I. Christ in Heaven 237
II. You in Christ 237
III. Christ in You 238
IV. Commentary regarding Christ in Heaven, You in Christ, Christ in You 238

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (Jn 14:20)

I. Christ in Heaven
Eph 1:20-21
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Heb 9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Acts 7:55
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Phil 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

II. You in Christ
Eph 2:4-7, 10
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. …For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1Co 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Col 3:1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

2Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1Ptr 5:14
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

III. Christ in You
Col 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Jn 17:10, 26
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Gal 1:15-16
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb… To reveal his Son in me…

Jn 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

IV. Commentary regarding Christ in Heaven, You in Christ, Christ in You

We are searching the thought, the theme, the reality of GREAT SALVATION. We are now going to deal with three terms of Great Salvation. This is where we should begin a study of Great Salvation; and these terms are INDISPUTABLE. What we are going to say is not up for arbitration or argument. It is set before us in the scripture, so you need to consider these things, and then you can draw your own conclusion; but there is no argument about these three terms and their place in the scripture. You do not hear a great deal about them because the center of these three terms is CHRIST HIMSELF; but then the center of Salvation is Christ Himself! Salvation is NOT something that He has done, but Who He is! Throughout the Old Testament scriptures, and fulfilled in His name in the New Testament, HE HIMSELF is called Salvation! It is said that Israel's Salvation will come and His reward is with Him (Is 62:11). SALVATION IS THE PERSON OF THE LORD! Salvation then is that relationship we have with Christ. It's not something that we have benefitted from by the existence of Christ, but a relationship that we are in with Christ.

Reference:
Is 62:11
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

These terms very much deal with that relationship. The terms that we will look at are peculiar to the New Testament and are mostly found in the writings of Paul. Ephesians 4:1-10 is a good place to start. Now, throughout the scripture, whether we are in the Old Testament or New Testament, wherever God is dealing with HIS PEOPLE, seeking to bring in a particular work, seeking to bring His people to a particular level, or seeking to correct a particular situation - the first thing that ALWAYS happens is that He brings into the midst of that people a new, a clearer VIEW OF THE LORD JESUS. There are countless examples of that, but here is one you are familiar with: The book of Isaiah - how does it start? He does not just start jumping on the Jews, he does not just start jumping on Israel. There is a problem that he is addressing - it is a breakdown. Jeremiah addresses the same problem, a great breakdown. It is a breakdown that is going to lead to the captivity in Babylon. The prophets see that; but how does Isaiah deal with this? What, after a very short introduction, does he present? Where does this whole book - in substance, start?

Reference:
Eph 4:1-10
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The whole book - in substance starts in what we call the sixth chapter, but of course it was not written in chapters. "In the year that king Uzziah died I SAW THE LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple" (Is 6:1, ASV; emphasis added). And from there he continues on. Then he brings all of Israel into the judgment of that Lord, then he brings Israel into the promise of that Lord, then he brings Israel into the realization of that Lord. He starts off in a clear presentation of a new view of the Lord: The Lord in heaven, The Lord exalted, The Lord in His Temple. And then he relates Israel to that view of The Lord.

Paul picks up this same thing in the New Testament and he presents The Lord in a very full, complete way. Then he proceeds to relate The Church, to relate the believers to That Lord. You and I need in our hearts and understanding to be related to The Lord in that way. Because most of us are related to Him in such a distant view that there is scarcely a relationship at all - with The Lord. Oh, we are all involved in "Christian things", but I am talking about The Lord. Christians love "Christian things"; would it not be wonderful if Christians loved The Lord! The center of our involvement should be The Lord! Not even the center of our involvement being gathered on what WE call The Lord's Day; but those things have their place. But it is our involvement with The Lord that constitutes Life, and constitutes Newness of Life. So Paul brings in this view of The Lord.

