Who we are and what we have “in Christ” is a never-ending wonder and discovery.

To truly be a Christian is not to merely be forgiven and on your way to heaven—it’s to have died to your old life, and become totally new in union with Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:30 displays for us a powerful truth,

“And because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

Note what’s not being said. What’s not said is that because of Jesus Christ, we now have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Rather, what’s being said is that we have been put in Christ, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

In other words, everything we need to live the abundant life with God that we were made for, is ours in Christ Jesus.

Revel in this wonder!

You don’t need to muster your own wisdom, for Christ in you is your wisdom.

You don’t need to try and “be good” for God’s acceptance, for Christ in you is the righteousness of God for you.

You don’t need to be the source of your spiritual maturity, for Christ in you is the progression of your godliness.

And you don’t need to try and save yourself, for Christ in you is your redemption and salvation.

So, if this is true (and it is) then what do we do?

I believe Colossians 2:6-7 provides the answer,

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

If you’ve received the Lord Jesus, then the reality of 1 Corinthians 1:30 has happened to you: you’ve been put in him.

That being the case, what’s now our responsibility is to “walk in him.” Live your entire life—and every part of it—with the recognition of Christ in you, rooted and built up in him.

We get to live out the finished work of Jesus in our lives! We don’t need to try and finish the work, it’s done! We simply recognize Christ in us, and we live out Christ in us.

This is why we are to abound in thanksgiving. Christ is the victor for us, and we respond in daily gratitude.

Let us see and live out Christ in us today!