Living in the Garden of Grace: Don’t Dilute the Message

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
— 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Living in the Garden of Grace, we are reminded that the message of being "in Christ" is far deeper than Christ living in us and through us. It is about the entire reality of our union with Him—crucifixion, burial, and resurrection—bringing about a new creation. This union transforms every aspect of our lives, rooting us firmly in the truth that "all things are of God" (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Imagine a branch grafted into a healthy, flourishing vine. The branch doesn’t merely survive by the life of the vine coursing through it—it becomes one with the vine. Its identity is no longer separate but fully connected. The life it produces—its leaves, blossoms, and fruit—are all expressions of the vine’s life, not its own.

In the same way, our being “in Christ” goes beyond Christ working through us. It encompasses the full reality of His death and resurrection as our own. In Him, our old self has been crucified and buried, and we now live as a new creation. This is not merely behavior modification but a complete transformation of identity, sourced entirely in Him.

To proclaim Christ living in us without fully embracing the truth of our union with Him is to dilute the message. Our lives are no longer about independent striving but about drawing every moment, every choice, and every purpose from our position in Him. As we move in this direction, we discover the freedom of His life expressing itself through us.

A Prayer of Confidence in Our Union with Christ

Father,
Thank You for the incredible reality of being a new creation in Christ. Thank You that my old self has been crucified, buried, and replaced by His resurrection life. I rejoice in the truth that all things in my life are of You, and I rest in the sufficiency of my union with Christ. May Your life flow through me as I live fully in the truth of who I am in Him. I trust You to make this reality increasingly evident as I abide in Christ today. Amen.

Final Thought

As a branch in the vine, you don’t produce life on your own. You simply draw from the source. Don’t settle for a diluted understanding of the Christian life. Embrace the fullness of your union with Christ, knowing that His life is now your life. Rest in this truth and let Him express His life through you.