"In Christ"

WEDNESDAY December 17

"In Christ"

From the following texts, how do we understand the phrase “in Christ”? Rom. 16:7, Gal. 3:28, Eph. 1:1, Col. 1:28, 1 Thess. 4:16.

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The expression “in Christ” is used by Paul in a variety of ways. In some instances Paul uses “in Christ” to refer to something that God does in Christ. For instance, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:19, NIV). Here the phrase conveys two main ideas; namely, that Christ is God’s exclusive instrument of reconciliation and that reconciliation is located in the person and work of Christ. The implication is that we can enjoy it only in union with Him. In fact, all the benefits of salvation found in the sacrifice of Christ are available to us only in Him. These include grace (Eph. 1:2), the gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23), God’s call to a holy life (Phil. 3:14), election (Eph. 1:4), redemption (Col. 1:14), justification (Gal. 2:17), forgiveness (Eph. 4:32), and sanctification

(1 Cor. 1:2). In Him we were created for good works (Eph. 2:10), we have access to God (Eph. 3:12), we are now seated in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), we have an inheritance (Eph. 1:10, 11), we are triumphant (2 Cor. 2:14), we can do all things (Phil. 4:13), we are rooted and built up (Col. 2:7). All of these and much more are ours only in union with Christ.

The phrase is also used to indicate that everything the Christian does is done in union with Him: We rejoice in Him (Phil. 3:1), boast and glory in Him (Rom. 15:17), stand firm in Him (Phil. 4:1), are strong in Him (Eph. 6:10), and do works of faith in Him (Gal. 5:6).

The phrase “in Christ” also addresses one of the most damaging effects of sin. Sin decentralized and disoriented us, placing us under the controlling influence of evil. Christ is now our original center of existence and orients everything that we are and do. That center is now located outside us, in Christ, and it is in Him that we come to know ourselves and the glorious destiny prepared for us. Every-thing we do is to be determined by our union with Him, not by selfish concerns.

Go back and look over all those things that we have been given in Christ and then ask yourself, Am I availing myself of all that we have been promised through Christ? If not, why not?