Featured What does "in Christ" mean?

After giving this some more deeper thought, I believe that at least theoretically that those who define "in Christ" particularly in such contexts as Ephesians 1:1-14 as "a Christian environment" are teaching "another gospel." My reasons for that conclusion are: (1). The "Christian environment" is a product of Christ's finished work and has more to do with Christ "in you" working in and through your body and life. However, "in Christ" in the Ephesian 1:1-14 context has to do with the work that only the Triune God can do that obtains initial salvation for you based upon the finished work that Christ did alone through his own body for you. Thus, by defining "in Christ" by "a Christian Environment" one is doing precisely what the Seventh Day Adventist do in confusing regeneration/justification with sanctification.

"in Christ" refers to the Father's purpose to choose and predestinate (Eph. 1:4-6) that the finished redemptive work of Christ (Eph. 1:7-11) would be applied to secure initial salvation by the Holy Spirit to the elect (Eph. 1:12-14). Hence, "in Christ" contextually is defined as existing in a personal relationship with Christ as Savior based upon this threefold work of the Divine Persons.

 

I believe that to be an impossible interpretation for that passage for many reasons. First and foremost,the fallen condition as to its bottom line is spiritual separation from God and that did not begin or end at Pentecost. Second, the fall of man is pinpointed in time and place in Genesis 3. Third, the baptism in the Spirit is also pinpointed in time (Acts 1:4-5) and place and far too late to be the remedy for spiritual separation which is the fallen condition. Fourth, the only possible remedy for the fallen condition (spiritual separation from God) is spiritual union with God through Christ, so if the baptism in the Spirit is defined as spiritual union it is far too late in time and place to deal with the past 4000 years of fallen men. Fifth, there is no such human being who is not "in Adam" and/or not "in Christ" as there is no third status (Rom. 8:8-9). Sixth, if "any man" is without the indwelling Spirit "he is none of his" regardless if we are speaking in Genesis or Revelation then or now. Seventh, the very nature of spiritual union requires Spirit indwelling because the spirit that needs to be reunited with the Spirit of God lives within your body and where there is no spiritual union there is but spiritual death. Eighth, there is no kind of baptism that brings any fallen man into spiritual union with God through Christ or "in Christ" but that is the creative work of God called regeneration or quickening (Eph. 2:10). Ninth, there is no other salvation provided by man at any time or any place between Genesis to revelation that is OUTSIDE of Christ. Tenth, and last, therefore, the baptism in the Spirit is too late to be construed as personal individual dwelling or spiritual union, thus the solution to spiritual separation. The baptism in the Spirit is promised only to water baptized believers who met at a particular place in Jerusalem as the new "house of God" and is the typical ordinary manner by which all previous new houses of God had been authenticated (Ex. 40:35; 2 Chron. 7:1-3) and new kingdom administrations have been confirmed. In the gospels we have the establishing of a new covenant administration within the kingdom of God with a new "house of God" built by Christ composed of water baptized believers assembled as spiritual stones with a new ordained ministry, with new ordinances and a new mission encompassing the Gentile world but which has NOTHING to do with individual salvation or with gospel salvation or with spiritual union or being "in Christ" as the same gospel, same salvation, same solution has been preached and administered since Genesis 3:15 (Acts 10:43; Heb. 4:2; 13:20). Therefore, the bottom line is that there is no salvation OUTSIDE of Christ but only "in Christ" and that begins with spiritual union as spiritual separation is the state of being dead in tresspasses and sins, and that cannot possibly be the time and place Pentecost located baptism in the Spirit.

Galatians 3:27 refers to PUTTING ON Christ in an external symbolic manner as the Roman heir would put on a white toga that declared he is heir. It is WATER baptism. Just as putting on the white toga did not make the 18 year old heir but only declared him such, so baptism does not make us an heir of God but declares us to be through the finished work of Christ as symbolized in baptism as his death,burial and resurrection.

 

The METAPHORICAL body of Christ is the local congregation which Paul says "YE ARE" (1 Cor. 12:27) not "we are" individual metaphorial "members." So yes, we are baptized by water into the REPRESENTATIVE "body of Christ" If you will go back and look at my post where I list SEVEN different ways a believer may be in Christ you will see I distinguish between spiritual union with Christ versus representative union.

The baptism in the Spirit on Pentecost is 4000 years too late to be spiritual union or else you have 4000 years of people OUTSIDE of Christ and thus spiritually dead including Abraham who is the example for all who are justified by faith.

 

The first phrase tells what has been done to the believer by the administrator of baptism. The first verb is aorist passive (baptized) because it is a one time event wherein the believer is not the administrator but the object of baptism.

The second phrase describes the obedience of the believer with regard to baptism.The second verb is aorist middle, because the Scripture commands believers to be baptized and therefore the action of obedience begins with the believer but has for its object the believer.

However, your view should not have the middle voice at all because your concept of the baptism in the Spirit demands that the believer is completely passive in all aspects with regard to immersing action into the Spirit.

Last, nothing is said about the Spirit here but Christ. The baptism in the Spirit has the Spirit as the element whereas water baptism has the metaphorical or representative body of Christ as the element defined as membership (1 Cor. 6:15). In I Corinthians 6 it is the PHYSICAL BODY of the believer that is identified as a "member" of the body of Christ and that is through water baptism (1 Cor. 12:13).

 

The preceding context and following context for 1 Cor. 12;13 demands it is water baptism into the congregational body (1 Cor. 12:27) not baptism into the Spirit. I can provide the overall context to demonstrate this if you wish to know why I say that. Your view of Galatians 3:27 has no room for the middle voice at all, as believers have no participating action in the act of immersion into the Spirit.