"In Christ"

by Micky Galloway

Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:17, “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” Everything that really matters depends upon one’s being “in Christ.” There are only two spiritual realms. We are either in Christ or we are in a spiritual relationship with Satan. We are in the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. There is no middle ground. “He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth” (Matthew 12:30). Where we are spiritually is dependent upon the choices we make. Paul said, “Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves (as) servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Let us study what it means to be “in Christ” and let us also learn the blessings and privileges that can be ours if we are “in Christ.” Then certainly it would be valuable to learn how one gets into this blessed relationship described in the scriptures as “in Christ.”

To be “in Christ” is to be in the BODY OF CHRIST which is THE CHURCH. To show the intimate relationship which we have in Christ Jesus, the church is often called “the body of Christ.” Paul wrote how the death on the cross brought us to God, “and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16). When you speak of the church as a kingdom, Christ is the King; if you speak of the church as the body, He is the head. This is what Paul says of Christ, declaring that God “gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). This is further reinforced by his open declaration, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence” (Colossians 1:18). Soon thereafter, Paul wrote of his own “afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). It was well known by Paul that to be “in Christ” was to be in His body, and that body was the church. No one can be “in Christ” without being in His body which is His church.

There is one body belonging to Christ. When we speak of Christ being the head of the body, we must realize that there was only ONE head, and only ONE body. Else you would have the Lord’s body being some sort of monstrosity. If you find two heads trying to regulate one body, you would have confusion. It certainly would be as bad if you find one head trying to regulate two or more bodies. Paul recognized this, and asked the saints in Ephesus to be “giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (There is) one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all” (Ephesians 4:3-6). How many God’s did you find? How many Lords? How many Spirits? How many faiths? How many bodies? Don’t you see there are just as many bodies as Gods? And that ONE body is THE church. Then how many churches do you find in that passage? Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I will build my church” (singular) (Matthew 16:18).

What makes up that body? Your body is made up of many members, with members having varied functions. Even so the body of Christ, (the church) is made up of many members. The Lord’s church is not made up of many varied churches or bodies or denominations. Remember, the Lord’s church is His body, not bodies. Romans 12:4-5 says, “For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.” The church is made up of those who are in the one body, and those who are in the one body are those who are “in Christ.” When you think of the church, you think of its many members and its head, Jesus Christ. In I Corinthians 12:12-27 Paul shows this figure of the body of Christ, his church, in greater detail. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” Then he proceeds to show that the foot, hand, ear, and eye have not the same place and function. He then concluded, “But now they are many members, but one body.” Paul emphasized the need that each member has for all others, and stresses, “That there should be no schism (division or dissension, mg) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” This unites the body of Christ, the church, as the Lord wants it. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.”

“In Christ,” in His body, the church, we have the approval of God and “every spiritual blessing.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). This is why Paul could say, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature …” (II Corinthians 5:17). Every spiritual blessing is “in Christ,” i.e. grace, forgiveness, redemption, salvation (II Timothy 2:10), eternal life (I John 5:11). In fact, John wrote, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13). But to be “in Christ,” one must be in the body of Christ which is the church.

How do I get “into Christ”? Many teach that faith only puts the sinner into Christ, but entrance into Christ is clearly shown in the Scriptures. Galatians 3:26-28 says, “For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one (man) in Christ Jesus.” It is our submission in baptism that brings us “into Christ” (thus into His body, the church). Paul further said, “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13). Romans 6:3-4 shows that we enter “into Christ” when we are “buried therefore with him through baptism into death” where His saving blood was shed, and are then raised to walk a new life! Thus, we are a new creature in Christ Jesus. This “newness of life” is “in Christ,” but newness of life follows the burial in baptism, therefore one is not “in Christ” until he is baptized into him. This obedience will bring us into the church, the body of saved believers (Acts 2:41, 47). There we will be under the rule of the head, Jesus Christ, and enjoy the fellowship of all members of His spiritual body.

Friend, if you will submit to Him as Lord by obedience here, you will live with Him hereafter. Through your obedience to the gospel of Christ you may gain entrance “into Christ,” that spiritual body, the church over which He is the head.