A familiar but challenging statement is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” When anyone enters Christ, and Christ enters that person, a new creation takes place. Can we biblically identify the one who is in Christ? Most definitely!
One in Christ has by faith been baptized into Christ. (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:26–27)
Though most religious people accept the faith part, they deny that baptism is necessary to get into Christ. It does not matter what the Bible says about it—they think they can get around it and have salvation by “faith only.” Yet Jesus placed both faith and baptism before salvation in Mark 16:16. No one will ever be able to change that. One who has not been baptized to be saved is not saved, neither is he “in Christ.” He may be religious, but he is not in Christ.
One in Christ has every spiritual blessing. (Eph. 1:3)
If every spiritual blessing is “in Christ,” there are none outside of Him. All of mankind has access to material and physical blessings (Matt. 5:45; Acts 17:28). However, spiritual blessings belong only to those who are in Christ.
One in Christ is among the chosen of God. (Eph. 1:4)
That choice was made before the world began. It was “according to [God’s] eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:11) His purpose was not to be accomplished in the world, or in some religious sect, but in Christ Jesus. All who enter Christ according to the divine instructions become part of God’s chosen people. What a grand thought!
One in Christ has redemption and forgiveness. (Eph. 1:7)
Both come by means of the blood of Christ. Jesus shed His blood in dying for the lost. The only way the lost can access His blood is to be baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3). This puts the person in Christ wherein continual access to the blood is granted to those who walk in the light (1 John 1:7).
One in Christ is in Christ’s church. (Eph. 1:22–23)
We must be in His body to be in Christ. And if His body is the church, then we must be in the church to be in Him. Jesus promised to build His church, not a denomination (Matt. 16:18). His church is His body (Col. 1:18,24). There is only one body (Eph. 4:4). That one body is the one church Christ built and to which the saved are added (Acts 2:47).
One in Christ is a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17)
He arises from baptism to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). In Christ, he does not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:1). He is not conformed to this world, but has been transformed by the renewing of his mind (Rom. 12:2). His former life—bad habits, worldly friends, sinful indulgences, selfish ambitions—has passed away; all things have become new. He is a changed person!
Are you in Christ?
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