(Continuing) Paul does not say to live only with Jesus, but to live in Christ Jesus. To "live in" is explained by Jesus in the parable of the vine and the branches. It is a statement of the intimate relationship we have with Jesus as a new creation. This intimate relationship is more than an ordinary friendship. It is a unique friendship which is not exclusive but primary and alone essential. Our friendship with Jesus must reflect the attitude and commitment of Paul when he wrote to the Romans: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?....For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (8: 35-39).


Paul not only spoke these words he lived them first hand, for he suffered much physically, emotionally and spiritually at the hands of those outside the faith as well as inside the community of believers. But faithfulness to Jesus in response to Jesus' faithfulness to him was more important than life itself and its passing comforts. (To be continued)