Throughout the New Testament epistles, we find phrases such as “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “through Christ,” and “in Him.” These frequently reveal some benefit that we as believers possess because of what Jesus has done for us. When we see ourselves as God sees us, “in Christ,” it will help us to live as God wants us to live. The disciple-making minister will want to teach his disciples who they are in Christ to help them grow to full spiritual maturity.
First, what does it mean to be “in Christ”?
When we are born again, we’re placed into Christ’s body and become one with Him, spiritually. Let’s take a look at a few sample verses from the New Testament epistles that affirm this:
So we, who are many, are one body in Christ (Rom. 12:5, emphasis added).
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17, emphasis added).
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it (1 Cor. 12:27, emphasis added).
We who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ should see ourselves as joined to Him, members of His body and one spirit with Him. He is in us and we’re in Him.
Here’s a verse that tells us some of the benefits that we have by virtue of our being in Christ:
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus , who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30, emphasis added).
In Christ, we’ve been made righteous (declared “not guilty” and now do what is right), sanctified (set apart for God’s holy use), and redeemed (purchased from slavery). We’re not waiting to be made righteous, sanctified or redeemed at some point in the future. Rather, we have all those blessings right now because we are in Christ.
In Christ we’ve had our former sins forgiven:
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins (Col. 1:13-14, emphasis added).
Notice that this scripture also tells that that we’re no longer in Satan’s kingdom, the domain of darkness, but are now in the kingdom of light, the kingdom of Jesus.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17, emphasis added).
Praise God that if you are a follower of Christ, you are a “new creature,” like a caterpillar changed into a butterfly! Your spirit has been given a new nature. Previously you possessed Satan’s selfish nature in your spirit, but now all of your past life has “passed away.”
