Romans 9:1 – In Christ

^“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost…” (Romans 9:1)

Paul begins this chapter with his heartfelt concern for his people the Jews. God called Paul to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. He spent a great deal of time with spreading the gospel of grace to unsaved nations. Perhaps some have said he turned his back on his people. Some may have said he didn’t care about the welfare of Israel. Here Paul lays those objections to rest.

This was so important to get across to the people He quadrupled his witnesses to the truth he was conveying. He told them he was telling the truth about how he felt about his people. He put it in the negative as well, by saying he wasn’t lying. Finally, he had a good conscience, which the Holy Spirit bore witness. We know the Holy Spirit only bears witness to truth.

All this he said was established in Christ. He was speaking from his position as a Christian. He pointed to the fact that he was in Christ so they could be sure that he was speaking the truth.

Have you ever had a Christian promise you something and then it turns out they didn’t tell you the truth? Didn’t you feel betrayed? I think as believers one of our greatest witnessing tools is our integrity. People who call themselves Christian ought to be known as truthful people. Only truth comes from the Spirit within us. We should desire to tell the truth, even to our detriment.

Truth and Christ go hand in hand. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) Jesus is truth. Christ in us is truth in us. We are in Christ. We are in truth.

Paul could proclaim that since he was in Christ, you could be sure he was telling the truth. We should be like that as well. Because I am in Christ, I am telling you the truth, as I know it.