Read
ITP vs OTP (Inside the Perimeter vs Outside the Perimeter)
The terms “ITP” and “OTP” are something that it seems you must quickly pick up on if you live in Atlanta. Of course, you don’t ask what it means because that just proves you’re not from around here. It’s better to just act like you are totally following the conversation and then secretly Google what it means later. Maybe that’s just me. When I’ve heard people use it, it is mainly used as a reference point to explain where something is located. It seems to represent more than that though. I know this because I Googled it of course.
Things look different when you’re in the perimeter. There’s a different atmosphere and vibe. Unlike outside, you’re able to walk most places you want to get to. It becomes so clear how much diversity there is if you’re actually in the city. If you are going to take full advantage of being inside the perimeter, your whole lifestyle should be much different. The truth is, as clear as that line might be, there are some areas that are blurred right around that line. Some places look a little like the inside and the outside, but, for the most part, it is easy to distinguish where you stand in relation to the line (perimeter). This is especially true the closer to the heart of the city you get.
With that idea in mind, consider these verses:
“By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” – 1 John 2:5-6
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” – 1 John 2:28
“Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 3:24
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” – 1 John 3:9
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” – 1 John 4:16
Being in Christ is a lot different from being outside of Him. It seems like there is also some clear line that can be drawn. I can either be “in him” or not. Not a lot of choices. John makes it pretty clear that abiding in Him (being in Christ) changes things for a person. My life looks different. There are certain expectations. I don’t live a certain way when I’m in Christ. The “practice of sinning” is not how my life is to be characterized. I ought to say I’m in Christ and say it unapologetically, but follow up by walking in the way Christ walked. Also, if I am in Christ/God, then He is in me. I have a peace because of this, and John says there is a confidence I ought to have as well.
The more “in Him” I get, the more these things are true. Things get a little blurry or grey the further away from Christ a Christian gets, but, if you get closer and closer to Him, the clearer it becomes. It will be clear to people around you, but it will be clearer to you as well.
I think there are a few questions I ought to ask myself in light of this idea. Where do I reside? Am I in Christ or outside of Him? Also, do people around me know I’m in Christ? Am I getting closer and closer to Him or trying to live along the edges?