In the book of Revelation when John is dealing correctively with The Church...and that is what the book of Revelation is. Now I am not trying to minimize any letter in the scripture, but the letter to the churches called "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" is both 1) a corrective letter and 2) a letter of comfort during an extremely difficult time. An old system, Israel, is being taken away, destroyed. It is being jerked up by the roots, and the New Tree, the New Branch is coming up! It is yet extremely tender, very vulnerable. It can be - if God permitted it - completely stamped out, obliterated and done away with, so great was the persecution upon it at that time. And never again can persecution be that way, because never again will you find the totality of The Church in any one, small location. But it was tremendous! So how does he start out the letter? He starts out the letter presenting a very fresh, glorious view of the Lord Jesus - showing Him to be where He is - IN THE MIDST OF THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS, in the midst of those who are His own! (Rev 1:12-13). And yet he is showing Him there NOT as an earthly Jesus, not as a Jesus come to die, but as a Jesus in resurrection, in power, in glory and victory, yet dwelling in the midst of His Church, bringing The Church into that glorious, heavenly, spiritual, full and complete view that The Lord there is representing.

Reference:
Rev 1:12-13
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

This is what Paul is doing. So now in Ephesians 4, and look at the things that are gathered into this. Verse 1, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." We are very much involved in a VOCATION. Verse 2, "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." See, our lowliness, meekness and longsuffering is towards one another - not quick to cut one another off, not quick to be short with one another. Our forbearance is towards one another. It does not matter how loud you sing "Oh, how I love Jesus!" if you will not forbear one another! We are not to ride rough shod over one another and exalt lordship over one another, but we manifest meekness to one another. Verse 3, "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." And then he states a fact in relation to that. He has just talked to them about unity and longsuffering: now he says, in verse 4 through 10, it is because "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE MIGHT FILL ALL THINGS.)" (Eph 4:1-10).

Reference:
Eph 4:1-10
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Now the term here is simply this: that He might FULFIL all things - all things of God, all things of Salvation, all things spoken by the prophets, all things of the expectation of Israel - all things gathered up into Him through His death, His burial and His resurrection. We see that here: He that descended is the same that ascended - His death, His burial, His resurrection - that HE might fulfil all things. And therefore that in Him, you and I might find the absolute fulness of God - in Him Who hath fulfilled all things! So in relation to Him, it is clear that Salvation is in relation to not only what He has done in His death, burial and resurrection, but is in direct proportion to WHO HE HIMSELF IS. So again, Salvation has to do with our relationship with Him - whether it be distant, whether it be close, whether it is a relationship of unity, of oneness - however it is in our heart, that is how our Salvation is, because He is the fulness thereof.

So in that thought, let me introduce to you three scriptural terms that very much stress this point. The first term is CHRIST IN HEAVEN - this we must first see. Everything depends upon first seeing HIM: seeing Him WHERE He is, AS He is, WHO He is; because everything of Salvation is there finished, established - IN HIM! And it is our relationship to Him that is the measure of our Salvation. So if you want a Great Salvation - see a Great Christ! If you want a Great Salvation - come to a great view of the Lord Jesus - see His greatness! If you want to see the full measure of Salvation, then look to Him to see the full measure - it's HIM! When God spoke to Israel, in every example He does so by first bringing into view His Son. In the Old Testament it was always in type and shadow, but nonetheless - it is The Son. And then it is followed through in the New Testament: everything is done in presentation of The Son - everything! How did the Apostles preach The Resurrection? They preached The Resurrection through Jesus Christ The Lord! (Acts 4:1-2). They did not run around and preach The Resurrection as a subject. They did not preach The Resurrection as a sermon, as a belief - they preached The Resurrection through Jesus Christ The Lord. That is the same way they preached everything else of Salvation - through Jesus Christ The Lord!

