The BIG Picture (Study)

What does it REALLY mean to be 'In Christ'? According to 2 Corinthians 5:17 , when you hear the Gospel and respond positively to the faith that wells up inside you, and you call upon God, ---in that moment you are sealed into the body of Christ (in Christ) by the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor.12:13 ) and you become a new creation ( or a new creature, KJV  2 Cor.5:17 ). But, notice the word "if" in the verse. This makes it conditional! It is only if we are in Christ that we are a new creation ! In order to understand what " a new creation " means, we need to dig into what is means to be " in Christ ". Note these two Key Concepts ( *positional reality and *description ) Being "In Christ" is a positional reality . When you respond to the grace gospel and become 'saved', in that instant, you are created as a new being and are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and are perfect before God. Being "In ...

Points to note regarding the above quote: We are placed 'in Christ' when we respond in faith to the grace gospel and are saved. This quote only references who we are 'In Christ' (which defines our perfect positional stance before God). This quote does not reference our earthly condition, in our flesh, which is still under sin. This is where 'Christ in us' systematically sanctifies us, transforming us daily by His Word and Spirit to increased righteousness and holiness. We deal with this detail in other posts. Click here for more on the topic

Q-A: What does it REALLY mean to be 'In Christ'? Read the shaded verses below slowly and carefully and then compare the first two verses to the last three. There is a HUGE difference in how Paul describes the believers at Corinth. 1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God —and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — 1 Cor 3:3 ... for you are still carnal . For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 1 Cor 5:1 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you , and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! 1 Cor 5:2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done th...