and considered others superior than others. The Romans considered themselves superior to Jews and the Jews considered themselves superior to the Gentiles. Unfortunately, that complex has been brought into the church, and people are been treated according to their race, or color of their skin. Christ came and destroyed such hostilities and made us one in Himself. There is no one who is better than the other person. Racism has been a problem in humanity from time immemorial. And many lives have been affected negatively by the racism tendencies. Today, we are still trying to undo the effects of racism around the world. Man’s efforts to resolve the racism problem has proved futile. He has formed organizations to address the problem but all to no avail.

8  But the one who indulges in a sinful life is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. 

1 John 3: 8

Behind all segregation activities, there are demonic forces. Satan has been in the business of destroying human lives from the beginning using prejudice. A congregation is prone to destruction when its members have prejudices. God created man to live as one regardless of race, tribe or social status. But sin entered man’s life and that changed man’s behaviour towards one another. Christ was born for this reason, to destroy the works of the devil. Therefore, the problem of prejudice, segregation, and all forms of complexes can only overcome in Christ. Man can only  become one in Christ, regardless of race, tribe, status or affluence.

10  We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

Ephesians 2: 10

Salvation in Christ is key to resolving issues of identity crises in man. The fall began with man identifying himself with creation and redemption only happens when man identifies himself with Christ. In Christ, race, tribe and social status  barriers have been destroyed and we have become one in Christ. It is a corruption for a believer to treat a fellow believer based on race, tribe or status. This is a mindset James spoke against.

2  Suppose an influential man comes into your worship meeting wearing gold rings and expensive clothing, and also a homeless man in shabby clothes comes in.
3  If you show special attention to the rich man in expensive clothes and say, “Here’s a seat of honor for you right up front!” but you turn and say to the poor beggar dressed in rags, “You can stand over here,” or “Sit over there on the floor in the back,”
4  then you’ve demonstrated gross prejudice among yourselves and used evil standards of judgment!

James 2: 2 – 4