Reference:
Acts 4:1-2
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

So it is CHRIST IN HEAVEN. The second term is: YOU IN CHRIST. First Christ in Heaven, then You in Christ. Then thirdly: CHRIST IN YOU. This is the order in which we will look at them, and in which I believe The Spirit does reveal Christ. Christ in heaven - you in Christ - and Christ in you. Now there is one verse that sums that up and says it. That is John 14:20. We must understand this is the narration in John fourteen from verse 1, and it has to do with Jesus saying in verse 3 that I will come and receive you unto myself. Now what I am going to say is not from my sermon notes, but a true translation of the literal, Greek language. It is a true, grammatical structure of that sentence. "…And receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn 14:3). The word "that" states the PURPOSE for everything that is being said. Why? Why are you going to receive us unto yourself? Why? "...that where I am...". Now, "where I am" does not, according to the original text and grammatical structure of this sentence mean like you and I saying "where we are this morning is in a building". "Where I am...I am in a mall, I am in a car." No - the word "where" there is not the object: the "I AM" there is the object of the word "where". "I am" is what "where" is referring to. The I AM is the "where"! So scholars realize, because of the way it is written, and the correct grammatical structure, they have to say that this is NOT a location being spoken of here, but a RELATIONSHIP that He is speaking of here.

References:
Jn 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Jn 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

We ought to know that He is speaking of a relationship when He says I will bring you into MYSELF - I will gather you up, I will bring you into Myself (Jn 14:3). The Greek language there indicates that it is like I would gather you in, unto myself - in more than just an embrace, but sharing with you all that I am. I will bring you unto Myself. What kind of a promise would it have been: "I'm going to come back some day, and walk along the sandy shores with you. We're going to sit down on the banks of Jordan and fish for the rest of our lives." Get out of here! He has already fished with them! He already ate with them, He already put His arm around them - He has already done that! He is NOT talking about that. He is talking about bringing them in - UNTO HIMSELF. The verses show it - it is irrefutable! Whether we understand it or not, whether we even want to understand it or not - the language of the scripture here is irrefutable, and that is the beautiful thing about it! I do not have to argue with anybody about it, because even if we do not understand it, this is what it says!

Bringing us in "...that where I am...". Again, "I am" is the object of the word "where". The word "there" in your Bible is in italics or is bracketed because it is not supposed to be there: it has been added: "that where I am, ye may be also." Now what in the world is that all about? It sounds like a location to me! And we can both be in the city, in the same town, both be in the same place. NO - because HE IS THE PLACE HERE! He is bringing us into a relationship with Himself. So it goes on. He says it is going to take The Spirit of The Lord to show you this, and it finally comes to verses 19 and 20. There He says, this is what I am saying: "... because I live, you shall live also." Verse 20 says this. What has He said? "That where I am, you may be also." Verse 20, "At that day..." And that is the day of the coming of The Spirit of Truth! The day of the coming of The Comforter! He has just been talking about that. In that day you will know that I AM IN MY FATHER - that is NOT a location; that is a relationship! YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU.

References:
Jn 14:19-20
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

We may fumble around with our natural mind trying to figure that out, but that is exactly what Jesus promises; that is exactly the relationship we have in Salvation. And as He Himself said, that is exactly the relationship that ONLY the Holy Spirit can make known, reveal and cause us to understand. But that is where He has brought us to. So these three terms are found here: CHRIST IN HEAVEN - You will know I am in My Father; YOU IN CHRIST - and you are in Me; CHRIST IN YOU - and I am in you. Those three terms are right there in one verse! I do not know if they are in any other one verse in the Bible, but they are in that one verse. They are stated right there as being the essence, the substance of Salvation and of what Salvation is all about.

Reference:
Jn 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Now, we want a Salvation that we can conjure up in the imagination of our carnal minds, but I am telling you that Salvation is not that. Salvation is that which is wrought of God in Christ, worked in you by The Spirit, and revealed in you by The Spirit. It is a relationship into which we have been brought by The Spirit, a relationship in which we walk by The Spirit. That is what Salvation is - it is all about HIM!

