Who Is True?

“We are in Him Who is true, in His son Jesus Christ.” If anyone has been reading my blogs for very long you have learned that I love words – nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, etc. There are two words in the above scripture, I John 5:20, in which I am particularly interested – “in” and “true.” What does it mean to be “in Him” and “in His Son?” In this proclamation “in” is an adverb expressing a place – “we are in Him.” That is, we are united to Him, we belong to Him – a most intimate union, as if we were one with Him – or were a part of Him – as the branch is in the vine (John 15:4,6). Like the branch in the vine, we as believers draw our spiritual strength, nourishment, sustenance and our very life from Jesus. To be “in Jesus” is to have His DNA, His blood flows through our veins, we have the “mind of Christ.” As we follow Him closely and fill up with His Word, we begin, spiritually, to think like Him, act like Him and even look like Him. Oh, the riches of His favor just for being “in Him.” The second word in this verse that excites me is “true.” There is so much falsity in this world – in the government, society and, very sad to say, but even in the church. From the preachers, the choir members, the elders, the deacons, to the people in the pews, we all wear masks at one time or another. Jesus calls for the “real” Church to stand up. The world hates hypocrites in the church, although they are hypocrites themselves at times. The word “true’ in this scripture is an adjective describing Jesus Christ, the “real” Messiah. Jesus was “true” in every definition of the word. Webster’s definitions are: 1) “without variation” (He is the Immutable God), He is the same yesterday, today and forever; 2) “exact” (He is the perfect image of the Father) there is not error in Him, He lived a perfect life; 3) “steadfast” (faithful). Faithfulness is part of His nature – He is faithful because He is Faithful. He can be nothing but faithful. 4) “real” (He is the genuine, one and only, the real thing.)Remember when John the Baptist was in prison facing death, he sent a message to Jesus asking Him, “Are you the “real” Messiah” (John 7:20)? In John 5:20 he had already answered that question. Yes, we are intimately united with the “real” Messiah!
O To Be Like Thee F.O. Chisholm O to be like thee blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like thee, O to be like thee, blessed Redeemer, pure as thou art. Come in thy sweetness, come in thy fullness, Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.