What Does "In Christ" Scripturally Means?

In short - In Christ, is essentially union with Christ based upon the giving of a particular people to the Son; whom the Father both foreknew and foreloved before time or before creation. The term "In Christ", is not limited to having believed relating to time or the temporal but rather a sense of belonging to or a possession of a people; who in return has been set apart for salvation to the praise and glory of God from eternity past.

In addition, when scripture speaks of sheep belonging to Christ even while they are in a state of unbelief (john 6:39-40, john 10:16, and 1 peter 2:25) they nonetheless are still in union with Christ for they belong to Him as sheep who will eventually hear the voice of their Shepherd as to be saved. In fact, this union has been revealed to have existed before the foundation of the world. This is why when Paul states that God chose "us" in Christ before creation (ephesians 1:4); we essentially had already been given to Christ from the Father; prior to the foundation of the world. In other words, we already belonged to Christ; as being "in Christ" - even from eternity past.

By Aaron Fisher

God's Eternal Perspective / Chose In Christ, Before The Foundation of the World.

The Apostle Paul said that the Ephesian believers were chose as already "in Christ" before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless; so their being in Christ wasn't necessarily dependent upon them believing but rather ultimately dependent upon God who chose and predestined them having already been in Christ when He did so - because before the foundation of the world there was an absence of the concept of time; therefore God sees those whom He has chose and predestined as already "in Christ" for He is not bound by time nor a chronological order of events as we are since He is eternal. God can call a people (His Elect) into existence before the foundation of the world by Decree and having been so absolute or certain of their existence; He considered or counted them as already existing even before they actually physically existed (romans 4:17).

God's "eternal perspective" is His divine vantage point being outside of and not bound by time; for He transcends it. This is why He can proclaim that believers are (1) ALREADY seated with Christ in the heavenly places (ephesians 2:6) when we at present are physically not (2) ALREADY glorified (romans 8:30) when we at present are physically not (3) ALREADY raised with Christ (colossians 3:1) when we at present are physically not (4) and were ALREADY in Christ before the foundation of the world when God chose us (ephesians 1:4) because to Him being outside of and not bound by time these things have ALREADY taken place - not literally but certain to come pass. To God, those things that He has decreed before creation to come to pass are just as in the present as if the decree has already come to pass. 

God before creation, calls as of certainty a thing into being "before time" as to exist "in time" - although, certain to exist; as If it has already existed before creation (romans 4:17). Before time was created, what men perceive as reality at present already existed as a thing certain before anything was created to a God who is eternal. So we must realize that when the Apostle Paul claims that God has chose "us" as already in Christ before the foundation of the world while addressing believers regarding EPHESIANS 1:4; he is speaking from a position of eternity past or before time while not beholden to the concept of any chronological order of events as we are. This is why it's hard for us to understand the notion that we were already "in Christ" as an unbeliever or specifically even having not been born as of yet from God's viewpoint. Opponents of this view; accurately taught I trust - either avoid what the text literally says (God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world) or just simply have a hard to explaining the plain text. At this point, let's consider this verse (ephesians 1:4) in it's converse as to perhaps even make what the Apostle Paul has said even more simplified - "before the foundation of the world God chose us in Christ". Essentially, Paul is arguing - that before the foundation of the world, God chose a particular people (us) who were already in Christ.. Those who disagree with the plain text as the Apostle Paul taught will ultimately have to explain; how is it possible for God to have chose "believers" before creation as most suggest is the correct understanding - when no one was even born before the foundation of the world at the 'time' of God's choosing; let alone at a 'time' when no one physically existed as of yet as well. 