So the first term: CHRIST IN HEAVEN. There is so much to this, but I will just share some scriptural references. Ephesians 1 - this is the REALITY of where He is, and you see, on this most Christians have no problem. Of course, their idea of heaven may be different, but they have no problem with Christ being there. In fact, most would rather have Him there because to most people heaven is rather a long ways off, and they would like for Him to be there - and leave me alone! Until I need Him for something; and then I would be just as happy if He would send an angel as come Himself. I am being facetious now, but this is kind of the way we think. At any rate, whatever your idea of heaven is, most Christians have no problem with the concept of Christ being there. You can draw your own conclusions, but I want to show you a pattern in the scriptures that is irrefutable if you stay with the scripture. So Ephesians 1:20, "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from [among] the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places". He is talking about the power of His resurrection, which is spoken of in the previous verses. You will notice I always put "among" the dead, because the Greek word here is from "among the dead." And also, "in the heavenlies", or in heaven. The King James Version has "places" in italics, showing that it has been added to supposedly help you understand the word "heavenly". But the better Greek definition is " the heavenlies" - another realm, a realm that is peculiar to The Spirit, not the flesh, a higher realm, a higher order. Life! Heaven! The Father's House!

References:
Eph 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from <1537> the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],

Strong's Greek Lexicon: Eph 1:20, "from" <1537>
1537. ek ek ek or ex ex ex; a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):- after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

But the point right now is - Christ is there! He is raised and seated there. And then there is a description, and how different the description of this place is than most think: but this is the description of where He is. Verse 21: "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [this present world, that is, this tangible creation], but also in that which is to come". And the term "to come" is not futuristic, but "to come" means that which is sure, that which is established, that which can not pass away. You will find that "world to come" throughout the scripture, because it is always in reference to that which Israel looked for. A good example of this is in Hebrews 2:5, "For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak..."; but to the Lord Jesus - he goes on to tell you that. So "the world to come" is not speaking of the place where angels are flying around. No, it is in fact a New Creation in Christ. And the word "to come" is used here because it refers to the promise to Israel of that which was to come. But even with Israel the emphasis is not with some futuristic state, but that which is absolute, that which is definite; as opposed to that which is passing, that which is not sure, that which is not eternal. This is that which can not be seen, as opposed to that which can be seen; but this is that which does not pass away, as opposed to that which is corruptible. So we are talking about two worlds.

References:
Eph 1:21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Heb 2:5-9
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

And "not only in this world..." which means that the Exalted Christ is not simply exalted above the world we can see, taste and touch. No sir, His Name is The Exalted Name in that creation which is in Him; in that creation which is sure, established, and forever and sure to come. Or let us put it this way: it is the world which is sure in its coming. And in every case it is so. It is the same with "faith to come", "joy to come", "righteousness to come". These were promised to Israel and fulfilled in Christ, and presented to The Church as being that sureness. It only becomes confusing when we try to make it something in the distant future, as though we do not yet have that in Christ, because it is there. There may be much that is in Christ that we do not comprehend by faith, have not come to see, and have not come to walk in by The Spirit of God, but the fulness of God is there in Christ Jesus - He hath fulfilled all things!

Yes sir - death, burial, resurrection, descending, ascension - why? That He might be the fulness of all things, that in Him all things might be fulfilled. And the "all things" there refers to the all things of the Old Covenant. So it simply means that everything that has been said, everything that has been expected, everything that has been typed and shadowed and set forth, everything of this book, everything of these prophets, everything of Salvation, everything of God's plan - all things have come to find their fulfillment, their answer IN CHRIST! And the scripture says that over and over again. We have to remember that when the scripture was written it was not written as an argument. He was not writing to fifteen different denominations, and fifteen different theologies that have developed in two thousand years. He was writing to hungry believers just simply declaring The Truth as it is in Christ. So there was simply no need to defend terms like "all things', and say he was not referring to warts on a toad or the leaves on a tree, but to the "all things" of Salvation, to the "all things" of the Testimony. It was understood that this was the "all things" being referred to by those to whom he was speaking, because he was declaring the reality of Christ to those who had received Him in that reality; had come out from Judaism and in some cases heathenism, and had received the Lord. He was simply declaring that in Him you have all things fulfilled.

