I have been spelunking the depths of the Netflix series The Crown for spiritual treasures. For me, it has been a perfect picture of a divine reality. Over and over I’ve seen the struggles and realities we all face to live as Royals of the Kingdom. Also I’ve showed the cost of taking up our responsibility to be Royalty. Though I don’t live in Buckingham Palace, I am a member of the Royal Family of God. And the Word says that I am currently seated in heavenly realms IN Christ. This is my present reality, not merely my future experience…whoa! Well today I want to express the benefit of living IN Christ. Living in that Royal priesthood as Royalty.
Believing in Christ in ME
The mind of the flesh will never grasp the “Christ in me” reality; it is utter and complete foolishness to the mind of the flesh. Actually, beyond that, it is abhorrent because it’s not reliant on the self! This is an affront to everything we work so hard to do – to be victorious, spiritual, godly, and righteous. I am none of these, no matter how hard I try.
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT
The benefits of living IN Christ are as multifaceted and personal as we are. Why? Because living IN Christ is Christ living as YOU, and this manifests uniquely and individually in each life. One may be a police officer, another a construction worker, yet another a mother and housewife, and still another a ruler – all individuals with distinct lives and roles.
My Life IN Christ
The benefit of living IN Christ is that my life is done for me, through me. I am given the victory! I actually believe this is the only victory we experience in our spiritual life. Christ, Himself, does what only He can do. My spiritual life is not dependent on my performance. In reality, my performance only prevents The Life from manifesting. This is some of the most exciting news we will ever hear, while being the most devastating to our ego.
In my early Christian days, I wanted to be a part of the life. I wanted to give it my best in service to the Kingdom. I wanted to make my Heavenly Father proud. Yet what I have found is something quite the contrary. My service was detrimental to the Kingdom. Let me show you why this must be.
If I could be the life in me, then I would have something to offer to the King of Glory. I would have an offering to present to Him, something to make Him proud. I’d take great pride in my accomplishment. I would excitedly present my gift of life. “Aren’t you proud of ME, Daddy?” NO! There is only one, yes One, Life that brings pleasure to the Father. Only One Life satisfies His requirements and only One Life makes Him proud—The Life of His SON!
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 HCSB
God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:28-31 HCSB
No Longer Self, I’m IN Christ
The benefit of living IN Christ is that I get to experience the easy yoke and light burden. He chose those of us who are weak and foolish so it could only be He in me and not ME. Life is done IN me, for me, as Christ Himself lives through me. My life stands for a victory I neither authored nor accomplished. I am a benefactor of the grace and choosing of my God. I have no badge of accomplishment or achievement but He does! I do have the free will to prevent myself from receiving of this grace but I’ll have nothing to show that earned me this privilege. I am a mere agreeing party to a grace and Life that is bestowed upon me.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 CEB
I have a crown in which I will throw down at the feet of Him who earned it. My victory and life is His triumph and success as He earned His Father’s pleasure through me. I am a trophy of His glowing grace and ability to complete what He has started. Neither my talents nor giftings earn me a reward, they were merely instruments that the Son of God played to honor His own Father. I am the eternal benefactor of a Reward He earned for Himself.
Isn’t it interesting, that Elizabeth, who didn’t display her ‘self’ actually lived a transparency… Because she valued the Crown. To be clear, the reason ‘I groaned’ is because I saw the lust of my flesh, painfully depicted in “Pride & Joy”. ‘I wept’ at the display (!) of the horror of it….& I wept over the grace given to see it. Repentance also is gift He brings our hearts to. And, ‘I rejoiced’ at “the victory I neither authored or accomplished”. “The Holy Spirit is the one who gives life, that which is of the natural realm is of no… Read more »
Who’s name do we come in? I groaned, wept, rejoiced, watching a piercing segment of The Crown, “Pride & Joy”. This isn’t an exact quote, but Elizabeth says, ‘I understand there are natural leaders, & others, that think they could do a better job as Monarch than me…”but the crown has landed on my head.” “God has chosen the insignificant & despised in the world…to bring to nothing what is viewed as something so that no one can boast in His presence….” HE GAVE ALL, IS ALL. Margaret is given opportunity to speak representing the Crown. She wants to shine,… Read more »
Oh, John, this is sooo good! I understand that “The mind of the flesh will never grasp the “Christ in me” reality;” but I’m even having a struggle taking in the glorious explanation you give! Another keeper. Can’t share via email because most in our small prayer group are more elderly than me and don’t have a computer. So will definitely print this out. Every time I ask for permission from the pastor to share, he asks, eagerly: “Oh, is this from one of your friends at Shulamite?” Because, John, he knows that many of them have not received the… Read more »
They say ” His pain, my gain”…. but actually it is ” His pain, His gain”….
” He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied”. Isaia 53:11