In dealing with the question: “What does it mean to be in Christ?” We are looking into the subject of salvation, itself. Please answer this question: “Do you think you can be saved out of Christ?” This question is asking, “Are you saved by Christ or without Christ?” Here is another way the question might be put forward: “Can you be saved without the blood of Christ?” Well, here is one more question: “Can you be saved and not be among the saved?”
It appears that some folks believe they can be saved and have little to no fellowship with others who are also saved. At the same time, some seem to believe that they can be saved without the blood of Christ. It does stretch the mind to really think on such “belief.” Oh, they all think they are saved by Christ, but they are just not sure how it works! In other words, when does a lost person meet the blood of Jesus? You may have never thought about it, but no one ever encounters the physical blood of Jesus. So, you think you do! If so, just where is the physical blood of Jesus found? It was in the body of Jesus, it was on the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, and it was upon the ground beneath the body of Jesus. But the physical blood of Jesus has long disappeared from this earth! Oh, how we love to sing the old song: “Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” and then read: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). Did you get the words, “redemption through his blood?” Redemption being the same as salvation; we can replace the words, “redemption” with the word salvation, as in, “salvation through his blood,” and not change the subject at all.
Do we all agree with the words, “redemption through his blood,” as used by Paul? Of course, we do! Then, we will agree with the words, “salvation through his blood,” but, just how do we come, how do we reach the blood of Jesus? We have now learned, that the blood of Jesus, by which we are saved, redeemed, is not by coming in contact with the physical blood of Jesus, but the blood of Jesus is located somewhere for our use and if we had to come in contact with the physical blood of Jesus just where would we go? If that were the case, all who would be saved, would have to take a trip to the location of the physical blood of Jesus and reach out and have it poured out upon us! No one, I mean, no one, believes such! Therefore, there must be a way to reach the blood of Jesus some how without having the physical blood of Jesus poured upon us! Let Jesus answer our delima; as we are saved, redeemed by the blood of Jesus without having the physical blood of Jesus. Here is what Jesus said as he was introducing the Lord’s Supper for the first time: “For this is my blood of the new testament …” (Matt. 26:28). The word, “testament,” would be better translated, “Covenant;” thus, it would read, “this is my blood of the new covenant! This new “covenant” would be the one of which Jeremiah wrote: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jer. 31:31). Therefore, Jesus was speaking of the “covenant” of which Jeremiah wrote.
The Greek word from which we get the word “testament” is the same word that is translated “covenant.” The Greek is “diatheke” and is the Greek word used in Hebrews when the writer quotes the words of Jeremiah: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Heb. 8:10). The word “covenant” is the better of the two English words, as it conveys an agreement between two parties that have been made and the one who accepts the terms, then, obeys the requirements and receive the blessings within the covenant. In this case, it is an agreement between God, who gave the terms and conditions of the covenant, and the one who accepts and obeys the terms! There are conditions that God has put within his covenant, that man must accept and obey, if he/she is to receive the blessings of the covenant! In our case, we are looking at the covenant that God has made and wherein is the blood of Jesus! This covenant is here, as it is the “new testament (covenant) of the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28).
If you have read carefully the words of Jesus, as it is written: “he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:27-28). The word “for” which verse twenty-eight begins with, is the Greek “gar,” and is “A primary particle; properly assigning a reason.” Therefore, the reason Jesus had the disciples to drink of the “the cup,” is because it is the blood of Jesus which was shed unto the remission of sins!
The point that is so often missed is that “the new covenant/testament” is as Jesus said: “this is my blood of the new testament/covenant!” The blood of Jesus is in this “new covenant/testament! So, where do we find the blood of Jesus? It is in “the new covenant!” Do you think, believe, that you can be “in Christ,” and not be in the “the covenant” wherein is the blood of Jesus? May it not be so!
Frank R. Williams