The significance of being “in Christ” is seen in the fact that all spiritual blessings are in Him. God is certainly to be praised for providing “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). For clarity, the phrase “in the heavenly” refers to the spiritual realm. In Ephesians 1:3, “the heavenly” likely refers specifically to the church, the spiritual body of Christ.
One “in Christ” is the beneficiary of many wonderful blessings (Ephesians 1:3-7). Those “in Christ” are chosen in Him (v. 4). Those “in Christ” are adopted as sons through Jesus Christ (v. 5). God’s grace is “freely bestowed on us through the Beloved” (v. 6). “In Christ” we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins by the grace of God (vs. 7-8). If you’re keeping count, that’s at least five specific spiritual blessings that are to be found only “in Christ”!
It is important to know what the Bible teaches about how one comes to be “in Christ.” The apostle Paul very clearly and distinctly taught, “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). How does one get into Christ? We are baptized into Christ. The brethren in the churches of Galatia “were baptized.” That is, they were immersed, and therefore, they were “in Christ” wherein lie all spiritual blessings.
To be “in Christ” one must have accepted the evidence presented in Scripture that Jesus is the Christ, confessed faith in Christ, repented of sins, and have been baptized to put on Christ. When one is baptized into Christ, he is raised from the watery grave of baptism to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3ff). When one is baptized into Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul said “our old man was crucified…” (Romans 6:6). We must put away or put off the old man and put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:5-14). We must put on as those chosen in Christ “a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). When we are clothed “in Christ” (Galatians 3:27), we are to take His character to be our own. We assume the character of Christ. Those “in Christ” must have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). We must conduct our lives in humble submission to the will of the Father as did Jesus (John 6:38).
The scriptural concept of being “in Christ” must have been important for the apostle Paul to use that phrase or one similar more than 100 times in his writings. Some examples follow. The church is one body “in Christ” (Romans 12:5). There is no condemnation to those who are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1). Those who live a faithful Christian life will fall asleep [die] “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:18). These examples should suffice to make the point that being “in Christ” is a very important subject. If anyone desires to enjoy the spiritual blessings such as redemption and forgiveness of sins, he must be “in Christ.”
