"In Christ ": What does it really mean?

[DJT_47]

"In Christ": What does it really mean?

The words “in Christ” and similar, i.e.; “in Jesus Christ”, “in Christ Jesus”, “in him’, are used ad nauseam within the Christian world with hardly anyone ever giving any thought whatsoever as to what the words really mean or entail, thus relegating them to nothing more than Christian “buzz words” that sound good and Christian-like.

So what do these words really mean? What does it mean to be “in Christ” and how does one get “in Christ” or into Christ? Is there a specific way stated in the bible? Are there unique benefits for being “in Christ” once one has achieved that state of being “in him”? Are there benefits available to those not being “in Christ”? Can you receive spiritual blessings without being “in Christ”?

These are logical questions that should be asked or considered when one sees or uses these or similar words inferring the same.

There are 146 references in the New Testament (may not be all inclusive, but close if not) using these exact or similar words as those mentioned above. If mentioned that frequently and to that extent, it must be of great importance, so likewise, all should render like importance to these words when using them, clearly understanding what they truly mean and entail.

Consider the suffix “ian” attached to the word “Christ” to become the word Christian; what does "ian" attached to the end a word mean or indicate? One of its meanings is 'from or belonging to'. As it pertains to Christ, it indicates that a Christian is from or belonging to, or in other words, owned by Christ! It should be noted too that the word “Christian” doesn’t mean a believer in or follower of Christ, but rather really means owned by Christ. So, you could be a believer in and follower of Jesus, practice some form of “Christian” religious worship, be devout, moral, etc. etc, but not be owned by Him, not “in him”.

Note that the bible says the following:

1 Cor 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:"

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

The above clearly states that Christ purchased or bought the church with His own blood, so it's clear that Christians, those owned by Christ, those that are part of his body (the church), have been bought and paid for by his blood which was the price he paid for them who are now “in him”. Therefore, those that are “in” the church are His, and are “in him”.

What are some of the benefits that being owned by or “in Christ” bestowed upon you that are unable to be conferred in any other way according to scripture?

• Be saved, receive redemption, have your sins remitted and added to the Lord’s body which is the church
• Be buried/planted with Him in the likeness of his death thus enabling like resurrection
• Put on Christ and become a Christian and child of God
• Receive the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, blessings, have hope, and be made alive in Him

So, how do you become owned by, “in Christ”, and part of the church? The fact of the matter is, there is one specific way mentioned in the bible as to what one must do to be “in Christ” as well as benefits for being “in him” that can only be realized thereby: by baptism.

Rom 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”?

Gal 3:26/27 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

1st Cor 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Rom 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.

Col 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”.

Rom 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”:

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. 41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”. 47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

• Christ’s body is the church of which He is the head (Col 1:18, Eph 5:23);
• You become part of the church by becoming a part of His body. You become part of His body by being baptized into it.
• In it (His body, the church), you obtain spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
• Are you really a Christian without being part of His body, the church, which you are added to upon being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47)?
• If you’re not buried with Him through baptism, can you then still be raised with Him?

[Inquirer]

[Replying to DJT_47 in post #1]

These are very good questions, it will be interesting to hear some of the replies.

I too find the NT littered with almost incomprehensible phrases, and agree that these are often glibly regurgitated by many Christians without a hint of what they really mean.

I don't regard these though as reasons to doubt, on the contrary for me they are reasons to believe, the expressions indicate to me some profound idea outside of our comprehension and they drive me to further study. I personally do not think these expressions would be present unless there was some profound truth to it all, a made up, pseudo political "religion" (as some claim Christianity to be) simply would never express ideas that were unfathomable like this, they would not leave the listener puzzled, I think if it had been made up then the NT would just be an extension of Hebrew traditions and beliefs, not a completely radical system like what is written.

It was Jesus who first mentioned "The Father" there was no concept akin to this in Judaism prior to Christ and expressions "The father is in me and I am in him" or "He who has seen me has seen the father" and so on, are as puzzling today as they were two thousand years ago, and we know they were puzzling back then, because the disciples frequently expressed dismay at some of the things Christ said.

[1213]

"In Christ": What does it really mean?
...

I have understood it means we remain in the word of Jesus, be loyal to him, and follow his example, for example because of this:

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:31-32

[DaveD49]

"In Christ": What does it really mean?

To be "In Christ" means to actually live by His words. Christ's message was all about love of all and forgiveness of all. Unfortunately there are quite a few who said that they are "Christians" but do not follow truly follow His teachings. If we are harboring hatred towards anyone we are not "in Christ". If we do not forgive those who have slighted us we are not "in Christ". It is rather sad that many will pray the "Our Father" but not actually listen to the words they are saying when it says "and forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us". We are asking God to forgive our sins ONLY TO THE EXTENT that we forgive those who have sinned against us. The forgiveness of our wrong-doings are thus tied to our willingness to forgive others.