They could receive that before man made doctrines got it so clouded that now we have to take three hours to explain one statement because it has become so covered and so misused. Now the point is: Christ in heaven - hath raised HIM, hath set HIM at His own right hand (Eph 1:20). Here CHRIST IN HEAVEN IS SALVATION SECURED. Your Salvation is not secure because I live for the Lord, nor is it insecure if I did not. Your Salvation is secure because Christ is in heaven. Your Salvation is secure because He died once, He was buried once, He rose once, and He is seated forever! (Acts 13:29-30, 34-35; Heb 1:3, 8; Heb 10:11-12). That's why your Salvation is secure - CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN! We would like to make one another our security, but we are just not. But Christ is the security of this. If everything else fails - Christ is seated! That is the security: that is where the Lord brings me back time and time and time again. In my falter, in my failure, in my ambition, in my whatever - The Lord brings me to see His Son seated. When I lose the view of what this is all about: maybe it becomes about doing something, or getting something done, or being this or that - when I lose the view of what it is all about, The Lord brings me back and says: you need to see something here, you need to see what this is all about. And He shows me The Son - seated, established! And I stand secure in that!

Reference:
Eph 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Rom 6:9-10
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Acts 13:29-37
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Heb 1:3, 8
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb 10:11-12
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

All of a sudden nothing matters any more. All of these things that were important yesterday are no longer important any more. The only thing that is important is The Son seated. Why? Well, because He is seated there for a reason. You see, you do not see The Son seated there as though He has never left. In other words, you are not looking at a scene that has never been disrupted in heaven - because that would not do you any good! To see The Godhead as The Godhead has existed from before existence without any disruption would not do you any good. The Son you see seated is The Son who descended, and then ascended, and is seated (Eph 4:9-10): for a purpose, for a reason. And the purpose and the reason is gathered up in that period between the descent and the ascent; and it is called His death, burial and resurrection, and that is where YOU AND I are brought in! That is how you and I get somewhere! That is how you and I are brought somewhere: because He descended and then ascended, and we see Him recovered there, we see restoration, we see recovery, we see reconciliation - we see A Son returned! But He returned in purpose, He returned having done something!

Reference:
Eph 4:9-10
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And that is taken up in the next term we will look at - YOU IN CHRIST. But our thoughts and our hearts should be occupied for a very, very long time just with Christ in heaven. There is so much here: Romans 8:33,34, Colossians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 15:17-21 - these are just specific mentions. Hebrews 9:24. But you will notice that in most of these specific instances, because His being seated is a RESEATED for Him; it is a return, it is a restored position, a reconciled relationship. He left it: He is reconciled back to it. That is what reconciliation is: it is the only place reconciliation is. That is what restoration is. Restoration is not back to being like Adam: restoration has to do with The Son coming back to where He started. And restoration has to do with you and me in that HE BRINGS US WITH HIM - as those who are in Him. And though we have never been there, He is restored, and we are in Him as that which is restored, and reconciled, and established. You need to realize that IN THE SON FIRST, because if you simply realize reconciliation and restoration from the standpoint of man, then all Salvation is to you is going back and being like Adam before he disobeyed God in the first place. Well, who wants to be like Adam in any circumstance? Who wants to be there? Who wants to be in that garden with a serpent running around?

References:
Rom 8:33-34
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Col 3:1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

1Cor 15:17-21
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

Heb 9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Who wants to be there in the garden as a living soul, having no Eternal Spirit abiding in you? No - restoration is not applicable to that; it is applicable to This Son Who left all, who being in the form of God thought it not robbery, thought it not a thing to be held on to, grasped - but freely laid it down, and gave it up. He made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of man (Phil 2:6-7). He had to become like Adam. Restoration then could not possibly just be back to Adam, because becoming like Adam was a down step for The Son; it was a humiliation for The Son. Restoration is The Son being brought back, exactly as I read to you: in ascension, The Son being brought back into the relationship He left. But what happens is, He left it so that upon His return, according to the scripture, He could bring many brethren unto glory! (Heb 2:10). He could bring many through the veil into the presence of The Most High! (Heb 10:19-21). And not be ashamed to call them His brethren, for He that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are seen to be all of One (Heb 2:11).

