Quick Review:
We begin a new Series on being “in Christ” and taking a look at what that really means.
As Christian men and women we are ready to admit that it is “Christ in me” that is the hope of
Glory. Colossians 1:27 That we are “the temple of God” I Corinthians 3:16 That we have in us the resident Holy
Spirit that “seals us unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 We like the thought of the indwelling
Christ. But that is only half of the reality, maybe only a third of the reality.
John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
What day? Jesus is here predicting His own death the next day and is preparing the disciples for
that reality. But He comforts them with the promise that He will send them another comforter in
the person of the Holy Spirit. Then He tells them that because He lives they will live. Why?
Because, He is in the Father and I am in Him and He is in me. There is a unity, a oneness of Christ
in me and me in Him and we are in the Father.
The Set Up
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin,
and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—…
And 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many
died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to
the many.
I Corinthians 5:17 “If any man is in Christ he is a new creation old things have passed away and
behold all things become new.”
Romans 6:3-7 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been
baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so
that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall
also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in
order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for
he who has died is freed from sin
Point of clarity:
When we talk about Christ in me we are talking primarily about how I relate to the world. Christ
is alive and working in/through me for His Kingdom’s glory.
When we talk about me in Christ we are referring primarily to how I relate to God the Father. The
New Testament is full of what this means. This is what we will explore these next few weeks.
In Christ we were known since the foundation of the World
Ephesians 1:4 …just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy
and blameless before Him.
In the last session I pointed out that in the economy of God we were crucified with Christ, we died
with Christ, we were buried with Christ and we were raised to a new life in Christ. Romans 6:2-4
How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized
into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him
through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
This was done “potentially” for all, but in reality when we trusted in the promises of God, by faith
He placed in us.
Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives
to God
II Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all,
therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but
for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. This thought of God placing me in Christ even before He said “Let there be Light” is so hard for us to get our head around. It is definitely a supernatural thought, a supernatural reality. That, in itself is part of the fantastic reality of being In Christ, I am now a supernatural, spiritual being, my
standing with the God of the universe is one of Holy Blamelessness.
The Psalmist wrote
Psalm 139:13 -14 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well
Psalm 22:10 "From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God."
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I was formed in the womb, God knew me
God had a plan for you even before the universe was created. God knew before He created man
that man would not be obedient to His will, no matter how good the circumstances. Adam and
Eve were not starving when they took the fruit, they were not homeless but lived in a beautiful
garden created just for them, they were not at war with the peoples around them, they had it
pretty good. But mankind can always find a reason to be disobedient. God knew it and made a
way for us to be restored to relationship with Him in His Son Christ Jesus.
In Christ we have Salvation
John 3:17
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved
through Him.
Soteriology: the Doctrine or study of salvation.
Soteriology looks at how Christ’s crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection secures the salvation
of those who believe. Looking at this we also get to see the doctrines of justification, redemption,
propitiation, sanctification and substitutionary atonement.
Salvation comes as a result of our Oneness with Christ – our personal relationship with Him based
on His opening our Spiritual eyes to our sin, giving us the faith to believe in the promises He has
given, that if we repent of our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
What are we saved from – Hell – Eternity away from God
What are we saved to? – Heaven – Eternity with God
Christ is going to spend eternity with God! Because we are in Christ, we are too! What is true of
Christ is also true of us
II Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory
We say we want to see people saved or we talk about our salvation but we need to recognize that
our salvation is the result of our personal relationship, our oneness with Christ.
The question might be asked then does salvation happen at a later time? No, When I repent and
believe, (Mark 1:14-15 …, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “ The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel) I am placed In Christ,
thereby acquiring salvation from Hell to Heaven, for all of eternity, because what is true of Jesus is
also true of me. Right now, forever! Hallelujah!
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