In Christ Jesus
Paul explained the concept of in Christ in 2 Corinthians 1:20, every promise of God is Yes and in Christ it is Amen.
For me the term “in Christ” as a concept, means that in Christ the fullness of what God intended and promised became a reality for every believer, for in ourselves the phrase “we cannot” is a pre new covenant phrase based on the fact that we can not live the life God intended for us, in fact the term “in ourselves” is best described as we cannot. In Christ however all things are possible, for the new covenant is established between God and man not based on man achievement or abilities but on what Jesus Christ did for us, based on His victory over death and His ability to do the impossible.
In short, the concept of in Christ means that Jesus is enough, do not consider yourself and your own inabilities, but look upon Jesus and His abilities to do what seems impossible. Being in Christ is a free gift, we received by faith, so that in Christ we can live our life to the glory of God. For the mentioned we however should consider what we received in Christ, and why it is important.
1. In Christ we have everlasting life. John 3:16 For God so loved the World, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believing in Him should not perish, but may have everlasting life. [WEB] Ephesians 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
2. In Christ We Are Complete“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 1:9-10 NKJVIn Christ, we have become complete. The Greek word for “complete” used here is pieroo, and it means to be filled up. The meaning of “to be filled up” take me to the first miracle that Jesus Christ performed to show Himself as the Son of God. At the wedding in Cana John 2:1-11, Jesus filled the ceremonial jar with water to the brim, that is full. But when poured out, the water became the best wine, if we are filled to the brim with the Lord (Holy Spirit), we become a fountain as in John 4:14 but whoever may drink of the Water that I shall give him, should have never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a Fountain of Water springing up into everlasting life. Why is it important. As we receive Jesus Christ in faith we need to walk by faith that in Christ we are made complete and need nothing more that what is already within us, the Spirit of the Living God. In Christ Jesus we received the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit to enable us to be a witness unto Jesus, not through word but by the way we live.
3. In Christ We Are New Creations“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJVWe have been recreated in Christ so that through Him we could do what God planned from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 2:10). To be recreated is to be made new since in Christ we have been born a new, the old life has passed away and we rose with Christ into a new recreated life. Therefore we can boldly enter with faith into the life God planed for us as in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and hope. Why is it important. Based on our new recreated life in Christ we must not adhere to the lie of the enemy, reminding us of our past failures. We must acknowledge that being a new creation means that the old is dead and have no place in the new recreated life. There is a story of a missionary who baptized a women after explaining the death of the old and the new recreated life in Christ. The women was baptized in a river and after she emerge from the water see stood on the side of the river looking into the water, they ask her what she is looking for, and she replied the dead old me
.4. In Christ We Are Righteous“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJVRighteousness is to be in right standing before God, but as mentioned we received forgiveness of sin as a gift. Likewise our righteousness is based IN CHRIST, and what Christ did for us. Therefore our right standing before God is an act of faith in what Christ did for us on the cross when He nailed our sin to the cross. Romans 1:17 For in this is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it has been written, The just shall live by faith. We in our own effort can never be righteous, we have become the Righteousness of God through Christ who new no sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For Him who having known no sin, He has made sin bearer for us; that we may become the righteousness of God in Him.Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Why is it important. This verse is a faith based verse that directs us to seek the God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness, if Jesus is the King who received authority to rule over God’s Kingdom and Jesus is also the Righteousness of God. We must seek Christ for in Him is the manifestation of God’s Kingdom and God Righteousness.
5. In Christ We Are Children of God“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 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.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:14-17 NKJVEphesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God;[WEB] 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:IN CHRIST, we became children and are part of the household of God. We are called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for God’s own possession. The positions we received in Christ before God’s thrown are part of our security in relation to our Heavenly Father. This security give us the freedom to enter God’s thrown room and partake in the benefits and responsibilities of God’s household. In Christ we became part of God’s Household and through Christ can partake in all the benefits of being part of God’s Household.
As children we are secure in our inheritance, for it is written 1 Peter 1:4-5 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in Heavens for you, who are being guarded by the power of God through faith to Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.Why is it important. If we do not realize who we are in Christ, we have no freedom to partake in our inheritance we received to be part of God’s Household. We have no freedom to proclaim what Christ did for us, for we have not received it ourselves.
Jesus is the way the truth and the live, no one can come to God except through Jesus, the Son of God.