In Christ Jesus

Mark Dunagan
09/09/12 - Sunday Morning

In Christ Jesus

In the first chapter of the Ephesian letter the apostle Paul repeats the expression, “in Christ Jesus”.  He speaks of people being faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1), being chosen in Him (1:4), grace being bestowed in Him (1:6), having redemption in Him (1:7), and of all things being summed up in Him (1:11).  Verse 3 basically sums all this up, when Paul says that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing “in Christ Jesus”.  Clearly, choosing to be "in Christ Jesus" is by far the most important decision a person could make in this life.  Before we look more deeply into the phrase “every spiritual blessing” let's first ask the more basic question "How does one get into Christ Jesus?"

“In Christ Jesus”:  The Steps

The Ephesian letter gives us a number of clues before we consider any of the other New Testament letters:

• These people had heard the gospel message (1:13).  Other passages in the gospels and the epistles likewise assert that hearing the gospel is the first step toward salvation (Mark 16:15; Romans 10:17).
• These Christians had believed the gospel (1:13; 2:8).  Other passages also stress the importance of faith in Christ's sacrifice by which we are forgiven (Mark 16:15; John 3:16; 8:24).
• These members had changed their lives (Ephesians 4:17).  Various other verses also reveal that repentance, the discontinuing of lifestyles and habits God has deemed as sinful. These changes are a necessary step toward salvation (Acts 2:38).
• These individuals had also been baptized.  Paul asserts that there is one very important and essential baptism (Ephesians 4:5), and by this baptism they had been made alive together with Christ and raised with Him (Ephesians 2:5-6).  This is the language that is clearly associated with the water baptism mentioned also in Colossians 2:12-13.

Galatians 3:26-27

This is a good passage to test our previous reasoning.  We concluded that hearing the gospel, faith and baptism are steps moving a person toward salvation or being “in Christ Jesus”.  This is exactly what Paul said in the above two verses.  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who where baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”.

Romans 6:3-5

Here is another set of passages that mention both baptism and being in Christ.  “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection”.

Observations

• Water baptism is the final step before one gets into Christ Jesus. Therefore, water baptism is essential for salvation, for water baptism stands between a person and all spiritual blessings.  Other passages agree that baptism is necessary for salvation (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
• When I submit to water baptism I am saying that I really believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose on the third day.
• Someone who wants to have a personal relationship with Jesus, will gladly submit to baptism, for you cannot get any more personal with Jesus then being buried with Him and being raised with Him.
• People who say you don’t have to be baptized to be saved are preventing people from being in Christ Jesus.

 “All Spiritual Blessings”

The rest of the chapter enumerates many of the spiritual blessings one obtains upon faithfully submitting to God's instructions to be "in Christ":

• Being adopted into God’s family: 1:5
• Being a recipient of God’s grace: 1:6
• Being redeemed by the blood of Christ: 1:7
• Being forgiven of all our trespasses: 1:7
• Learning about God’s will in the Scriptures: 1:9
• Having an inheritance in heaven: 1:11

Getting the Blessings in the Right Order

There are a couple of common mistakes we can make as we read this passage about having every spiritual blessing in Christ.

• First, we can think that all the spiritual blessings are in the future.  The reality is that many on the above list are blessings that we have been enjoying since our baptism.  Let's spend more time reveling and rejoicing in the fact that we have been forgiven.  We are presently a member of God’s family with all the benefits—Amazing!
• The other mistake is that we put the blessings in the wrong order.  That is, we put our physical blessings first and then put the spiritual blessings second.  In our head we know that we are saved, but we tend to concentrate on what we do or don’t have materially.  We say to ourselves, “I know I am saved, but I would really like to have a bigger…newer…more…”

Instead, we need to put the spiritual blessings first.  How wonderful the attitude of someone who put the spiritual blessings first:

• “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11). 
• “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity” (Philippians 4:12).
• “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (Ephesians 6:8).

The reason Paul could be content with humble means or mere food and covering is because if you think about all the spiritual blessings you have first, you will realize that even with the most humble circumstances, you are incredibly blessed and wealthy (James 1:9).  Even during the most dire of circumstances it's beyond wonderful to think, “Wow, I am a child of God, I am saved, I have a home in heaven, I get to be with God forever, and I have a roof over my head!”   The same goes for being able to handle prosperity.  Prosperity never caused Paul to lose his focus, because earthly prosperity cannot add anything to our spiritual wealth.  It does not mean that we are more favored, or more valuable and important to God. Rather, such earthly perks are to be received with gratitude.  Even still, although everyone gets one measure or another of the earthly stuff (Matthew 5:45), only those who are in Christ Jesus get the real valuable and lasting blessings. 

If He Was Content, Then Certain I Can Be Content

If Paul, in the First Century said that he could be content, while living without the countless things we enjoy, then you and I can certainly be content.

• I am saved—and I have air conditioning.
• I am saved—and I have chocolate.
• I am saved---and I have a washer and dryer.
• I am saved—and I have homemade tacos.

All Summed Up in Christ: Ephesians 1:10

What this passage is saying is that being “in Christ” is where it's at.  There is only place of reconciliation in the universe for all men (2:14,16; Colossians 1:20).   This means, if I am a Christian then I have truly found what this life is all about, and I am where I need to be.  I don’t have to worry about missing out, or missing my purpose or calling. If I am in Christ then everything else will naturally come together. But if you are not in Christ, then you are completely out of sync with the universe and God's purpose for creating you. Become in Christ today.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net