Chapter 9
What We Receive as a Result of Being "In Christ"
Repeatedly, the New Testament refers to Christians as being "in Christ" or "in him." This phrase, often tacked on two statements, is referring to our position in Christ-- a position we receive as a result of spiritual baptism into Christ.
Romans 6:1-11
1. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?
2. Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
3. Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him?
4. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was.
6. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
7. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
8. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life.
9. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
10. He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.
11. so you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.
1Corinthians 12:13-31
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where was the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after those miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
When considering the impact of the blessings promised in this connection, one must conclude that the doctrine of our standing in Christ is one of the most important in the New Testament.
Passages
{What is promised?}
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit?
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
{Freedom from condemnation}
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Galatians 5:16-17-18
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusted against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary
the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led off the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
{Freedom from the law of sin}
Romans 8:39
[Neither] 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.
{Security and permanence in God's love}
Romans 12:5
So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually member’s one of another.
1 Corinthians 10:17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
{Unity with other Christians}
1Corinthians 1:30
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
{God's wisdom and goodness, etc. Imparted to us}
II Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
{Triumph or victory in spiritual war}
II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Isaiah 65:17-18
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered,
nor come into mind.
But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create:
{New identity}
Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I, who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for
me.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again
{Death to the old person}
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian,
bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
{Basis for social, racial, and gender equality}
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,
2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
{Every blessing, note the past tense}
Philippians 3:9
[that I] may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which
Is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
{Righteousness imparted to us}
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give me unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
{Inner peace of mind}
Colossians 3:3, 4
For you have died, your life is hidden in Christ, with God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Romans 8:10-11
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
{Future inheritance and eternal life}
I John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Luck 24:45-48
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.
{Truth and understanding}
II Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, which we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.
{The righteousness of God}
I Corinthians 1:5
In everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
I Corinthians 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to other diver’s kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worked that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
{Spiritual gifts}