In Christ...The Place Where Everyone Needs To Be!
Introduction:
A. As you go through life there are people who will try to convince
you that you need to be in certain places.
1. The realtor is going to try to convince you that you need to
be in a house they have on the market.
2. When high school graduates get out of school, there will be
colleges, and universities that will try to convince them that
they need to be in their college or university.
3. If you have special skills, abilities, or education, certain
businesses may try to convince you that you need to be in
their company.
4. Odds are they are trying to convince you to be in these things
because it will benefit them in some way.
B. There is one place, however, that all men need to be, and they
need to be in this place for their own good.
1. That place is "in Christ."
2. The phrase "in Christ" appears in the N.T. at least 50 times.
3. It appears several times in the book of Ephesians, and that is
going to be the basis of our lesson today.
Let's consider what the book of Ephesians has to say about being
"in Christ," and you decide for yourself if that is where you need to be.
I. Who is "in Christ?"
A. The recipients of this letter were "in Christ (1)."
1. The recipients were Ephesians.
a. Ephesis is where they lived.
b. Ephesis was a very idolatrous place.
c. It was the center of worship for the godess Diana.
2. Not only were they Ephesians, they were saints.
a. Saints = set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His.
b. This word is used many times in the N.T. to describe christians.
c. So they were Ephesian christians.
3. They were also "faithful in Christ."
a. They were ones who faithfully carried out the commands
of their Lord, and master Jesus Christ.
b. At one time they walked in the ways of the world, but now
they were following Christ - Ephesians 2:1-2.
c. They were His workmanship, and were doing the good
works God would have them walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
B. The N.T. applies the phrase "in Christ" to:
1. The Corinthians.
a. I Corinthians 1:1-2.
b. I Corinthians 16:24.
2. The churches of Judea (Galatians 1:22).
a. The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem, and then in Judea,
Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).
b. When Paul began preaching he was unknown to these churches
3. The Colossians.
a. Colossians 1:2.
b. Paul calls them "faithful brethren."
c. Brethren is another word used to describe christians.
4. Therefore we could say that all christians are "in Christ."
a. The phrase "in Christ", in the N.T., is only applied to christians.
b. Paul is writing to the christian Ephesus who were "in Christ."
II. What did being "in Christ" do for them?
A. It gave them "all spiritual blessings" (1:3).
1. What are spiritual blessings?
a. Being holy and without blame before Him in Love (1:4).
b. Being adopted as children of God (1:5).
c. Being accepted in the beloved (1:6).
d. Having redemption..the forgiveness of sins (1:7).
e. An inheritance (1:11).
2. Summing up all of these things, we could put it this way.
By being in Christ we have the blessing of having our
sins forgiven, so that we can stand before Him holy,
and w/o blame. Also, by being in Him, we are His
children, and He loves us dearly. Thanks to the great
love He has for us we need not worry. Not in this life, for
He has promised to provide for us. More importantly,
we need not worry about what is going to happen after
this life, for He has also promised us a home in heaven,
where we shall receive that inheritance, and be able to
enjoy it for all eternity.
B. But, that is not all that the N.T. says comes with being in Christ.
1. By being in Christ we...
a. Are sanctified in Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 1:2).
1) Cleansed, purified, set apart from things defiled.
b. Are new creatures - II Corinthians 5:17.
1) We are no longer the people we once were. As new
creatures we have died to our old way of life, and now
strive to live as children of God.
c. Have no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
1) The sinful things we have done are forgiven, and now
we are striving to imitate Christ, through whom we
owe that forgiveness.
2) When we fail, and fall short we still can be forgiven, by
repenting, and asking for forgiveness.
3) Therefore, there is no condemnation...but forgiveness
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2. By understanding all that we have in Christ...
a. We have boldness and access w/confidence - Ephesians 3:12.
b. We can be at peace (I Peter 5:14).
c. We can triumph (II Corinthians 2:14).
d. We can look forward to the time when Christ returns, and
we will join the dead in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
3. It is important to realize "All Spiritual" blessings are in Christ.
a. That is what Paul says (Ephesians 1:3).
b. If All Spiritual Blessings are IN CHRIST, there is none
outside of Christ.
III. How does one get "in Christ?"
A. Paul told the Ephesians...
1. He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and w/o blame before him in love (1:4).
a. Who had chosen them in Him?
b. How had He chosen them?
c. Was there anything they had to do?
2. God had chosen them.
a. The preposition "he" goes all the way back to 1:3 where it
says "Blessed be the God and Father..."
b. He had chosen them before the foundation of the world:
1) God had a plan of salvation from all eternity - Eph.3:10-11.
2) His plan was to send His Son to die, so that all mankind
can be holy, and w/o blame before Him in love.
3) Those who obey what He requires can have the forgiveness
of their sins (be holy, and w/o blame) (Hebrews 5:9).
c. Therefore, they were chosen by their obedience to God's
plan, that they might be holy, and w/o blame.
d. You might compare it to a grant, or scholarship fund. A
person could set up a fund to help young people go to college.
But, he may CHOOSE to help those who meet certain criteria.
By doing so he does not choose each and every individual, but
he chooses the means whereby they can receive the help.
e. God has chosen us by our obedience to his requirements.
B. There are other verses that explain how to get in Christ.
1. I Corinthians 4:15.
a. They had been begotten in Christ by the gospel.
b. Paul had preached the gospel to the Corinthians. They:
heard it; and obeyed it, and in so doing were in Christ.
c. We get in Christ by the hearing and obeying of the gospel.
2. Ephesians 3:6.
a. The gentiles, which included the Ephesians, were: fellowheirs,
of the same body, and partakers of the promises "in Christ,"
BY THE GOSPEL.
b. The gospel gives the evidence we need to believe that Jesus
is the Christ, and tells us what we must do to be in Him.
3. Galatians 3:26-27.
a. Verse 26 points out the necessity of faith.
b. Verse 27 shows that we are baptized into Christ, and put
on Christ.
4. You might compare it to following directions in a hospital.
a. Most hospitals are like a maze, and to find where you
want to go requires directions.
b. If you enter the front door, and you go to the information
desk, and ask them for directions to radiology, they may
tell you...go down this hall, turn right, take the elevator to
the third floor, go through the double doors, and hang a
left at the desk. If you follow those directions, you will
be "in radiology."
c. Similarly, God has told us how to get "in Christ" where
all spiritual blessings are found. If we do what God says
we will be "in Christ."
5. What does He require of us to have the forgiveness of sin
that is in Christ Jesus?
a. Believe - Mark 16:16.
b. Repent - Acts 17:30.
c. Confess - Romans 10:10.
d. Baptized - Acts 2:38.
Conclusion:
A. Everyone needs to be "in Christ."
1. All spiritual blessings are in Christ.
2. One of the blessings is the forgiveness of sins.
3. Therefore, only those "in Christ" have the forgiveness of sins.
B. Are you "in Christ?"
1. God has told us what we must do to be in Christ.
2. If you have not done those things, you need to do so, and there
is no time like the present.