When a person is "in Christ", loving and forgiving all, there comes with it a peace that unsurpassed and at times a joy that is completely overwhelming.

[DJT_47]

As I stated in my OP, there's only one scriptural way to be "in Christ" and that's by being baptized into him. By doing so, you become a member of his body which is the church.

[sridatta]

"In Christ": What does it really mean?

The word Christ means " God in human form" or Human incarnation of God or God in Flesh. God is unimaginable and beyond space. Nobody can even imagine Him in His absolute state. But can be seen when He comes here in human form known as Christ or " God in human form" or Human incarnation of God or God in Flesh. God comes here for our sake only so that we can see Him, touch Him and co-live with Him. God is impartial and He comes in every human generation like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Shankara, Sai Baba, Shri Datta Swami etc to preach divine knowledge to uplift us.

[sridatta]

As I stated in my OP, there's only one scriptural way to be "in Christ" and that's by being baptized into him. By doing so, you become a member of his body which is the church.

Baptism means getting immersed in divine knowledge of God and love to God without expecting anything from Him and serve Him practically in this world that is the meaning of Baptism. It shall not be just limited to spraying some water over head, which is only a ritual. The essence of the ritual shall be understood today. We shall learn divine knowledge of God and practice that knowledge in our life. For preaching this divine knowledge, God Himself comes to this world in human form in every human generation to preach and uplift us. One shall meet the present human form of God and learn the divine knowledge from Him and practice that knowledge in ones life. Divine knowledge which removes all our spiritual doubts is the identity mark of God in human form. Since God is impartial He comes to this world in every human generation to preach the divine knowledge. God alone knows about Himself and hence descends own in human form called as Human incarnation of God.

[Brightfame52]

We cant even begin to understand what " In Christ" means really without its foundational meaning, which is having been Chosen in Him by God the Father before the foundation of the world Eph 1:4

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

Just like in our natural lives, which began in Adam, we had to be chosen in Adam in the beginning.

A companion verse for Eph 1:4 is 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Again there was a chosen people, seed, generation in Christ Jesus before the world began, even then was grace for salvation given them.

This lays the foundation for what it means to be in Christ !

[Miles]

,

"In Christ ": What does it really mean?

As wold be expected, it all depends on whom you ask. Note that often the explanation has nothing to do with "being in" anything.


Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born in the manger, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, lives by His Spirit in the soul of every Christian believer. We call this being “in Christ.”
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To be "in Christ" means we have accepted His sacrifice as payment for our own sin.

To be "in Christ" means that God no longer sees our imperfections; He sees the righteousness of His own Son (Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 8:12). Only "in Christ" is our sin debt cancelled, our relationship with God restored, and our eternity secured (John 3:16-18, 20:31).
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The commonest description in the Scriptures of a follower of Jesus is that he or she is a person “in Christ.”. . . . To be “in Christ” does not mean to be inside Christ, as tools are in a box or our clothes in a closet, but to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. It is this personal relationship with Christ that is the distinctive mark of his authentic followers.
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To be in Christ, first of all, means that we have a saving relationship with Christ and are brought into union and communion with Him in such a way that, as we are in Christ, what is true of Christ becomes true of us. His grace and His resources become our experience and possession.
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The Bible uses the phrase “in Christ” to refer to believers, their lives, and ministries… all centered around Jesus Christ.

The phrase “in Christ” or “in Christ Jesus” refers to the state of believers. If you have asked God to forgive your sins and have declared your decision to follow Jesus with your life, you are saved.
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Being in Christ refers to our position. We might say that we are in a house, or in a car. And when we do we are specifying an enclosing object. If I am in a car, then wherever that car is, I am as well. And whatever happens to the car, in a sense, also happens to me.

So it is with being in Christ. I am enclosed by him. And so where he is, I am as well. And his experience also, in a sense, becomes my experience. I will look at both of these later on. But what is significant here is that, as a follower of Jesus, I am not an independent agent. I am included in something much greater than just myself.
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[sridatta]

Being in Christ refers to our position. We might say that we are in a house, or in a car. And when we do we are specifying an enclosing object. If I am in a car, then wherever that car is, I am as well. And whatever happens to the car, in a sense, also happens to me.

So it is with being in Christ. I am enclosed by him. And so where he is, I am as well. And his experience also, in a sense, becomes my experience. I will look at both of these later on. But what is significant here is that, as a follower of Jesus, I am not an independent agent. I am included in something much greater than just myself.
source


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It means you are in love with God Jesus. We call it devotion to God. When you love GOd and that too without expecting anything in return from God Jesus then it is the greatest. Treating God Jesus as our own son and serving Him practically without expecting any rewards is a greatest devotee in the eyes of God Jesus.