References:
Phil 2:6-7
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Heb 2:9-13
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Heb 12:22-28
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 10:19-21
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God;

So that brings us to the next term: YOU IN CHRIST. But what we must see is that everywhere we read concerning Christ being seated in heaven, in the same context it is going to include YOU. First Him, but it will get around to including you. Why? Because this for Him is a "reseating". And the writer can not just say 'raised Him up and seated Him', he has to show the PURPOSE; because why did He leave in the first place? Just to make a trip? No - He left in the first place so that upon His return He could bring many with Him - who are One; and that we, by what He has done, can continue throughout the ages being received by that Work and the operation of that Work, unto Him, in Him, where He is! So in each of these cases you are included. We have no doubt of this in Ephesians 1:20 and 21 concerning Him being there, and then we see His authority over The Church and consequently in all things. But the narration goes on into Chapter two verse one: "And YOU...who were dead in trespasses and sins...('hath he quickened' is in italics. It does not really belong there, it is inferred, but that is alright.) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world..." There you go - that is "this world", that is not "the world to come", not the world that is ever in it's coming - this world. The contrast is always being made in the scripture, and we need to understand that is what is happening.

References:
Eph 1:20-21
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 2:1-2
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

This world is like the Jerusalem that now is, over and against The Jerusalem which is above, the mother of us all (Gal 4:21-26). That is the contrast. Now then, "...that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together [as one] with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together [as one], and made us sit together [as one] in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:2-7). Put your finger on verse 6 and go back to Ephesians 1:20 - it is the same place! Together - together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus - with this reason, with this purpose: Verse 7, "That in the ages to come..." But see, we've got it backwards! We think He's going to do this in the ages to come. No - He's already done this, so that in the ages to come He might show - THROUGH US, The Church, the manifest grace and pleasure of God! Just read it. "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ." Verse 10, "For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Christ in heaven, now, you in Christ. The issue with Christ is heaven - heavenly places. But the issue with you and I is simply - CHRIST. We want to divide it: we want to say it is Christ IN heaven. No, it is not, it is Christ, it is just Christ. The issue with Him is: back where He started. The issue with Him is home, Father, heaven; and it is always written that way.

Reference:
Gal 4:21-26
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Eph 2:2-10
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

But when it comes to you and I, it is not just heaven, heavenlies, home, Father's house. It is that "IN CHRIST..." and it is always that way; because with us it is Christ, it is where He is. "I will receive you unto MYSELF..." (Joh 14:3). This is a spiritual relationship. This is a real, eternal, genuine relationship that lasts after clay bodies are turned to dust, and yet a relationship that is HERE AND NOW IN CHRIST JESUS! Christ in heaven - you in Christ. Oh yes, in heavenly places - yes. Verse 20 - heavenly places. Here it ends with Him: set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places. There is the issue with Him - He and The Father. But with us - Ephesians 2:6 - in heavenly places IN CHRIST. To you and I it is IN CHRIST, it is IN HIM. For Him it is in The Father, for us it is in Him (Jn 14:20). It is simplicity itself; it is the plainness of the Gospel! And we could go on and on with this "YOU IN CHRIST" because the gospels of Paul are full of this. There are names given to it: you are a New Creature, or a New Creation IN CHRIST JESUS (2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15); then again Paul says ye are One Body (Rom 12:5) IN CHRIST JESUS. Everything we are as to spiritual life, we are because we are IN CHRIST! So everything we are in spiritual life, we are by a relatedness to Him.

References:
Jn 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Eph 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Jn 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

2Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Gal 6:15
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Rom 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

So it is not Christ AND anything: it is all things IN Christ! (Eph 1:10). It is not Christ AND His Body, but rather it is His Body in Christ (Rom 12:5). I am just trying to say that spiritual life for you and I is summed up in The Lord - in Him; finding all of the realities of spiritual life in Him, coming to know The Truth as The Truth is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). What a glorious thing that is! What a glorious Life! What a glorious awakening! And it is an awakening morning, by morning, by morning - never old, always new, yet always the same; but the sameness is ever abounding!

