What Does the Bible Say About Being “in Christ”?

Ephesians 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,“

Since every spiritual blessing is found “in Christ“, that means there are no spiritual blessings outside Christ. 

Spiritual blessings we receive as a result of being “in Christ“?

“In Christ” I Am:

1. A Child of God,
   Galatians 3:26-27, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

   The word “for” at the beginning of v27 intrudes a continuing thought from v26.  Obviously baptism is a necessary component of faith.
   

2. Saved by grace through faith,
   Ephesians 2:7-10, “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
   8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
   9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
   10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
   

3. Redeemed from the curse of the law of Moses,
   Galatians 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

   The law of Moses was unable to justify anyone, Acts 13:39, “and by Him [Jesus Christ] everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”  The law of Moses was incapable of saving anyone so those living under that law were living under the curse or condemnation of sin.  Being “in Christ” releases us from living under the curse of death pronounced by the law of Moses.
   

4. Redeemed from the hand of the foe,

   The word in the Greek means “ransomed”  That means to buy someone back who is being held hostage or prisoner.  Our sin made us a prisoner of Satan.  Jesus Christ bought us back from the fate that awaits us with Satan.

   1 Peter 1:18-23
   “18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
   19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
   20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
   21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
   

5. Born again,

   1 Peter 1:22-23
   “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
   23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ”

   We are born again when we obey the truth.  John 3:5-7
   “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
   6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
   7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.'”
   

6. A new creature,
   
   2 Corinthians 5:17-18, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
   18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,”
   

7. Reconciled to God,
   
   2 Corinthians 5:19-20, “that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
   20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

   Our sin caused us to be separated or alienated from God.  In Christ we have the spiritual blessing of being reconciled.  We are no longer rejected, we have been returned to a state of fellowship with God.  1 John 1:3, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”   Our sin caused us to lose our fellowship with God.  “In Christ”, are reconciled to God the Father.
   

8. forgiven,
   Colossians 2:12-13, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”

   forgiveness as a spiritual blessing is a result of being baptized with Christ in baptism.  See see also Acts 2:38; 22:16

9. Justified,
   Justified means to be declared righteous or “right” before God.  Acts 13:38-39, “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

   Justification, being declared “right” before God goes hand in hand with the forgiveness of sins.  It is necessary to have one’s sins forgiven in order to be justified.
   

10. An heir of eternal life,
    Titus 3:4-8, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
    5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration [baptism in water] and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
    6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
    7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
    8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
    

11. Led by the Spirit of God,
    Romans 8:14-15, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
    15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

12. Kept in safety wherever I go,

    Romans 8:35-39
    35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
    36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
    37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
    38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
    39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    This does not mean we will not face trials and persecution.  2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”  It means we are kept “in Christ”  Neither man nor Satan can take us away from God, or force us to lose our relationship with God. 

    1 Corinthians 10:13
    No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
    

13. Strong in the Lord and His mighty power,

    Ephesians 6:10-13
    “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
    11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
    12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
    13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

    Notice Paul gave that as command.  We are commanded to be strong in the Lord and Paul went on to teach how that command is to be obeyed.

    Ephesians 6:14-18
    “14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
    15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
    16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
    17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
    18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

    Truth (God’s word), righteousness (rightful living), The gospel (the good news of salvation), the faith (a system of obedience & trust), Salvation, the word of God (called the sword of the Spirit), watchfulness, supplication and perseverance.  When we do these things, we are strong in the Lord.  We have a role to play if we are going to benefit from the spiritual blessings available to us “in Christ”

14. An heir of God through Christ,

    Gal 4:4-7
    “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
    5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
    6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
    7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. ”

    As an heir of God through Christ we will inherit our home in heaven.  Heir’s are children who receive things from their parents.  Being in Christ gives us the spiritual blessing of being in a family relationship with God.  As His children, we are heirs of the blessings.

15. An overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the word of Christ’s testimony

    Rev 12:10-11
    Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
    11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
    New King James Version

    1 John 5:2-5
    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
    3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
    4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
    5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
    New King James Version

16. The light of the world,

    Philippians 2:12-15
    “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
    13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
    14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
    15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”

    It is a spiritual blessing of great significance that we are allowed to represent God before the world.  God gave us His word and He entrusted the spreading of it to mankind.   Yes we have faith in God, but God also has faith in us.  He believes in us to the degree that we are trusted with a vital role in the shedding of God’s light on the world.  What a blessing indeed.  Let us not shirk our duty.  Let us strive to be worthy of the faith and the trust our saviour has committed to us.

17. An imitator of God,

    Ephesians 5:1-9
    “1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
    2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
    3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
    4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
    5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
    6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
    8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
    9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ”

    We have a role to fulfill in our spiritual blessings.  We cannot imitate God if we are not “in Christ”
    

18. Healed by Christ’s wounds,

    1 Peter 2:21-25
    21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
    22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
    23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
    24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.
    25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
    New King James Version

    Peter quoted from Isaiah.

    Isaiah 53:3-12
    “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
    4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
    5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
    6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
    7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
    8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
    9 And they made His grave with the wicked — But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
    10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
    11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
    12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. ”

    We see in these words a grim picture of what it cost to redeem us from our sin.  We were sick with sin, lost and doomed.  Jesus Christ took upon Himself the iniquity of us all and healed us with His suffering.  He paid an awful price and thereby provided mankind with the spiritual blessing of reconciliation with God.  But this blessing is only available to those who are “in Christ”.

19. Being transformed by the renewing of our minds,

    Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
    2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

    That is a command.  We obey that command by studying God’s word, by seeking God’s will and transforming the way we think and the way we react to things.  The renewing of our minds is accomplished from a dual role.  God’s will revealed through His word, and God’s will obeyed by us.
    

20. Doing all things through Christ which strengthens me,

    Phil 4:11-13
    Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
    12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
    13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
    

21. Saved

    1 Peter 1:9
    receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.

    Heb 10:36-39
    “36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
    37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
    38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
    39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

We have many many spiritual blessings available to us “in Christ”  God has given us many many blessings “in Christ” and we need to be grateful for that.  But we also need to understand that we have a role to fulfill in these blessings if we are going to receive them.  These wonderful blessings are conditional upon our obedience to the will of God. 

Going back to our text we see that Paul said in

Ephesians 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,“

Since every spiritual blessing is found “in Christ“, that means there are no spiritual blessings outside Christ.  Those who are not “in Christ” are therefore outside of Christ.  This means the spiritual blessings given to those “in Christ” are denied to those outside.

Not A Child of God,
Not Saved by grace through faith,
Not Redeemed from the curse of the law of Moses,
Not Redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Not Born again,
Not A new creature,
Not Reconciled to God,
Not forgiven,
Not Justified,
Not An heir of eternal life,
Not Led by the Spirit of God,
Not Kept in safety wherever I go,
Not Strong in the Lord and His mighty power,
Not An overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the word of Christ’s testimony
Not Healed by Christ’s wounds,
Not saved

With all of the blessings available to us as living “in Christ” why would anybody choose to live otherwise?  How do we get into Christ?

Believe:  John 3:18
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Repent:  Luke 13:3
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
New King James Version

Confess Jesus before men:  Matt 10:32-33
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven

Baptism:  Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Continued obedience:  Rev 2:10
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
New King James Version