EXCAVATING IN CHRIST

April 1, 2007 pm
Mike Blume

  Scripture Text:

 
Gen 2:2 KJV  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Joh 19:30 KJV  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Gen 2:7-9 KJV  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  (8)  And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  (9)  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 2:11-12 KJV  The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;  (12)  And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

Rev 21:2 KJV  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:18-19 KJV  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  (19)  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Rev 22:1-2 KJV  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  (2)  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.


  Message:


I have compared Genesis and the Garden of Eden with a person saved and placed IN CHRIST upon their salvation.

Paul uses the term IN CHRIST many, many times in his writings.
  • Just as the word IN implies a place or thing that contains something and is the POSITION something then has, the idea of IN CHRIST speaks of our position.
  • The position of the common true Christian is far more awesome than anyone who is not saved.
  • In order to understand Paul's purpose in speaking of being IN CHRIST, we must understand that it is sort of like Adam and Eve's position in the GARDEN.

We've often heard the term "The finished work of Calvary".
  • Many do not know what that refers to.
  • It speaks of how God accomplished a work through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
  • Jesus spoke something similar to this when He said IT IS FINISHED and died.
  • He accomplished a SALVATION FOR US, so that the moment we are saved, we are completely and totally set free from sin and the devil.
  • We do not have to work in order to be freed from the devil once God saves us.
  • As soon as we believe and obey the Gospel by repenting and being baptized, Paul said that baptism places us into the death of Jesus Christ which He experienced immediately after He said IT IS FINISHED.

Rom 6:6-7 KJV  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  (7)  For he that is dead is freed from sin.

That is all referring to the moment we are baptized by faith into Jesus.
  • We're dead because we're baptized into His death, and he that is dead is FREED FROM SIN.

Many live as though once they are saved they now have power to get themselves out of the kingdom of hell and become please to God and gain victory.
  • But in reality, they are pleasing to God because of God;s work.

Jesus said it is finished, and died, and the bible says we are baptized in THAT DEATH.
  • He died when He said it is finished.
  • Now, if we are baptized into that death, then as soon as we get baptized, and not before, are we SPIRITUALLY taken back in time (not physically) and die WITH HIM to be made COMPLETE -- or FINISHED in Christ, as far as getting out of satan's kingdom is concerned.
  • It's as though Jesus did not only say IT IS FINISHED for his own sake, but for the sake of everyone baptized into that death.
  • the work to free us from sin IS DONE.

He resurrected three days later and ascended up to the Father and made atonement as our High Priest.
  • But as soon as we're baptized into that death, because He made atonement BY IT, our time with satan is FINISHED.
  • Our residency in satan's kingdom is finished.

Col 1:13 KJV  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Col 1:20-21 KJV  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  (21)  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Rom 5:1-2 KJV  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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

Stop trying to be pleasing to God after He saves you.
  • YOU are pleasing now.
  • Just get your activity and behaviour pleasing to Him now.
  • But YOU are pleasing to Him.
  • He does not love you based upon your behaviour.
  • He loves because the CROSS reconciled you to Him.

You were totally repulsive to God when you were in the kingdom of darkness.
  • But you were completely reconciled when you were saved.
  • God made you FIT to partake of saints' inheritance.
  • There's not one thing you need to do to get God's pleasure for you as a person.
  • IT IS FINISHED.

As much as God changed his statement from IT IS GOOD, when he finished his work and put man in the Garden, and said IT IS VERY GOOD, YOU ARE VERY GOOD, since GOD put you in Christ.

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

Christ is not only your righteousness you need to go to Heaven, but it is not OF YOURSELF that you are in Christ.
  • IT IS OF GOD.
  • GOD DID THE WORK.
  • IT IS OF GOD.

God put Adam in the Garden.
  • God put us into Christ.
  • Adam had a complete home there, lacking nothing, and we are complete in Christ.
  • And the reason God said that we are complete in Him so we should never let any man spoil us from Christ through philosophy is because WHAT THEY SAY WILL REMOVE YOU IF YOU FALL FOR IT, BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAY YOU NEED IS WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN CHRIST.
  • He said you are complete in Christ, and that is the reason you are not to be stolen by men's words.
  • In other words, you already have what they claim you need in their religious talks and deceiving lies.
  • You do not need to leave because you have all you need.