References:
Eph 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Rom 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Eph 4:21
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Let us look now at the third term. It is CHRIST IN YOU. So in regard to CHRIST IN HEAVEN we found Salvation secured. With regard to YOU IN CHRIST we found corporateness; Salvation is a corporate reality because you are not there by yourself. You are there with me, and there we are One with Him. Consequently there we are One, and that is a whole other view of Salvation that is bound up with our being in Christ. First - security is secured - Christ in heaven. Second - corporate oneness is realized. And thirdly - CHRIST IN YOU. Here in this third term, more than in any other, the realization is of relationship. When Christ is revealed in you, He can no longer - in your heart or in your mind - be considered far off, far away. That ends it for you! For you - HE IS COME! For you, He is abounding! For you, He is here - even IN YOU!

References:
Gal 1:15-16
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Oh my, it seems as if every term is more expansive than the last, but it really is not, because it all has it's foundation with Christ in heaven. But to come to realize that we have been quickened by The Spirit - we are in Him, He has done what He said! Salvation is exactly what He said it would be. "...And I in you" (Jn 14:20), now CHRIST IN YOU. And with the revealing of that Son in you, here comes the realization of relationship that you could not possibly comprehend any other way. God revealed His Son IN ME! This is not merely an existence of a Person; this is the INDWELLING OF A PERSON. It is not merely the existence of Christ somewhere: it is THE REALITY OF CHRIST IN YOU! Glory to God! Colossians 1:26, "Even the mystery..." And this is the mystery. There is a three fold mystery that is set forth in The Old Covenant. That mystery is fulfilled, completed and shown to be IN CHRIST. And Paul is declaring openly, plainly setting it forth - what has been hidden, but is now made known. "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints; To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory" (Col 1:26).

Reference:
Jn 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Now, do not understand this verse, Col 1:26, to say that Christ in you - here and now - is a hope of glory, your hope of glory. That is NOT what the verse is saying. He was Israel's hope, He was Israel's consolation, Israel's expectation. Now Paul is bringing both Jew and Gentile into this thing and saying the mystery is that it is not Jew or Gentile, but One New Man (Eph 2:15; Col 3:10-11). Now he is showing that it is Christ in you: that Christ in you IS the hope of glory. He is the hope that has been talked about, the expectation that is now come! He is not saying He is your distant hope - No! He is Israel's hope - COME! And therefore He is the Gentile's hope; who were without hope in this world - COME! (Eph 2:14-22). Christ in you - the hope - COME, the expectation come! Christ in you. Yes, Christ in you - the hope, the fulfillment, the expectation, the glory - the glory of The Old Covenant - come in you! CHRIST IN YOU! So these three terms in my opinion put parenthesis around Great Salvation - CHRIST IN HEAVEN, YOU IN CHRIST, AND CHRIST IN YOU. "In that day you will understand, I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you" (Jn 14:20). Oh my, it is this reality that The Spirit would reveal in us.

References:
Eph 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Col 3:10-11
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Eph 2:14-22
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

But I want to look before we close at that word "also" back in John 14. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be ALSO" (Jn 14:3; emphasis added). "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live ALSO" (Jn 14:19; emphasis added). Now, Colossians 3:4, " When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye ALSO appear with him in glory." Then we have that very reality summed up in Hebrews 9:24, " For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true: but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." One of the best definitions that I can give to this word "also" taken from all the scholars and concordances is - "even as I am." And this is glorious indeed, because what this deals with is this last term: Christ in you. He has brought us into The Presence. Christ in heaven - you in Christ - Christ in you. In this light, you could read John 14:3 as, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be EVEN AS I AM." How is it that we can be somewhere, and we know that "somewhere" is a relationship, not a location; because that relationship is good no matter what the location. But how can we be in that relationship with Christ, even as Christ is? Because there's the GUARANTEE of the relationship. The guarantee of our life, according to verse 19 should be translated as: "Because I live, ye shall live, EVEN AS I AM". The guarantee of this is because HE IS IN US! He has not just brought us into The Presence, but He has brought The Presence into us! "For in Him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him…" (Col 2:9-10).

