What does it mean to be in Christ?
Being “in Christ” is a central concept in the Christian faith that speaks to the special relationship and union that believers have with Jesus Christ. At its core, being in Christ means that through faith in Jesus, Christians are united with Him spiritually and receive the benefits of His salvation. Here is a more in-depth look at what it means to be in Christ:
Union with Christ
The Bible teaches that when someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, they become spiritually united with Him. Passages like Romans 8:1 state, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This speaks to the new identity believers gain when they are joined to Christ. Though they were once condemned and separated from God because of sin, now they are pardoned and righteous in Christ. Other verses like Galatians 2:20 further express this union: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Through spiritual rebirth, Christians are identified with Jesus in His death and resurrection. His sacrifice becomes theirs, and His resurrected life becomes theirs. Christians enjoy union with their Savior.
Inclusion in Christ
Another aspect of being “in Christ” is being included in Him and His family. Jesus uses this imagery in John 15:1-8 when He refers to Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches. The branches must stay connected to the vine to receive nourishment and bear fruit. This illustrates how Christians are grafted into Christ and made part of His body. As Ephesians 1:4 expresses, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Only those in Christ become partakers of the spiritual blessings and inheritance that come from God. Believers go from being excluded as outsiders to being adopted as God’s children in Christ (Ephesians 1:5).
New Identity in Christ
Being in Christ also signifies a new identity for the believer. When someone becomes a Christian, they become a “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Their core identity is now found in Him. Jesus Christ is now their life (Colossians 3:4). The old sinful self is gone, and they have been made completely new. This new Christ-centered identity results in a change in thinking, behavior, and priorities. As 2 Corinthians 5:15 describes, “And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Everything changes when believers are placed into Christ.
Access to God in Christ
Through faith in Jesus, Christians are given full access to approach God. Jesus describes this in John 14:6 when He states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As the sole mediator between God and man, Jesus provides the way for believers to come directly into God’s presence with confidence and boldness (Ephesians 3:12). Placed in Christ, the Christian now relates to God in a close, personal way as their Heavenly Father. Jesus’ work fully reconciles them to God and removes all barriers that once separated them.
Recipients of Christ’s Righteousness
One of the key benefits of being united to Christ is receiving His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Though Christians are sinful, God sees and treats them as righteous because they are covered in Christ’s perfect righteousness. His spotless record gets credited to their account. This enables Christians to be justified, adopted, sanctified, and glorified by God. All the blessings that Jesus earned are endowed to those who are found in Him.
Baptized into Christ
Water baptism provides a beautiful picture of what it means to be placed into Christ. Romans 6:3-4 states, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Going under the water represents dying and being buried with Christ. Rising up pictures being resurrected into new life in Him. Baptism visually portrays the spiritual truth of being united with Jesus.
Abiding in Christ
While Christians are fully in Christ through their faith, Jesus emphasizes the need to actively abide in Him. As John 15:4 states, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” This speaks to the ongoing closeness to Christ that believers must pursue. As they walk in faith and obedience, read God’s Word, pray, fellowship with other Christians, live by the Spirit’s power, and partake of the sacraments, they enjoy a deepening connection with Jesus. This empowers them to bear spiritual fruit.
Eternally Secure in Christ
One of the greatest blessings of being united to Christ is the assurance of eternal security. Jesus proclaimed in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Christians are preserved in Christ, and nothing can separate them from His love (Romans 8:35-39). As Ephesians 1:13-14 declares, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” The Holy Spirit acts as a deposit to guarantee believers’ inheritance in Christ.
Reciprocated Love for Christ
As Christians dwell in Christ and experience His love, it evokes an abiding love for Him in return. Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ controls us.” Believers are compelled to love and live for the Savior who so loved them. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Love for Christ manifests through obedience to Him. One of the greatest marks of being in Christ is having genuine love for Him and seeking to please Him with one’s life.
Being Like Christ
The more Christians abide in Christ, the more they take on His character and likeness. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Gazing upon Christ’s glory transforms believers to become more like Him. Abiding in Christ involves an exceptional closeness that simulates His virtues in those joined to Him. So those in Christ walk as He walked (1 John 2:6), display the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and obey His Word.
