I sign most of my letters, notes, emails, and texts “In Christ, Steve.” I don’t remember when I started this, and I also don’t recall not using that phrase. I suspect that the seeds of that thought were planted in my soul in part through Paul’s letter to the Romans (chapter 6) and this little exposition by CS Lewis:
“…the Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or – if they think there is not – at least they hope to deserve the approval from good people. But the Christian thinks any good they do comes from the Christ-life inside them. They do not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because God loves us; just as the roof of the greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it.
And let me make it quite clear that when Christians say that the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being “in Christ” or of Christ being “in them,” this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts – that we are His fingers and muscles, the cells of His body….” (Mere Christianity, Book II, What Christians Believe, chapter 5 The Practical Conclusion.)
I’m so happy that we are all in this together.
In Christ,
Steve
Prayer
Thank you, God, for loving me, and for loving through me. Thank you for the Christ-life in me. Amen.