It is generally believed, that salvation is in Christ, and it is! But what does it mean to be in Christ? How do you get into Christ? These questions are most important to the person who is truly searching for salvation! It is understood at the beginning of this article, that some people will never change, as they are set in what they believe and do not have any desire to change! It is also understood at the beginning of this article that some people, who have their “feet” set in concrete and they have no question about the nature of the concrete! It will hold them, as they are saved in their mind and that is the end of the subject!
Some people believe what they believe and are happy to let you know, what they believe, and they are proud of it! They are quick to point to a passage of scripture, such as: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Never mind that this verse does not have the word “believe (faith) in it; though they believe that they are saved by faith only. Just say, “Lord, lord,” and you are saved! Have these folks never read the words of the Lord: “not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). These words of our Lord should at very least, produce a little doubt in any honest heart!
The Lord himself said: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Therefore, it is conceded that a lost person must believe that salvation is in Christ! With this truth set before us, we turn our attention to the subject, “What does it mean to be in Christ?” If one is “in Christ,” then, such a person is saved; that is, unless he is one who has returned to sin! The apostle Paul makes the following conclusion: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). If one is “hid,” the Greek word being “sun,” which is “A primary preposition denoting union;” and the “union” is “with Christ in God.” The little word “in” used by the apostle is denoting a (fixed) position, that being in God! (Strong). Now notice how Paul appears to change subjects in these words: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (verse 4). However, he has not changed subjects! But, the words of verse four being true; therefore, we should/must do what: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (verses 5-6). What once was, but is no longer, as the apostle continued: “In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them” (verse 7). Did you get it? What we once were, we are no longer; for we are in union, which is fixed, in God! It is necessary, just here, to make the point that Paul wrote, that we once “lived in them;” the “in them” are the sins just named. Some teach that one “simply commits” an act of sin in marrying one who was not put away (divorced) for some reason other than “fornication.” Then, it is taught that all such a person need do, is repent of the single act of “adultery.” Then, such may continue to live in such a marriage! However, Paul makes it very clear, that we, that is “ye lived in them,” and one of the things named is “fornication!” Just how does a person “live in fornication?” Does this mean that such a one, commits fornication twenty-four hours a day; or that he is one who freely commits fornication? You know the answer; to “live in” is to freely commits “fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection!
Now, returning to the point of our study: “What does it mean to be in Christ?” Being “in Christ” is also putting away: “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (verse 8). If these things continue to abide in one, they serve as evidence that such a one is not in a “fixed union with Christ!” To put it simply, sin is not the manner of life of a person who is in Christ! So great is the difference between the life that was and the one that now is; the apostle describes such a one as “new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him!” (verse 10). The word “new” is the comparative with “youthful,” or regenerated (Strong). Speak of “the fountain of youth!”
Yes, to be in Christ means that one has undergone a spiritual renewing! The old man and his ways, have been thrown away, discarded as old warn out garments. Friends, does this sound like you!
Frank R. Williams
(Editor’s note: The subject of “How do you get into Christ?”, will be covered in a second article.)