Articles
Are You In Christ?
The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and said, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Loud Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, emp LS). For the past few weeks we found these "spiritual blessings...in Christ" in our study of God's Word:
1. Redemption - (Romans 3:24)
2. Sanctification - (I Corinthians 1:2)
3. Reconciliation - (II Corinthians 5:19)
4. Justification - (Galatians 2:16)
5. Alive to God - (Romans 6:11)
6. No Condemnation - (Romans 8:1)
7. Promise of Life Eternal - (II Timothy 1:1)
8. Salvation - (II Timothy 2:10)
9. Forgiveness - (Ephesians 4:32)
10. Sons of God - (Galatians 3:26)
The verbally inspired Word teaches us that being "in Christ" is the key to having "all spiritual blessings". How does one get "in Christ"?
Paul told the Ephesians (who were Gentiles) that "the mystery of Christ" had been revealed unto him, and that “mystery” was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul added, "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6, emp LS). How were the Gentiles going to be "partakers of his promise in Christ"? Paul says, "by the gospel".
The gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ Paul says, "I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:1-4). When one hears the gospel of Jesus Christ, one hears about what Christ did so that we might have "all spiritual blessings...in Christ".
When Philip "preached unto him Jesus", the Eunuch asked, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized" (Acts 8:36)? Why did the Eunuch ask to be baptized? When one is taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, he learns that Jesus commands "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Those that hear God's word; believe it (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6); repent of their sins (Acts 2:38); confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-37); and are also baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38); then, and only then, have "all spiritual blessings...in Christ".
Why be baptized? "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26, emp LS). Baptism puts one "in Christ" where "all spiritual blessings" are (Ephesians 1:3). Are you "in Christ"?
