Gabe Fluhrer

Instead, I think what Paul is telling us here gets us to the very heart of his doctrine of the Christian life.

And so let's back up just a moment.

If you were to ask Paul, Paul, we know you used to be called Saul.

Now you're called Paul because you became a Christian.

He would say, a what?

He would say, a Christian.

And Paul would say, I'm not sure what you're talking about.

I follow the Messiah.

That's because that term Christian really wasn't used many times in the New Testament.

It was where, you know, when they talk about the disciples were first called Christians.

They were called followers of the way.

But Paul's particular phrase to describe what it means to be a Christian is two words, in Christ.

He mentions it dozens of times.

He says it over and over again.

Paul's description of what it means to be saved is being in Christ, united with him.

That's a basic category in Paul's thought, our union and communion with the resurrected Son of God by faith and by faith alone, which faith is a gift of the grace of God, all for his glory.

justification by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone.

That's central, basic, nuclear to Paul's theology.

And yet the way he applies these categories to our lives is nothing short of stunning.

And when he speaks of filling up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ,