What Does it Mean to be In Christ?

2Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In Christ. These two words appear about 75 times in the New Testament. 

Being in Christ means having the Spirit of God within you. Just because someone calls themself a Christian does not mean His Spirit lives within. 

The Spirit comes in at the time you know you have been touched by this very Holy Spirit...when you have given yourself to Christ. At that moment when God knows you have done this you receive the Spirit of God. A change takes place. Your heart changes. Your thoughts change. Same with your desires. It’s an amazing thing! 

Being in Christ is not having attended church all your life, being infant baptized, or being a certain denomination, singing in the choir, even, I might add, being a clergyman! It is something that occurs between you and God alone. In fact, it isn’t even anything you can do on your own. God does the work in you. He calls, He urges...you respond to that. You might have a desire, previous to this, to have a closer relationship with God, but it might just be His urging you to do so and He is still the one who makes it happen. 

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

It’s being born again...in the Spirit. Jesus told us we could not get to God apart from this rebirth...

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) There it is! In Jesus’ own words. Born again! Read all of John 3. 

This rebirth only comes through Jesus Christ and His work on the cross...because not one of us is perfect. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one...” (Romans 3:10)

Only Jesus was the perfect spotless Lamb of God. He must and will get the glory for changing one’s heart, making them whole, redeeming and saving a lost soul, which we all are until being born again, born in the Spirit...becoming in Christ. 

So many believe that we are children of God because we believe in Him. We become children of God when we come to Christ to be in Christ. Christ in us. If one doesn’t feel qualified to be born again, no one is, but God...gave His only Son that whosoever will call on His name will be saved. 

Not by anything we think we can do! All because of Jesus’ obedience to the will of His Father. No one else! 

Ephesians 2:8-9- For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.