It is my position that God chose specific individuals who were not in existence physically as of yet but as of a certainty according to His eternal decree will exist. When Paul states that God chose US "in Christ" in regards to Ephesians 1:4 - he was was NOT saying that God chose US "to be" in Christ. On the contrary, God's elect have ALWAYS been 'in Christ' from an eternal perspective; since God is not bound by time. And since God is not bound by time; He has the ability to speak whatever into existence as if it already exist for whatever God speaks and predetermines into existence it already exist from God's perspective because of its certainty to come into existence. This is why God can assert that those He has chose before the foundation of the world are ALREADY in Christ; even to the point of those He has chose not having existed as of yet. 

In addition, Paul is stating that God chose US in Christ before the foundation of the world as BELONGING to Christ; even from eternity past. Or, in other words; God chose US in Christ before the foundation of the world as a "union" between His people who did not physically exist as of yet and His Son; albeit as an union CERTAIN to come to fruition "in time" according to His decree which was "before time". What God has decreed before time or creation will inevitably come to pass as a thing undoubtedly certain after creation for those whom He has foreknew and loved beforehand. Christ UNION with the Father's elect has ALWAYS been; there NEVER was a 'time' when the Elect of God or the sheep of Christ did not belong to them both. This possession of a particular people is entirely based upon the decree of God. 

Lastly, we, as the elect of God existed eternally; however only in the mind and plan of God. Before creation; the plan of God was to always create a particular people for Himself that would be carried out over a period of time or after creation. In other words, there was never a "time" when God did not have a particular people in mind to create for His own glory. God chose a people for Himself before the 'concept' of time had been established; hence, God's elect eternally existed. Mind you, the same Greek word (pro 4253) is used as it relates to "before the foundation of the world" relating to both man and the Son of God (ephesians 1:4 and 1 peter 1:20). Even though, however, God's Elect and God's Son both eternally existed - God's Son existed as an uncreated being while God's Elect of course as created beings; there remains a distinction between the two. Furthermore, God foreknew both; His Son and His Elect as eternally existing having been both eternally beloved by the Father in a favorable sense as to glorify Him regarding Christ work of redemption for His people.

By Aaron Fisher 

Natural People & Spiritual People | 1 Corinthians 2: 14-16 / Pastor Richard Caldwell

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

CLICK HERE - TO LISTEN TO SERMON.

Middle Knowledge? As in Molinism ..... is simply unbiblical.

     God's decision to create could not be based upon 'middle knowledge' because middle knowledge consist of man having "free will". This notion, is an impossibility seeing that Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb is the central focus point of all that entails and surrounds God's decree. Furthermore, I argue the most essential and main components that would not only carry out (initiate) God's decree but also bring it to fruition and fulfillment - are the eternal Convents of God. The eternal purposes of God are dependent upon these Covenants. These Covenants are not eternal in the same manner as God; being without a beginning or end; but they are eternal in the sense that they are inseperately associated with Christ, the Sacrificial Lamb who was foreknown by the Father before the foundation of the world. The covenants are eternal in so far as Christ is eternal and if the Convents are eternal, then so is God's purposes which derive from God's Covenants.

     So, seeing that God's purposes are eternal and that they are from before creation and no one can thwart God's eternal purposes or plan, then it is also impossibility for man to have "free will". For if this was to be true, then it would be possible for man to indeed thwart the will and purposes of God as it relates to what God has solely or unilaterally determined to fulfill by way of these Covenants.

     What would be the purpose for God having or using Middle Knowledge 'before He decide' to create if there is no 'free wil'l to do other than what God has already purposed to come to pass? Would Middle Knowledge that God supposedly possesses have a purpose if there was no free will?

     What would be the purpose for God using Middle Knowledge 'before He decide' to create if there is actually no other circumstance that man would operate under, to do other than - what God has already determined? Would Middle Knowledge have a purpose if there was no other circumstance that man could operate under other than what God has predetermined?

NO!!!!!

This is why there is no such thing as middle knowledge in the scriptures for middle knowledge would not serve any purpose with God!

