In Christ – Luke 8:38-39

The demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes lived in utter hopelessness, devastation, and isolation due to his state. Then he met Jesus, and everything changed. The man became a new creation in Christ. 

What characterizes someone who is in Christ? 

The man from whom the demons had gone showed these three marks as a new creation in Jesus-

Love for Jesus.

Anyone who is in Christ loves Him and prioritizes Him above all else. Love for Jesus is the mainspring of spiritual life. Contrastingly, the absence of love for Jesus is evidence that you are not truly saved. The demon-possessed man knew the difference between being in and out of Christ. His love for Christ revealed a genuine salvation that was born of God, wrought by the Holy Spirit, and it compelled him to desire to be with Jesus. 

What causes love for Jesus?

It is only by the gospel that we could love Jesus because it is only in the gospel that we experience the love of God. In the gospel, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God and overcame death for us. The gospel is essential to remember every day. Our love for Jesus will be directly correlated to our comprehension of the gospel. 

Love for others.

The demon-possessed man loved Christ, and therefore loved others. As a new creation, he was commissioned by Jesus to share the gospel with the lost. Beware- any motivation to share the gospel apart from love for Christ is an act of legalism and self-righteousness. Only those who love Christ and are in Him understand and fulfill their purpose in life to make disciples.

What hinders us from sharing the gospel?

Without prayer, we will have no desire to share the gospel. With more prayer, you would have eyes to see the lost and passion for their souls and for God’s glory. 

Submission to Christ.

If you love Jesus, you love to obey Him. Anyone who is in Christ can obey because they have a new nature that is made in the likeness of Jesus. 

Before we met Christ, we were just like the demon-possessed man. We were in the bondage of sin.  But in Christ, we became a new creation. This is the gospel.  By the gospel, we can maximize our love for Jesus, love for our fellow man, and submission to Jesus.