Baptism (part 6 of 6) - In Christ
Although we may strongly desire the salary and benefits of a job, we know we will never receive them unless we apply for the job and are hired by the company. Once hired, we have a working relationship with the company and all its benefits now belong to us.
In exactly the same way, when we hear about salvation and forgiveness we strongly desire to receive them. But until we hear God’s word, believe it, and fulfill its demands we will never receive them. It is only after we obey the gospel and develop a working relationship with the Lord that we receive all the blessings of Jesus death upon the cross.
Blessings “in Christ”. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and “no one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). Jesus is the only portal through which we can come to the Father and the Father’s blessings can come to us. In God’s eternal purpose all spiritual blessings purchased for us by Jesus on the cross are only given to those who enter into fellowship with Jesus. God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). In exactly the same way that a salary and benefits are only given to those In a business, God has given every spiritual blessing only to those “In Christ:”
What Changes after we are “in Christ?” When we were baptized into Christ and put on Christ what actually occurred? Did we enter a new spiritual location like being “in America” or getting “in a car?” Did our spiritual relationship change as being “in a family” or “in the medical profession?” Did we change our spiritual function, as our heart and lungs are in our body?
It is all of this and more! “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:12-13) and “translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). Once in that body, we are also in “the church which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23) and “in the household of God, which is the church” (1 Tim. 3:15). “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (Jn. 15:1-8). But all this is still only a small portion of the realm we enter when we are in Christ:
“The manifold wisdom of God” which was “made known through the church” was “according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11). When we are in Christ, everything God had in mind from eternity for his people is given to us. When we are in Christ, all that resulted from his death become ours.
We enter Christ in baptism because it is at that moment “our old man was crucified with him,” and “we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-8). It is at that moment that God “has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13). So baptism puts us into Christ and “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
All relationships are new! Jesus is our Lord, Savior, Shepherd, Head, and King. God delivered “us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). We “have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). We are a new creation in Christ and all blessings are ours!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20-21)
In exactly the same way, when we hear about salvation and forgiveness we strongly desire to receive them. But until we hear God’s word, believe it, and fulfill its demands we will never receive them. It is only after we obey the gospel and develop a working relationship with the Lord that we receive all the blessings of Jesus death upon the cross.
Blessings “in Christ”. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and “no one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). Jesus is the only portal through which we can come to the Father and the Father’s blessings can come to us. In God’s eternal purpose all spiritual blessings purchased for us by Jesus on the cross are only given to those who enter into fellowship with Jesus. God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). In exactly the same way that a salary and benefits are only given to those In a business, God has given every spiritual blessing only to those “In Christ:”
- Rom. 3:24 justified freely by grace; redemption that is in Christ Jesus
- Rom. 6:11 dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus
- Rom. 6:23 the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
- Rom. 8:1 there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus
- Rom. 8:39 ... shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
- 1 Cor. 1:2 to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus
- 1 Cor. 1:4 grace of God given you in Christ Jesus
- 1 Cor. 15:22 as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
- 2 Cor. 1:21 establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us
- 2 Cor. 2:14 thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ
- 2 Cor. 3:14 the veil is taken away in Christ.
- 2 Cor. 5:17 if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; all become new.
- 2 Cor. 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
- Gal. 2:4 our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus
- Gal. 3:14 the blessing of Abraham might come upon Gentiles in Christ
- Eph. 1:3 every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
- Eph. 2:6 raised us up together, made us sit together in Christ
- Eph. 2:7 riches of his grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus
- Eph. 2:10 we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works
- Eph. 2:13 in Christ Jesus you who were far off ... brought near by blood
- Eph. 4:32 Just as God also in Christ also forgave you
- Phil. 3:14 the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
- Col. 1:28 that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
- 1 Th. 4:16 And the dead in Christ will rise first.
- 2 Tim. 1:1 the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus
- 2 Tim. 1:9 purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus
- 2 Tim. 2:1 be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
- 2 Tim. 2:10 obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory
- 1 Pet. 5:14 Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
What Changes after we are “in Christ?” When we were baptized into Christ and put on Christ what actually occurred? Did we enter a new spiritual location like being “in America” or getting “in a car?” Did our spiritual relationship change as being “in a family” or “in the medical profession?” Did we change our spiritual function, as our heart and lungs are in our body?
It is all of this and more! “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:12-13) and “translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). Once in that body, we are also in “the church which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23) and “in the household of God, which is the church” (1 Tim. 3:15). “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (Jn. 15:1-8). But all this is still only a small portion of the realm we enter when we are in Christ:
- Rom. 8:2 the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free...
- Rom. 12:5 we being many are one body in Christ,
- Rom. 16:3 Greet ... my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus,
- Rom. 16:7 who also were in Christ before me.
- 1 Cor. 3:1 not speak to you as spiritual people but to babes in Christ.
- 1 Cor. 4:15 in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel.
- 1 Cor. 4:17 remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere
- 1 Cor. 15:18 they also that are fallen asleep in Christ
- 1 Cor. 15:22 as in Adam all died so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
- 2 Cor. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago
- 2 Cor. 12:19 In the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- Gal. 1:22 unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ
- Gal. 3:28 no male/female; bond/free for you are all one in Christ Jesus
- Eph. 1:1 to the saints ... in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
- Eph. 1:10 He might gather together in one all things in Christ,
- Eph. 2:6 raised us and made us to sit with him... in Christ Jesus
- Eph. 2:10 are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works
- Eph. 2:13 Now in Christ Jesus you ... once far off have been brought near
- Eph. 3:6 Gentiles partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel
- Eph. 3:11 to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus
- Eph. 3:21 to him (be) the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
- Phil. 1:1 To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
- Phil. 1:13 become evident... palace guard...that my chains are in Christ
- Phil. 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.
- Col. 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ in Colosse
- 1 Th. 2:14 the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Th. 5:18 in everything give thanks; this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
- 1 Tim. 1:14 with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Tim. 2:7 I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying
- 2 Tim. 1:13 you heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Tim. 3:12 all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
- Philem. 1:8 I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting
- Philem. 1:23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus,
- 1 Pet. 3:16 those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
- 1 Pet. 5:10 God of all grace... called ...to his eternal glory in Christ
“The manifold wisdom of God” which was “made known through the church” was “according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11). When we are in Christ, everything God had in mind from eternity for his people is given to us. When we are in Christ, all that resulted from his death become ours.
We enter Christ in baptism because it is at that moment “our old man was crucified with him,” and “we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-8). It is at that moment that God “has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13). So baptism puts us into Christ and “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
All relationships are new! Jesus is our Lord, Savior, Shepherd, Head, and King. God delivered “us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). We “have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). We are a new creation in Christ and all blessings are ours!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20-21)