I argue,

     Can God know what man would do under other circumstances? Sure He could. But the question is how would He know? I argue God could only know what man would do under different circumstances if He has predetermined what man would do under different circumstances. There is no "free will". What God predetermine man would do, man will indeed do because God's predetermination is based upon His decree which entails His eternal purposes according to the plan of God evolving around His Son, the Sacrificial Lamb - for His Elect whom He promised eternal life to before time. So in light of God having the ability to know what man would do under different circumstances, this notion, that man would do different under different circumstances would not nor could not happen for the purposes and plan of God is unchanging or rather fixed based upon His eternal decree. Middle knowledge is therefore unbilical!

By Aaron Fisher 

The DECREE OF GOD.

The DECREE of God - Is not so much as a command but rather a previous determination of God before the Creation of the world (acknowledging that God is not subject to time but eternal) of what would or rather will come to pass as of a CERTAINTY resulting from his divine councel and will relating to His eternal purposes that will glorify Himself in all things.

The eternal purposes of God are predetermined seeing that they are determined before creation or time. The predetermined purposes of God are based upon a predetermined plan. Both, the eternal purposes and plan of God are on both sides of the same coin; they cannot be separated. Both are DELIBERATE ESSENTIAL commitments of God in reaching the same end goal. Furthermore, they (God's plan and purposes) both come to pass, not only by the desire/intentions of God's heart but more importantly by the will or determination of God which hearkens back to what He has eternally PURPOSED TO FULFILL temporally 'in time' - that being, all that He has pre-planned deriving from His perfect counsel; hence, the Decree of God.

FOREKNOWLEDGE and DECREE

The Decree or the Eternal Purposes of God precedes the future exhaustive knowledge of God for the purposes of God derive from His predetermined plan. To clarify; this plan is NOT based upon what all God knows in advance that will transpire but RATHER based upon His divine counsel in regards to what He has determined before time to come to pass in order to reach a specific end goal for His own glory. For example, if God has based His decree upon what He knows so called 'free creatures' would do in advance - then their "liberty" to do as they will apart from God's meticulous control to govern what He has purposed would indeed rob God of the glory that's due Him alone; for the creature would have become a sovereign unto Himself - seemingly able to thwart the will, eternal purpose, and plan of God, his Creator.

NO PURPOSES OF GOD SHALL BE THWARTED.

The Example: If God has predetermined for Creature A to physically turn left in order to fulfill a specific and necessary purpose but Creature A upon his own volition has the ability to refrain from turning left and do otherwise (and without any outside influence, or coercion including God's power) - then Creature A inevitably also has the freedom and ability to physically turn right instead and essentially undermine the 'will' of God and His purposes. If God has predetermined for Creature A to turn left for His own purposes and glory and His decree does not come to pass because of the 'freewill' of Creature A - then Creature A is his own sovereign unto himself and may very well even boast regarding his liberty as to be a self willed stand alone ruler which in return will ultimately lead to the sin of exalted pride and self glory before his Maker. 

This type of liberty and self glory of the creature cannot be according to Scripture. Even though God has seemingly given man some since of liberty to do as he will; however, man does not live his life according to absolute freedom. Man can only do what God has confined him to, for His very own purposes; God has deemed it so, for He will not give His glory to another. No flesh will have the opportunity to boast before the Lord; God will give no such leeway to sinful creatures for the sake of His holy name. No flesh will glory in His presence!

The LORD nullifies the plan of nations; He frustrates the plans of peoples. The councel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. - PSALMS 33:10-11

By Aaron Fisher

Possible Worlds? As in Molinism ....

