What Does the Bible Say About Being in Christ?

Before a person is saved, he is “in Adam”, but by believing in Jesus and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, he enters the kingdom of God and is “in Christ”. This means, on the one hand, that one comes to know Jesus by sharing in both his resurrection and suffering, but also that one is under the Lordship of Christ. In the future, the whole world will be placed under Jesus Christ’s authority, but already the one who is in Christ is a new creation and may begin to share in the future blessings of heaven.

Bible Verses

“²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Co 15:22)

“¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Co 5:17)

“¹There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Ro 8:1)

“³⁰And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” (1 Co 1:30)

“¹⁴But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.” (2 Co 3:14)

“²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ga 3:28)

“³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” (Eph 1:3)

“⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (Jn 15:7)

“²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Co 5:21)

“⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Eph 3:6)

“¹²Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Ti 3:12)

“¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Pe 5:10)

Study Questions

1. What does it mean to be “in Christ”?
2. Can the one who is in Christ use all spiritual gifts from the beginning?
3. What future blessings has Jesus brought into the present?
4. What does it mean to be a new creation?

Additional Bible Verses

Phil 1:1, Gal 2:4, Gal 5:6, Eph 1:10, Eph 2:13, Col 1:28, Phil 3:10, Rom 8:20-21