Gen 1:31 KJV  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Col 1:12-14 KJV  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  (13)  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

You have redemption IN JESUS.
  • You were made FIT or MEET to be a PARTAKER OF THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE    .
  • God made you fit.
  • You cannot make yourself fit.
  • That is what it means when we read GOD MADE YOU "MEET".

God planted the Garden.
  • God watered the Garden and
  • God gave the increase in the Garden.

God FINISHED THE WORK of the garden before Adam was ever put into it.
  • Adam walked into a finished product.
  • Everything Adam needed was provided for by God in that Garden.
  • He did not have to work to provide one thing for himself.
  • He was just supposed to KEEP THE GARDEN the way it was.

Gen 1:27 KJV  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 5:1 KJV  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

God made them in HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS.
  • But then we read:

Gen 3:4-5 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

He lied and implied they were NOT LIKE GOD.
  • He said there was a way in which THEY COULD BECOME LIKE GOD.
  • That meant they were not.

And the woman did not realize she was already like God, and fell to temptation.

When Paul speaks of being in Christ and reconciled to God in Christ, he says things such as the following:

Col 1:21-23 KJV  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  (23)  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Col 1:28 KJV  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Col 1:19 KJV  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Col 2:6-11 KJV  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  (7)  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  (8)  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  (9)  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  (10)  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  (11)  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

We are complete in Jesus.
  • This means we have everything required of God to be saved and pleasing to Him.
  • Our behaviour needs to become improved, but as far as WE are concerned, IT IS FINISHED.
  • If we died the moment after we were saved, having not done one work for God in this world, we would go to glory.
  • Because GOD finished the work.
  • But like Adam, WE NEED TO KEEP THE GARDEN now.
  • THROUGH GOD'S SPIRIT.

We can be SPOILED, or STOLEN out of this Garden of Christ.
  • Deceivers can SPOIL us.

And what eve already had in the Garden, we also HAVE.
  • Now, if Eve was LIKE GOD already, and yet the devil succeeded in making her think she was not and offered her a way to become Like him, then OBVIOUSLY IT WAS HIDDEN FROM HER.
  • It was her's, but hidden from her.

Col 2:1-4 KJV  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;  (2)  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  (3)  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (4)  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

If Eve could have LEARNED about herself a little more, then when the devil lied and said she could be like God, she could have responded saying, "You're a liar.  I am already made in his likeness."

Similarly, all we will ever need is already our's IN CHRIST.
  • But Paul said that he spoke something to them in case any man would beguile them with enticing words like the devil did to Eve.

1Ti 2:14 KJV  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

(V. 3) Paul said THERE WERE TRUTHS HIDDEN IN CHRIST that were wisdom and knowledge.

(V. 2) He said there was a full assurance that UNDERSTANDING brings.
  • It Acknowledges a MYSTERY.
  • It understands what is formerly hidden.

Colossians is very similar to Ephesians.

Eph 1:17-18 KJV  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  (18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

The reason Eve fell to sin and lost her place in the garden although she had all the devil tried to make think she did not have, was because IT REMAINED A MYSTERY TO HER.
  • The New Testament teaches there is a great mystery that was hidden from the world since the beginning.
  • But he said the church age has been the time chosen by God to reveal this mystery.

Eph 3:2-5 KJV  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  (3)  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  (4)  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  (5)  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

But although the time has arrived for the mystery to be made known, and men like Paul received the revelation of the mystery, many believers who are intended to come into this revelation as well haver never come into it.
  • And there are things that remain hidden in Christ to them.
  • Unless they start to realize they already have all they need in Christ, and simply have to start hungering for truths and digging for them, and seeking in prayer and bible reading to learn about them, they will try to handle all the situations the devil throws at them in their carnal understanding.
  • And the things of power and glory remain hidden and these folks actually are removed from being in Christ when they could have USED THE THINGS THAT ARE HIDDEN IN HIM if they would have RECEIVED A SPIRIT OF REVELATION to find them, and defeat the devil.
  • People lose their position in Christ every time they have not found an answer for the struggle with which the devil faces them.

Revelation is not something preachers alone are supposed to experience.