     The teaching of some involving "Possible Worlds" is entirely unbiblical. This concept of "possible worlds" is foreign and not taught in scripture; it is a man made doctrine. The scriptures can't be broken (john 10:35). All that the Prophets and the Psalms spoke of MUST BE fulfilled. There is no other possible world; this world is the only world in the plan of God. Furthermore, there can't be the possibility of a so called another world for God has OBLIGATED HIMSELF to this world and this world alone; based upon His Eternal Covenants. He swore those Covenants with an UNBREAKABLE OATH. This particular world has always been the plan of God BEFORE CREATION. Christ was the Sacrificial Lamb foreknown by the Father before time. God's eternal plan regarding the Son cannot be altered; everything must take place as God has so decreed it - so there is no possibility of a another world that could come to pass. If so, then EVERYTHING that was predetermined to take place according to God's initial one and only decree would be obliterated and God's character and reputation would be in question as to who He truly is. God chose to reveal Himself in this world. God saw fit to only "actuate" this world to glorify Himself. 

     Besides the fact, seeing that God's wisdom, councel, judgements and ways are all perfect; how can there be any possibility of another world that could somehow be better than what is already claimed to be good and absolute (Genesis 1:31)? It's not like, the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were at odds with one another. No, the councel of the Godhead is perfect without any implication of disunity, confusion, or being betwixt and between but with complete clarity, certainty, mastery, preciseness, purposefulness and deliberateness . There is absolutely NO indecisiveness with God. From the beginning, there has been only one plan of God according to His decree before anything was created! Only ONE world!!!!

Molinism is just another attempt at a system to dethrone the sovereignty of God and elevate man's so called 'free will' in regards to his salvation.

By Aaron Fisher

Autonomous Creatures?

    Created creatures cannot be created as truly autonomously free in light of God's decree; His eternal plan and purposes, and not to mention His own glory which also reveals and define the character and nature of God Himself. If the character and nature of God could not be freely fully expressed in light of His complete divine meticulous sovereignty relating to what He has created, then we as human creatures could not ever know, regarding the true scriptural identity of the only self proclaiming living God who has always existed as one but yet three in persons (Yahweh) - and we could never rightfully worship Him as such as He is also properly deserving of our praise; for His true essence and being would be distorted through the lens of all things created by the creature if the scriptural revelation of Himself was denounced and hidden. I ask you, where is the glory of God to be found in such a notion as this? If you take away those things that make God out to be God; for example, such as His eternal decree, then the creatures view of God would not be based upon biblical actuality itself - for God is indeed Holy and sits above's the Heavens but nonetheless simultaneously meticulously governs His creation; those things upon the earth unto His own glory. If this was not the case - the so called "free creature" would be in danger by default as outright stealing or sharing the glory of God which is due to Him alone, hence; His praise according to His divine holiness or separateness. An eternal decree of God prevents such glory and boasting from what has been created; thus God's character is not maligned before man nor His holy name brought to a level of disrespect and ultimately blasphemy.

    In addition, it is an impossibility for God to create "free creatures" for God's glory will never nor could it ever be compromised as to be diminished by those things created because God's exaltation of Himself is both rightly and justly merited as Creator. And because of this truth, God does not lower His Majesty or Splendor for the sake of the creature. God is altogether glorious - "worthy is the Lord our God!" Furthermore, God's Majesty is founded in His attributes and His attributes are part of and consistent with His nature. Therefore, God cannot compromise the Majesty of who He is for the sake of the creature for this very thing would diminish His Being before all things created. Even so, just how could the creature exalt Himself higher than a being who is uncreated, eternal and likewise their maker? Again, this is an impossibility. For example, If man was "free" from God's decree to do otherwise, then he would have a reason to boast before the Lord; he would have become a sovereign (god) unto himself (ezekiel 28:2) possessing an ability to seemingly undo or thwart the will of the eternal God; but there is no other God or Creator besides Yahweh and so God ensures the impossibility of a "free" creature to do other than what God has predetermined leaving absolutely no room for sinful man to boast before Him. Even though God's glory could never actually be diminished in spite of the created being, He only ensures the impossibility of boasting for the sake of His name and I would also argue for the sake of the creature regarding ultimate judgement by establishing before creation an eternal decree distinguishing Himself as the only living and true God. Alone, to God be the glory!

By Aaron Fisher