In Christ

Romans 8:11 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

      The Scriptures clearly teach that: (1) There must exist a union, connection, association, relationship between every saved person and the Lord Jesus Christ, and, (2) This relationship must transcend in importance all other unions, connections, or associations that man is capable of enjoying, both physical or spiritual, and, furthermore, (3) There is no exception to this truth.

      This relationship between the Saviour and a saved individual is represented in many Scriptural references by the phrase "in Christ," or, "in the Lord." Now what does this phrase "in Christ" mean? What does "in the Lord" mean?

      The scholar Thayer states concerning the phrase "in Christ": "Of a person to whom another is wholly joined and to whose power and influence he is subject, so that the former may be likened to the place in which the latter lives and moves. So used in the writings of Paul and of John particularly of intimate relationship with God or with Christ, and for the most part involving contextually the idea of power and blessing resulting from that union; . . . since such union with Christ is the basis on which actions and virtues rest, the expression is equivalent in meaning to by virtue of spiritual fellowship or union with Christ" (Greek-English Lexicon, p. 211).

      Our text is typical of the hundreds of passages throughout the New Testament that stress this union with Christ. Let us examine these passages briefly.

      The letter is written to saints, the separated and called out ones of God, to the "faithful in Christ Jesus" (v.1). Perhaps in this very first verse we have the key to our subject. These were "saints" but they were also the "faithful in Christ Jesus." One comes to God only through Christ, and one remains faithful to God by being faithful in Christ Jesus. Surely Jesus would never have said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father but by Me," if it were not true! (John 14:6).

      Next, Paul prays for grace and peace to be given these from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. True grace and peace can only come from God, and only through Christ.

      Then, thanks are given to God, the Father of the Lord for spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Where are these spiritual blessings in heavenly places? "In Christ," Paul says in verse 3. What are these blessings? First, that He, that is, God, has chosen us to be redeemed, brought back to His side as He had intended mankind to be from the beginning. He predetermined, Paul says, that we should be adopted as children, and that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. How was this adoption and this holiness possible? "By Jesus Christ," Paul says. And "it was according to the good pleasure of His will," Paul says. I get the impression that Paul is saying," Because he wanted to do it, He did it!"

      Next, Paul says what perhaps is the theme for the whole letter. "Praise his glorious grace!" Because of this grace He has made us "accepted." And, of course, it is "in the beloved," which, of course, is Christ. This acceptance requires our forgiveness and this He has provided. In Christ, Paul says, we have redemption and forgiveness of sins.

      Furthermore, God will gather together all His children, of all time, from all places, of all races, in "one." This is, of course, "in Christ" (v. 10).

      And we also have obtained an inheritance, and this is "in Christ" (v. 11).

      It is our firm conviction that, religiously speaking, the Scriptures teach that to be "in Christ" is everything. It is no exaggeration to say that if a person is "in Christ," nothing else in this world really matters. And to the contrary, if a man is not in Christ, all the world given as a gift will not make up what he has lost. What indeed can a man give in exchange for his soul?

      Brethren, are you aware of the multiplied blessings that the Holy Spirit tells us are given us in Christ? Let us consider a few of these:

      We are all justified in the "name of the Lord" (1 Cor. 6:11); our labor is not in vain "in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58); saints grow into a holy temple "in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21); saints are now light "in the Lord" (5:8); the promise of life is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:2); grace is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:1); wisdom unto salvation through faith is "in Christ Jesus" (3:15); redemption is "in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24); there is no condemnation to those "in Christ Jesus" (8:1); the law of the Spirit of life is "in Christ Jesus" (v. 2); neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is "in Christ Jesus our Lord" (8:38,39); we are sanctified "in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 1:2); we have liberty "in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 2:4); we are children of God by faith "in Christ Jesus" (3:26); we Gentiles who were far off are made nigh "in Christ Jesus" (2:13).

      The eternal purpose of God for us was "in Christ Jesus our Lord" (3:11); the prize of the high calling of God is "in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14); every man is presented perfect "in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1:28); we live, if we stand fast "in the Lord" (1 Thess. 3:8); servants become brethren beloved "in the Lord" )Phile. 6); the dead that die "in the Lord" are blessed (Rev. 14:13); it was predetermined that we be adopted as children of God "by Chris Jesus" (Eph. 1:10); the saved of every nation are gathered together in one "in Christ" (Eph. 1:10); we (Gentiles) are fellow heirs and partakers of the same promises as given to Jews, "in Christ" (3:6); our hope of glory is "Christ in us" (Col. 1:27); those who sleep "in Jesus" God will bring with him "(1 Thess. 4:3); "in Christ" all shall be made alive, or raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:22); we triumph "in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14); the veil that separates man from God is done away with "in Christ" (2 Cor. 3:14); where the "Spirit of the Lord" is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:7); if any man be "in Christ" he is created again, or given new life (2 Cor. 5:17); God is "in Christ," reconciling man to Himself (5:9); etc.

