And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

(Galatians 5:24)

Those Who Belong To Christ

One of the first needs of a baby is a sense of belonging. During the early hours of a child’s birth, bonding the child with the mother is critical to its growth. God created the child to long for the parents who brought him into the world and to share a fellowship of unity as a family. When God looked at Adam and saw that he did not need to be alone, the Lord looked beyond the marital relationship into the soul of every man who needs belonging.

The Hebrews that came out of Egypt became the special, treasured people of God. He referred to Israel as His “well-beloved” and the “apple of His eye.” God had promised to care for Israel as a Father who nurtures his child. The Lord provided everything Israel needed. No nation could stand against Israel. The blessings of God’s people were multiplied by the hand of the Lord. Through the promises made in the Law of Moses, the land of Israel would be bountiful, the people would multiply, and the prosperity of peace would fill the land. The greatest nation in the history of the world was called by the Lord God as His people. They belonged to Him.

Christ came to earth to bring all men into one family where God was the Father. Jesus suffered and died to open the vistas of eternal redemption to all who would call upon His name. The church was built by Jesus as the kingdom of God, the Bride of Christ, God’s family, the Body of Christ, and the redeemed. On the day of Pentecost, when the church first began, God added all the saved to the church. The first disciples preached the message of the gospel united in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul preached the faith that was found in Christ. He wrote about how redemption was found in Christ, eternal life is in Christ, and God’s love is in Christ.

Those who belong to Christ are different from the world. They belong to Him. Each one has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb to be in Christ. In the days of Noah, salvation from the wrath of God was found only for those in the ark. God brought a global flood, killing every person who disbelieved the gospel of Noah and the judgment of the Lord. Only eight souls were saved because only eight souls were in the ark. Like the ark, salvation and hope belong only to those who belong to Christ. Those who are in Christ. What makes these people different is how they live.

Paul described the battle between the flesh and the spirit in his letter to the saints of Galatia. He urges the Christian to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Those who live in the Spirit will walk in the Spirit. What changes in the life of the Christian is they have removed the passions and desires of the sinful flesh to serve the Lord because they belong to Christ. They are in Christ. Their lives have been molded into the image of the Father. Everything about their life is shown to be for the glory of God. The evil passions of sexual immorality, hatred, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and division – these should not be named among those belonging to Christ.

The fruits of the Spirit define the hearts of those who belong to Christ. They are people filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Belonging to Christ changes the heart of a person. They realize to whom they belong. As part of the family of God, the Christian grows in his love for the Father to be like the Father because he walks in the Spirit and belongs to Christ. When you belong to Christ, you change your life. Remember, the way you live reflects on Jesus Christ. Belonging to Christ demands change. Let my life be changed so others see I belong to Christ.