Reference:
Col 2:9-10
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

He has brought us into The Presence because He has brought The Presence into us. He has brought us into The Father, because He has brought The Father into us. Look at verse 23 of John 14, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him…". Here is who is loved of God. We need to get rid of those bumper stickers that say, 'Smile, God loves you!' Here are the ones whom the Father loves. "...and My Father will love him, and make our abode with [in] him." He has brought us into the Father because He has brought The Father into us! He has brought us into the heaven, because He has brought the heaven into us. He has brought us into the glory because He has brought the glory into us, and we have become BY HIM, and in union with Him; but we have come by Him, in the reality that Christ is in you - to become THE ABODE OF GOD. And this is exactly what we read in Colossians 3:3-4, "Then shall ye, EVEN AS CHRIST, appear with him in glory."

References:
Jn 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Col 3:3-4
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

No, you are not Christ, you are not Jesus. OUR LIFE is Christ, our Life is Jesus. He dwells in us, and when He, Who is our life appears, we appear as those who are in Him, and as those in whom He dwells. It is one appearing - it is the appearing of The Lord Jesus Christ. And where do you think this appearing takes place? Hebrews 9:24, " For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God FOR US" (emphasis added). The term "for us" does not mean as though we were not there, but rather it means as those whose lives are hidden with Christ in God. Having no life of their own, Christ is their life. When He appears, we appear with Him, in glory, as those who are in Him, as those in whom He now dwells. Hebrews 9:11 has said that: "But Christ BEING COME..." not going to come, not one day will come - "being come an high priest of good things to come..." And those are the good things that were promised to Israel to come, and that are now come in Christ Jesus. And how? "...by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building." Or the better translation of "building" there is "creation". He has brought us into The Presence by a more perfect tabernacle. He has not only brought the tabernacle into The Presence, but He has brought The Presence right into The Tabernacle of His Body!

References:
Heb 9:11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

You see, the reality of this whole thing is CHRIST IN YOU. This is the relationship part, this is what God reveals, and then, in the very reality of Christ, in the revelation of Jesus Christ, The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined IN OUR HEARTS to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (emphasis added). That is The Presence, that is this reality. Where do we see this, where do we realize this? In the face of Jesus Christ! He reveals His Son in us, making us to know that Christ is in heaven, we are in Him, and He is in us. He is not only the security of our Salvation, He not only is the corporate guarantee of our Salvation, the corporateness; for in Him we are One Body, but He is the reality of relationship. He has brought us into The Presence because He has brought the whole Presence right into us! What is it that keeps us from manifesting this Presence except our own ignorance of Great Salvation?

And we have also mentioned the word "mystery". We read about this mystery in Colossians 1:26, "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints." The mystery hidden - hidden. Where? It was hidden in Israel. As far as that goes, it was hidden in the first creation, it was hidden in Abraham and Isaac, but it was summed up and hidden most perfectly in Israel. It was hidden in the Tabernacle of Moses, it was hidden in the Tabernacle of David, it was hidden in the Temple of Solomon, it was hidden in all of the feasts, it was hidden in the High Priest, particularly the office of The High Priest and The Person of The High Priest. It was hidden in the city of Jerusalem, it was hidden in the ceremonies. But NOW - Christ being come in a more perfect tabernacle, that is to say - not of this creation; not of the old, the natural creation, not of the creation wherein it was hidden; but of a New Creation that He has created in Himself, even that New Creation which you are. But NOW - made manifest; now made manifest to the saints! Paul goes on to say in the second chapter of Colossians, the mystery - which IS Christ - Christ in heaven, you in Christ, Christ in you; because this is the mystery made manifest.

References:
Col 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Col 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

The glory of this mystery, the realization of this mystery, the reality of this mystery is CHRIST IN YOU! He has brought us into The Presence. We must understand that Israel's hope - everything Israel hoped for, everything Israel expected, everything Israel was promised, everything prophesied concerning Israel - IS FULFILLED IN THIS MYSTERY OF CHRIST - in heaven, you in Christ, and Christ in you. So that Israel's hope has become God's own glory manifested in a people. This is Great Salvation! He has brought us into The Presence. It is The Redemption of a Son, standing in The Presence!

Oh that God would open the eyes of our understanding and enable you and I, at all times, under every circumstance, in every place, to be found standing in The Presence! Amen.

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