Sermon Tone Analysis

What Does It Mean

to be "IN CHRIST"?

1. Mankind can be divided into two groups:

1) those outside of Christ (; );

2) those who are "IN CHRIST" (; ).

2. In connection with man's first birth he is "IN ADAM" () and he is part of the old creation that was spoiled by the fall.

In connection with man's second birth () he is "IN CHRIST" () and part of the new creation ().

3. Key passages:

1) (my new position);

2) (my spiritual blessings);

3) (my abundant wealth).

4. How did I get to be "IN CHRIST"?

How did this happen to me?

How did this come about?

Man's Part = FAITH ()

God's Part= BAPTISM ().

When I was saved

God baptized me (immersed me) into Jesus Christ.

This baptism is not water baptism.

It is a real baptism (Spirit Baptist) that happened the moment I was saved as God immersed me or placed me into His Son, thus IDENTIFYING me with Christ.

This is my POSITION, and my STANDING.

5. WHO AM I? WHAT AM I?

IN CHRIST...

I am a new creature (; cf. ; ; ).

I am a saint ().

I am a part of His Church ().

I am a temple for God's Spirit ().

I am in the eternal plan of God (; ).

I am complete and filled full with the fullness of Christ (; and compare ).

I am enriched ().

I am accepted because God's favor has been poured out upon me ().

I am light ().

I am secure in the love of God ().

I am established, rooted and built up (; ).

I am circumcised inwardly ().

I am near to the heart of God ().

MY RESPONSIBILITY IN LIGHT OF THESE FACTS:

By faith I must reckon that it is so!

I must see myself as God sees me!

6. WHAT DO I HAVE?

WHAT DO I POSSESS?

IN CHRIST...

I have every spiritual blessing ().

I have eternal life, an eternal relationship with God (; and where "through" could be translated "in").

I have a glorious salvation ().

I have a rich inheritance (; cf. ; ).

I have a glorious future ().

I have a heavenly position—seated with Him! ().

I have a high calling ().

I have the hope of eternal glory ( where "by" = "in").

I have God's perfect righteousness (; ; ).

I have sanctification or holiness (; ; ).

I have God's wisdom (; cf. and ).

I have redemption or freedom from bondage (; ; ; ).

I have security ().

I have complete forgiveness (; ; --"washed").

MY RESPONSIBILITY IN LIGHT OF THESE FACTS:

By faith I must possess my possessions and enjoy (claim) my riches!

7. PRACTICAL MATTERS

IN CHRIST...

I walk and live ().

I stand fast and firm ().

I have constant victory ().

I am fruitful (; ).

I can do all things ().

I can draw near to God (,).

I have all that I need; every need is supplied ( "by"="in").

I can rejoice always (; ).

I have a purifying hope ().

I am strong (; ).

I am faithful ().

I have faith and love ().

I can be mature ().

MY RESPONSIBILITY IN LIGHT OF THESE THINGS:

By faith may I so walk and live ()!

"IN CHRIST"

[from Truth for Believers, Vol.

II, pp.

29-36]

by

J. A. Trench

(Of the early Plymouth Brethren)

(Of the early Plymouth Brethren)

In seeking the light of Scripture as to what the expression, "in Christ," conveys, it is important to bear in mind that the starting-point of Christianity was Christ as man taking a new place on high consequent on the work of redemption having been accomplished.

"In Christ" sets forth this place as that of everyone who believes God as to the value of the work on the ground of which Christ has taken His place on high.

By that work He has won the title in righteousness to set every believer in His place, in life, righteousness, and perfect acceptance before God.

In Christ is found the new character of the Christian's life as possessed in Him.

It is life such as it never existed before, in a risen Man, past every question of sin, death, the judgment of God, and the power of Satan.

Then again it expresses the righteousness in which the believer stands: "He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him."

(.) Nor is it otherwise with our acceptance; for "to the praise of the glory of his grace he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

(.)

And in one all-inclusive statement () we are in Him—"complete in him "—who also as the exalted Man on high is above all principality and power.

Further, we learn from the Lord, in , that it was to be the characteristic portion of the believer, when the Spirit was come, to know that Christ was in the Father, and we in Him, and He in us.

But there are two ways in which this new and wonderful position of the Christian is presented to us in the Bible.

First, as we have been looking at it, objectively; that is, as revealed to the opened eye of faith in all the perfection of it in Christ risen and glorified.

Then in the ways of God with us in order that we may enter into the position subjectively; that is, so as to be consciously in our own souls in all the blessedness of the position of Christ before God.

For the deeply interesting study of these ways of God with us we naturally turn to the epistle to the Romans, where are found the great foundation truths of how God, in grace that reigns through righteousness, can take up a poor sinner into relationships with Himself.

Our place in Christ comes first fully into view in chapter viii.

1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ."

Much had gone before in the epistle to lead up to such a statement—much that is needed for our souls in order to enter into it intelligently.

"No condemnation" does not merely express that I am justified, but that being in Christ I am in all the impossibility of condemnation for Him.

No wave of judgment could reach Noah shut in by the Lord in the ark.