When we understand our identity in Christ, we see God's goodness and grace showered upon us. Over the next while, we are going to dive into what our identity is. Today, we will begin with what it means to be "In Christ."
You will find this expression mainly in Paul's letters since it is his favourite term for Christians. In Ephesians 1:1, Paul addresses the letter, "To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus." Paul would use this phrase 26 other times in this letter and 164 times combined in all his letters. Understanding this expression is such a game-changer to the way we view ourselves. So, what does this phrase indicate? A few things: Positionally we have been set apart and given a new standing. "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 1:1; 4:21; Col. 1:2). The word "sanctified" means to be "set-apart." We've been set apart from the penalty of death and domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Jesus (Col. 1:13-14). Furthermore, we have been raised with Christ and seated with him "in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). Because we are in Christ, we are both residents of heaven and earth. We are covered with an alien righteousness. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27) "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith" (Philippians 3:9) We enjoy Jesus' perfect position before the Father. Since we are clothed in Christ and stand in him, we enjoy his perfect position before God the Father in heaven. We are seen as if we have lived his perfect life and therefore are recipients of His immeasurable love (Romans 8:31-39). We have escaped His condemnation which is upon all who are outside of Jesus (John 3:36). "And are justified (i.e. declared legally innocent of all wrongdoing] by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from him from the wrath of God" (Romans 5:9). "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Our actions are not the grounds of our acceptance, justification and forgiveness; instead, this was achieved through Jesus' life of perfect obedience and sacrifice. It is because we are found "In Christ" that God accepts, justifies and forgives us. God the Father views us through the lens of His Son - the greatest object of His love. We've moved from death to life and have become a new creation. We come into this world as a descendent of Adam, and in Adam, all we experience is death because of our sin. This all changes the moment we are set apart and placed in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:22). "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4; cf. 1 Cor. 15:22; Col. 2:12) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17) What is life? It is to know God and His Son. Jesus said, "And this is eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent" (John 17:3). In Jesus, we are made alive and given new desires, attitudes and character. No longer are we insensitive towards sin, but we wage war against it so that we may reflect the one whom we are in (Php. 3:12-16; Col. 3:1-17). In fact, we are instruted to "walk in him" (Col. 2:6-7) How we live our life here on earth is directly parallel to how we view Jesus and also ourselves because of what Jesus has accomplished (Col. 3:1-7). Why should I live a righteous life? Why should I forgive? Why should I be compassionate? Why should I be patient and show grace? Because these things not only reflect who Jesus is, but also how he responded to us! Study to know who Jesus is, and what He has done, and you will grow to reflect Him. We share in what is Jesus' Since we are in Jesus, we get to enjoy what is his. The author of Hebrews writes, "For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end" (cf. Eph. 1:13). What exactly do we get to enjoy? Here are some things:
As you can see, there is a lot packed into these two little words – "In Christ." Hopefully, this little blog post will spur you on to study this topic in more detail, for this indeed is a source of joy and hope.
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