Suffering with Christ
While union with Christ brings profound blessings, the New Testament also makes it clear that those in Christ will suffer with Him. Paul declared in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Jesus said those who follow Him must deny themselves and take up their cross (Luke 9:23). Just as Christ faced affliction during His ministry, so will His disciples. Yet they can endure suffering knowing it produces character, hope, and maturity in Christ (Romans 5:3-4). Suffering prepares them for the glory yet to come (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:17).
Heirs with Christ
The Bible describes Christians as “fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Since they are united to the Son of God, He grants them access to the magnificent inheritance He receives from the Father. Hebrews 1:2 tells us God has appointed Jesus as heir of all things. Those in Christ become “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” according to Romans 8:17. As adopted children of God (Ephesians 1:5), they become heirs to all the promises, spiritual blessings, and eternal life found in Christ (Titus 3:7). Believers will even reign with Christ in glory (2 Timothy 2:12).
Destined to be Like Christ
Not only do Christians receive a wonderful inheritance as those who are in Christ, but they are also destined to become like Him. 1 John 3:2 declares, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” Once glorified in heaven, believers will finally be made perfectly righteous like Christ with glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). What a marvelous hope for all those who are in Christ.
Secured by Christ
Christians can joyfully persevere in faith because Jesus keeps them securely in Himself. As Jude 1 affirms, believers are “kept for Jesus Christ.” No one can snatch them from Christ (John 10:28-29). Paul echoed this in 2 Timothy 1:12: “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” Those in Christ are safely guarded by His power. He will preserve all of them and present them faultless before God (Jude 24). What comfort it brings to know Christ securely holds believers in Him.
Living for Christ
The transforming power of being united to Christ motivates believers to fully devote their lives to Him. As His chosen people, holy and dearly loved, Christians are prompted to clothe themselves in Christ-like virtues (Colossians 3:12). They now live to bring praise and glory to the God who redeems and empowers them in Christ. As Paul testified in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Becoming a new creation in Christ reorients everything around Him.
Overcomers in Christ
Christians can victoriously overcome the darkness of this world because greater is He who is in them than anything in the world (1 John 4:4). United to the risen Christ, believers share in His authority and resurrection power that enables them to prevail (Ephesians 1:18-21). Revelation 12:11 declares, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” The evil one cannot overcome those abiding in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:18). Even in the midst of persecution, believers overwhelmingly conquer through Christ (Romans 8:37).
The Church in Christ
Every person who is joined to Christ is made a member of His church. This local and universal body of believers exists only because its members are first rooted in their life-giving Head, Christ (Colossians 2:19). As Ephesians 1:22-23 express, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” The church universal is the body of Christ, and He is the Head. The church finds its origin, life, authority, and unity in Him alone. All members experience community as fellow believers because of their mutual union with Christ.
Message of Christ
Those in Christ are entrusted with stewarding the gospel message that saved them and sharing it with others. As Christ dwelt among us, so His followers are now ambassadors of His message to the world (2 Corinthians 5:20). Paul summarized this in 1 Corinthians 2:2: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Preaching the historic gospel of salvation through faith in Christ alone is a sacred mission for every believer. This proclamation has power because Christ and the Spirit work through it (Romans 1:16). Being in Christ includes testifying about Him.
Prayer in Christ
Jesus provided access to communicate with God through prayer. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Praying in Jesus’ name means approaching God through faith and relying on Christ’s merits instead of our own (John 14:13-14). Christians have the privilege to pour out their hearts to their Father and find grace and help because they are in Christ. He makes their prayers acceptable to God.
Persevering in Christ
Abiding in Christ gives weary Christians the strength to press on in the faith. Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” As believers cling to Him in the ups and downs of life, Christ revives and renews them by the Spirit. Passages like Hebrews 12:1-3 instruct Christians to fix their eyes on Jesus as they run the race of faith. He inspires endurance even through struggles. No matter what arises, Christians can have joy and contentment in Christ (Philippians 4:11-13).
Hope in Christ
The wonder of being united with Christ fills believers with a living hope that sustains them. 1 Peter 1:3 praises God for causing Christians “to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This hope is lively and secure because it is anchored in the risen Christ. His resurrection guarantees Christians will also rise immortal one day. As 1 John 3:2-3 explains, this blessed hope purifies Christians and motivates them to live righteously in anticipation of Christ’s return.
In summary, being “in Christ” speaks to the special union, relationship, and blessings that Christians share with Jesus Christ through faith. This spiritual connection with their Savior transforms them fully into new creations destined to enjoy God’s love for eternity. What a glorious gift it is to be found in Christ!