The secret of the Christian life is no secret. In fact, it’s written down plainly in God’s Word for everyone to read. I’d summarize this open secret in three words: Union with Christ.
Every spiritual blessing we have and everything we will ever need to live a godly life comes to us in union with Christ.
If you think I’m overstating things, read through Ephesians 1:1-14 again. Take special note of verse 3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Did you notice the phrase “every spiritual blessing”? Did you notice all these blessings come to us “in Christ” (which is Paul’s shorthand for “in union with Christ.”)?
When you link your life to Jesus through repentance and faith, you are placed “in union with Christ.” You exchange your sins for His righteousness (Eph 1:7). You die to your old life and begin a new one ( Eph 1: 4; Rom 6:1-14; Col. 3:1-11). You are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14). You are given an eternal inheritance in heaven (Eph 1:14).
The “secret” of living the Christian life is learning to live out your new identity by His strength and power.
Last summer at the Muskoka Bible Centre, I gave a series of sermons on “The Open Secret of the Christian Life.” The sermons in the series included:
- The Secret of Overcoming Sin
- The Secret of Overcoming Adversity
- The Secret of a Fruitful Life
- The Secret of Racial Unity
You can listen to the sermons on the Rick Reed Sermon Podcast. The episodes are released every other Monday morning. The first message (The Secret of Overcoming Sin) was recently released and is currently available.
May God help us to understand and embrace the wonderful reality of being “in union with Christ.”
Rick and Linda Reed 