Col 1:22-23 KJV  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  (23)  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Col 2:6-7 KJV  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  (7)  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

There were things in the Garden rivers all around the Tree of Life that are seen in Revelation's City with the same tree of life.

Gen 2:10-12 KJV  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.  (11)  The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;  (12)  And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

Rev 21:18-19 KJV  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  (19)  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Rev 22:1-2 KJV  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  (2)  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

What we see is a picture of things FORMERLY HIDDEN in the Garden region that were excavated and BUILT UP into a city all around that TREE in Revelation.
  • This is not a physically city.
  • But we see it like this because God wants us to understand that we have things HIDDEN IN CHRIST that are TRUE ABOUT US.
  • And if we DIG INTO THIS SALVATION and DRAW WATERS FROM THESE WELLS OF SALVATION WITH JOY, we shall LEARN of what we have, and we will be built up and rooted IN HIM.
  • You're IN HIM, now get ROOTED IN HIM.

Those who will lose out next month, if anyone loses out, will do so because they're in Christ like everyone else here is who is saved, BUT WERE NOT ROOTED IN HIM like the others were who DO NOT LOSE OUT.

We need to get tired of satan's successes and GET ROOTED IN CHRIST SO WE STOP LOSING OUR POSITION IN HIM.

Col 1:23 KJV  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

People GET MOVED AWAY too easily.

They're NOT DIGGING!
  • THEY'RE NOT EXCAVATING!

IMAGINE if preachers were dealing with personal problems like some saints do.
  • The pastor misses church and no one knows why, except that he must be discouraged again.
  • And then the pastor gets upset because no one called to see how he was, so he makes up his mind to stay away next service as well.
  • We laugh at that because we do not expect the pastor to be like that.
  • But why do we expect that of the saints?
  • EVERYONE is expected to BE THERE for others in this great work of God.
  • EVERYONE is expected By God to not even consider personal struggles that cause us to stay away AN OPTION.

God wants the church to operate in the Spirit and dependable so that there is no worry the devil will take each one out.
  • They've excavated truths about themselves and about Christ, so that anything the devil might use is handled by their wisdom and understanding.

Col 2:3 KJV  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Eph 1:17-18 KJV  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  (18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,


Paul's ministry was to see every man stand PERFECT in Christ.
  • Get people so they are SOLID and unmoved.
  • Get them rooted and grounded.
  • Show them in the Word how they are COMPLETE in Christ.
  • Teach the FINISHED WORK.

He did not labour to get them more saved.
  • Saved is saved.
  • But he laboured so they could KEEP what they got.
  • He taught and taught and taught the things so many people today have no desire to learn, and wonder why they lose out so easily.

Some asked me why I teach all these detailed truths that Paul taught.
  • They say, "We don't need to hear all these details."
  • "Why all this talk about what God did for us 2000 years ago?  We need to win a world."
  • And I shout, "AMEN! We need to win a world.  But so many saints are so defeated so much that God cannot use them to reach a world.  They do not know how to handle struggles in life and separate them from their Christianity so God can always depend upon them to use them to win this world.  And the things they are needing in order to remain grounded and settled to be able to be there when God needs us are the details you fellows do not want to learn!"

There's been so little teaching in Pentecost until people have no clue about things we need to learn if they do not deal with what saves us.
  • They wonder why we need to learn things if we're already saved and these things do not save us.
  • They never realized that once we're saved, there is so much to learn about the power we have and what we can do and what we do not need to do because God already did it when he saved us, that unless we learn about them we will stagger and stumble all through our lives and without them and wonder why we're such easy prey for the devil.

They think they are not good enough for God, and so they start a never ending cycle of trying to be pleasing to God when He reconciled them to Himself already.

IT IS FINISHED means NOTHING LACKS.

People wonder why they need church if they're already saved.
  • They think once you're saved you can go and win the world.
  • They go out and try and are cut down by the enemy half the time and therefore half the time they cannot be used by God.
  • They get out of commission so easy.
  • The things we need to learn and the reason we need the house of God is for all the truths we need to learn that will keep us strong and militant, and DEPENDABLE and "there" for God to use us.
  • We have to get out of this constant self-maintenance, so God can use us to affect others!