2 Corinthians 13:5 Display Chapter and Footnotes   5 Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. Do you not know yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you are reprobates [tested, rejected]?2 | 1 John 5:1 Display Chapter and Footnotes   1 [In this chapter John carefully defines what are the qualifying experiences of a believer who is born of God, which are summarized here: Those who say they are born-again Christians still living in the fleshly lusts and pleasures of the world, and so still slaves to sin, are maligning the truth and create confusion. From the Word of the Lord within:
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, and everyone who loves the father also loves him who is begotten of him.1 | Romans 8:9 Display Chapter and Footnotes   9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ [to rule a man as his king, doing His will], he is none of his. [Paul has clearly said in the preceding verses that unless your sinful nature has been destroyed, including your carnal mind; that unless you are no longer walking according to your lusts, passions, and pleasures; that unless you are walking under control of the Spirit in thought, word and deed; then you are not a part of Christ — you are not in Christ — you do not belong to Christ — yet. You first must mortify your fleshly, sinful nature on the inward cross of self-denial... Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh [the sinful nature] with its passions and desires (lusts and affections). Gal 5:19-24. Click to see more on being "in Christ."] | Ephesians 2:5-6 Display Chapter and Footnotes   5 And when we were dead in our sins, He brought us to life in union and fellowship with Christ;2 it is through grace that you are saved; [but you have not been saved by grace until you have been brought to life in union and fellowship with Christ, having been raised up together with Christ into heaven. From the Word of the Lord within: "Saved by grace; but what about the rest of that chapter? You have not experienced grace until you have been raised with Him. Salvation occurs when you are one with Christ and God. Once you are in union, it is permanent." Until brought to union, because of Adam, we all are dead in our sins, dead to the life of God, Gen 2:17,3:24, having been cut off from the tree of life.] 6 And has raised us up together [with Christ], and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.3 [This is to have experienced being translated into the kingdom of heaven, where you are with Christ in sight and consciousness. From the Word of the Lord within: "I work with the blind; but if you think you can see, and you are not with me in heaven, I will make you a laughingstock."] |