      No doubt there are other blessings stated to be reserved for those in the Lord," or "in Christ," but these are obvious, in addition to those stated in our text.

      It is interesting, in view of these and similar statements, that more preaching of this union with Christ is not done. To the contrary, it is interesting, and distressing that so much preaching about the merits of the “church,” as a corporate body is done. It is my believe that if as much attention had been given to emphasize Christ (as the New Testament surely does) as has been given to emphasize the corporate concept of the church, we would have far more spiritually minded saints and much more unity among believers. "Church" preaching often tends to divide; "Christ" preaching tends to unite.

Statement For Comparison

      There is always some ardent soul, well-meaning we do not doubt, who is offended when anything is said that might reflect unfavorably upon the institutional concept of the church. One such writer, an official of a Christian college, and front page writer for the brotherhood's largest paper (at that time), some years ago wrote the following. We offer it as but an example of how the emphasis can be given to the church. Perhaps he is saying the same thing we are now stressing, but the emphasis seems to be different.

"People all over the country are trying to make men and women believe that the church does not amount to anything and that it does not save anybody." (As he attempts to prove the opposite is true he states:)

      1.    "It is a reflection upon Christ when we say that His church is not worth anything."

      2.    "You get what you pay for. When we give a sum of money for something we expect to get value received. Christ gave himself for it, the church. If the church is worth nothing then Jesus gave Himself for nothing. Whatever His church is worth, he is worth. He gave his life for the church so whatever His life is worth the church is worth. He purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28), so whatever His blood is worth the church is worth.

      3.    "Don't let a man keep you from obeying the gospel and out of the church of the living God. Anything else you can do never will save your soul. Pay no mind to anything else man tells you to do. Get in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, for which he gave Himself and every drop of blood in His body, and begin to work there, and beware of the philosophy and traditions of men. Don't let anything beguile you from it."

      Many will probably applaud this statement, giving only superficial thought to it. But if you are truly sincere, and love the truth, you will reject it because it does not speak the truth. Stop for a moment and think. Let's examine what is being said.

      First, I know of no one who is saying that "the church is not worth anything." The saints, the saved, the children of God are worth everything to God. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." Apparently the church, His children, amounts to a lot. Our brother is confused about the difference between the church and the saved, which are essentially, totally, and completely one and the same. The saints are not "in the church"; the saints are the church.

      Furthermore, it is Christ who saves, not the church. The church is the saved. There is a difference between the Saviour, Christ, and the saved ones, the church. Christ saves, not the church.

      Next, our brother resorts to an emotional appeal and exaggerates somewhat about the blood of Christ. It is true that Jesus shed His blood, which figuratively means that He died, and for our sins on the cross. He did not shed “every drop of blood in His body," or at least there is no evidence that He did. He did not have to, in order to die. This language is an apparent attempt to win support through emotion rather than through reason.

      Our brother refers to the "philosophy and traditions of men," and letting someone "beguile you," which is rather obviously a reference to Paul's letter to the Colossian saints. He suggests that one is being beguiled if they do not accept his premise. Let us study these references together.

      In these passages from Colossians 2, Paul speaks of Christ "in whom" he says, "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words" (2:3,4). Apparently there were those who were beguiling the Colossians with enticing words.

      What were these things, about which the saints in Colosse were being beguiled? We can not be certain, but Paul warns: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (v. 8). They were being beguiled by certain philosophies of men, made to appear as logical, reasonable, and good, but were not according "to Christ."

      How could they resist these appeals? Listen to Paul: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him (note -- in Him): rooted and built up in him (note -- in Him), and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving . . . for in Him (note -- in Him) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him (note -- in Him)" (vs. 6-10).

      We notice that it is "Christ that is emphasized in all these passages. And yet our brother is urging, in order to not be beguiled, and carried off by the "philosophy and traditions of men," to "get in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ." "Anything else you can do," he says, "never will save your soul. Pay no mind to anything else man tells you to do."

      We leave it to intelligent and sincere readers as to who is beguiling. Our brother would do well to say that they ought to beware the philosophy and traditions of men that do not exalt, honor, emphasize, include, and teach acceptance of Christ. The New Testament obviously does! Paul obviously does! His letter to the Colossians obviously does! Study it and see for yourself.

-- Hank Tankersley