Featured What does "in Christ" mean?

I heard a pastor recently define it this way,

"We are all familiar with being "in the army" or "in the labor union" and "in Christ" simply means we are "in the Christian environment." He was attempting to define "in Christ" in Ephesians 1:3-4 in order to characterize that as its meaning throughout the entire book of Ephesians. He applied it to the Ephesians as a reality but must make it also a choice. They either chose to live "in the Christian environment" or the world environment.

I objected to what I thought to be too broad and general in definition. Instead, I suggested that in redemptive passages it is better understood and defined by comparing with its contrast "in Adam." Being "in the Army" or "in the union" are not persons but organizations. However, being "in Adam" and "in Christ" refer to persons I believe in the sense of the first Adam in comparison with "the Second Adam."

We were "created" in Adam and are in union (physical) with him. Adam acted as our representative in our position and his action was attributed to us. Likewise, we are "created in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:10) and by that action we are in union (spiritual) with him. He also acted as our representative in our position and his positive actions were attributed to us (Rom.5:12-19). Therefore, I believe "in Christ" in redemptive passages refers to being "in a redemptive relationship with Christ" as described in contrast to our fallen relationship with Adam. I agreed it is a realty that must be "put on" to experience it in this life.

What think Ye?

 

We only partake of his moral aspect of his divine nature (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). We nor any other creature partakes of the attributes of His divine nature that make him to be God.

 

Hank do you see a difference between "into" versus "put on"? with regard to baptism and the "in Christ" question? If you do, then how do you define "into" Christ? Personally I believe he is speaking about water baptism and in water baptism we are figuratively put on Christ's death, burial and resurrection outwardly as a symbol of being "created in Christ Jesus" thus Christ is "put on" publiclly through baptism.

 

I never heard anyone do that either. He came from a split from the Bible Baptist Fellowship group.

 

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Hank you have reversed the actions in your illustration. You "put on" the suit IN ORDER to be "in" the suit. However, in the text it is the baptism "into" Christ that necessary in order to "put on" Christ. The immediate context refers to the Roman custom of adoption. A man was "heir" by birth but did not receive his inheritance until his 18th birthday. On that day he "put on" a white toga not in order to be the heir but to declare he was the heir. That is what water baptism does, we "put on" Christ in a delcarative manner in baptism that declares we are in Christ by faith in his death, burial and resurrection pictured in baptism.

 

Bro. Davis I am in complete agreement with you. Below is a fuller expression of what I believe "in Christ" entails:

I. Your Salvation Union with Christ (Causal)



A. In Christ by Divine choice – Purposed salvation union – Eph. 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: - Before you existed, so based on His choice. Salvation not an accident but by purpose – Rom. 8:28-31.



B. In Christ by Representation – Representative salvation union – 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Before you existed. See Rom. 5:12-19.



C. In Christ by Regeneration – Spiritual salvation union – Eph. 2:10 “For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works….””Christ in you” by the Holy Spirit internal and invisible (Jn. 3:8)



D. In Christ by Justification through faith – Legal or Positional salvation union – Rom. 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.1 ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: internal and invisible





II. Your Service Union with Christ (consequential)





A. In Christ by baptism – pictorial service union – Gal. 3:27; I Pet. 3:21 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. – External and visible



B. In Christ by church membership – Representative service union – I Cor. 12:27 – “ye are the body of Christ and members in particular” (you represent Him by membership in his church body) – External and visible



C. In Christ by Practice – experiential service union - “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” – Col. 2:6 – External visible – manifest “walk”

 

John I have never been a big fan of the Calvinist doctrine of reprobation in the sense that God chose some to go to hell. I do not believe any such choice was necessary by God. Election is to salvation not to damnation as they are "condemned already". Salvation is a matter of "mercy" which presupposes just condemnation is already a fact. Man's choice damn's him and his continuing resistance determines his eternal condemnation (Acts 7:51).