CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING CHRISTIANS (PART 1)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)  

Introduction:  This is one of the most important verses in the Bible to show the changes that take place when a sinner becomes a Christian.  All Christians are in Christ – II Cor. 5:17a, All Christians are new Creatures – II Cor. 5:17b, All Christians have new Customs – II Cor. 5:17c.

During the last fifty years or so many Christian workers have asked my opinion about the salvation of some particular person.  A college president even sent a Bible College student to attend our church to see if we could clarify the issue of salvation in his mind.  The young man vehemently insisted he was sure of his salvation, but everything about his life style caused all who knew him to doubt that he had been born again.

The three principles which I mentioned above are what I have used to clarify what it means to be converted.  (cf. Ps. 19:7; Mt. 18:3; Acts 3:19; James 5:19-20)  The first is “All Christians are in Christ.”   I want a person to clearly understand what the precious phrase “in Christ” really means in the Scriptures. 

   I. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE IN CHRIST – II Corinthians 5:17a

“Therefore if any man be in Christ” (5:17a).

(Rom 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

(Rom 8:2) “ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

(1 Cor 1:30)  “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

(Gal 3:28)  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

(Gal 5:6)  “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

(Gal 6:1)  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

(Col 1 :28)  “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

(Eph 1:3–4) “ ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: “  ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

       (2 Tim 2:10)  “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the              salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

(Col 2:6–7)  “⁶As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷ Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

(1 Jn 2:5)  “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

(1 Jn 2:15)  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

 (1 Jn 2:27)  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

(1 Jn 3:5-6)  “⁵And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not [does not practice sin (cf. I Jn 3:9 ESV)]: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”

(1 Jn 3:9)  “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin [does not practice sin]; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (cf. I Jn 3:9 ESV)

(1 Jn 3:24)  “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

(1 Jn 4:13-16)  “¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

(1 Jn 5:14)  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

The Apostle Paul often uses the term “in Christ” to identify his coworkers and other Christians to whom he writes:

(Eph 1:1)  “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

(Phil 1:1)  “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”

(Phil 4:21) “Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.”

(Col 1:2)  “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Phil 1:23)  “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus.”

(Rom 16:3) “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.”

(Rom 16:7)  “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

(Rom 16:8)  “Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.”

(Rom 16:11)  “Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. “

(Rom 16:12)  “Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.”

Let me explain what “in Christ” means from another angle. Some have said that you can’t explain the meaning of”in Christ” without teaching on inness.  So let us turn to 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”  Notice the use of the phrases “in Christ” and “Jesus Christ in you.”  This is what some scholars refer to as the teaching on inness.  We could give this a separate title: THE CHRISTIAN IS IN CHRIST.

(1) Being “in Christ” means being “in the faith” – 2 Cor 13:5a

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (13:5a).

A Christian follows the fundamentals of the faith—follows the teaching of Scripture.

(2) Being “in Christ” means having forgiveness  - 2 Cor 13:5b

“Prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (13:5b).   (A reprobate does not have forgiveness, but the redeemed have forgivemess.)

(Ti 1:16)  “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

(3) Being “in Christ” means being in the fellowship – 2 Cor 13:5c

“In Christ” means the person has communion with Christ.  (cf. I Jn 1:3)  The same Christian “in Christ” congregates with other Christians.  (cf. Heb 10:25)

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth”  

(1 John 1:6).

Conclusion: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).  

In my years of ministry I have used the principles I am giving in these three messages.  I would appreciate any constructive criticism or comments.