What Is In Christ?

Q: What does the Bible say about being in Christ?

The Bible teaches that being in Christ means complete safety, salvation, and unity with Him. The concept of being 'in Christ' is foundational to understanding salvation in the Christian faith. In John 16:33, Jesus emphasizes that peace is found in Him, indicating that true safety and completeness come only through our union with Christ. This idea is exemplified through the Old Testament illustrations of Noah's Ark, where those inside were saved from the flood, just as believers in Christ are saved from God's wrath. Furthermore, Paul illustrates this in his epistles, such as Colossians 2:10, which states that believers are complete in Him, lacking nothing and sharing in His righteousness, love, and eternal purpose. Therefore, being in Christ signifies a place of safety and fulfillment.

Q: How do we know that Christ has overcome the world?

Jesus assures us in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world, offering believers peace amid tribulations. In John 16:33, Jesus provides reassurance to His disciples, stating, 'In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' This declaration is rooted in Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness through His crucifixion and resurrection. It affirms that His work on the cross provides believers with the triumph over their struggles and trials. Additionally, Romans 8:37 declares that believers are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, thus reinforcing the truth that our victory is secured in Christ. As we face difficulties, we can have confidence that His overcoming the world also grants us peace and assurance in our faith.

Q: Why is the concept of being in Christ important for Christians?

Being in Christ is essential for Christians as it signifies union with Him, righteousness, and complete salvation. The importance of being in Christ is a central theme in Reformed theology, particularly emphasizing the believer's union with Jesus as the cornerstone of faith. In Christ, as described in Ephesians 1:4, believers are chosen before the foundation of the world, highlighting the divine initiative in salvation. Being in Christ means that His righteousness is credited to the believer (2 Corinthians 5:21), which is crucial for justification and acceptance before God. Furthermore, as noted in Colossians 2:3, it is in Christ that all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found, guiding believers in their spiritual journey. Thus, this union encapsulates the essence of the gospel, providing hope, assurance, and purpose for every Christian's life.

I've entitled this message, What is in Christ? The Lord says in verse 33, these things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. What is in Christ? Verse 29, his disciples said unto him, lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no Proverbs?

Now are we sure that thou knowest all things. The implication being they weren't sure about this until now. And neither is not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Now you're speaking plainly. Was there ever a time when he didn't? Look back in John chapter 10. Verse 24, then came the Jews round about him and said unto him, how long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you. And you believed not.

The works that I do in my Father's name They bear witness of me. He raised the dead. He controlled the weather. He suspended the law of physics when he walked on the water. He created matter, brought matter into the universe that hadn't been there before. His works said he is who he said he is.

I told you, plainly, back to John chapter 16, his disciples said unto him, and I really believe there's a measure of disrespect in this. Now we believe. You've got us convinced now. We weren't before, but now we're sure. Should they not have been sure before this? Now we have sufficient evidence to believe. Now we believe your claims. You now have our affirmation. The faith being spoken of here is not saving faith. The Lord did say, do you now believe? You say you believe. Do you really? It's knowledge. based on perceived evidence. That's not saving faith. Saving faith is when Christ reveals himself to you and you believe. This is them weighing the evidence.

Now we're sure this is no different than the faith spoken of in John chapter 12, if you'll turn with me there. Verse 42, nevertheless, among the chief rulers, also many believed on him. But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. This is not saving faith. It's faith based upon what you perceive you know.

Now back to John chapter 16. Listen to the words of his disciples. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb, now are we sure that thou knowest all things. You proved it to us. We have sufficient evidence that it's true. And thou needest not that any man should ask thee.

By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, do you now believe? I know you say you do. Do you now believe? I hope every one of us will give thought to this. as if the Lord said this to us. Do you now believe? Verse 32. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own and shall leave me alone. You're talking big. Oh, we believe. You're going to Flee for your lives. You're not going to be around.

You're going to be scattered, just as the prophet said in Zechariah chapter 13. Behold, I'm going to smite the shepherd against him that is my fellow. Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. You're going to deserve me and leave me alone. You're talking big. Here's what you're going to do. You're going to deserve me. and you're going to leave me. You're going to forsake me.

And they all did. They all did. Yet, I'm not alone because the Father is with me. These things, verse 33, have I spoken unto you. I think that we could say everything he ever said, but he's speaking specifically of what he said in John chapter 13 through 16, his last address to his disciples. It's all in these three chapters. Chapter 17, he prays for his people, but he knows he's going to be crucified the next day. They don't know it, but he does. And he's giving them his parting instructions. And notice how he says, these things have I spoken unto you, verse 33, that in me you might have peace. I think this is analogous to John chapter 14, verse 1, after he told them, you're all going to forsake me, leave me.

Peter, you're going to deny that you even know me. Let not your heart be troubled. Isn't that amazing? You're gonna deny that you even know me. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. Now that's pretty much the same thing.

He's saying here, these things that I've spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. It's not your faith that'll give you peace. It's not your knowledge that'll give you peace. It's not your courage that'll give you peace. These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace.

In the world, You're going to have trouble. You're going to have trial. You're going to have tribulation. You're going to have pressure. There's going to be all kinds of things that are coming at you from every side. But these things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world, you're going to have tribulation. You're going to have trouble. Write it down. But be of good cheer. have overcome the world. Let me repeat my title.

What is in Christ? He said, these things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. What is in Christ? The Son of David, the Son of Mary, the Son of God. What is in Christ? Let me point this out, in Christ is a place. In Christ is a place. In me, you might have peace. Now first, what is meant by in Christ? These things have I spoken unto you that in me, you might have peace. What is meant by this concept in Christ?

Well, we're given many illustrations of it, particularly in the Old Testament. The first thing that comes to my mind is Noah's Ark. Noah's Ark is Christ. The wrath of God came down on Noah's Ark. The rain came. Everybody in the Ark was saved. Everyone, without exception, outside of the Ark was doomed to destruction, drowned, and damned. All of God's salvation is in Christ Jesus the Lord. How safe were those people, those eight souls in the ark? Oh, they were completely safe.

What about that house with the blood over the door? You were to be in the house. If you were outside of the house, the firstborn died. If you are inside of the house, you are safe. God said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Now, I want to be in the house, don't you? That's the only place of safety. I've said this so many times, I wouldn't want to stick a finger out the window. I just want to be in the house with the blood over the door. That's what Paul meant when he said, oh, that I may win Christ and be found in Him.

My favorite illustration is found in Hebrews chapter seven. If you'll turn with me there, hold your finger in John 16, Hebrews chapter seven, verse nine. And as I may say, so say Levi, the great grandson of Abraham. who was not yet born. Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. Now he wasn't born, but he was in the loins of Abraham, and whatever Abraham did, he did.

Now this is what it means to be in Christ. If you're in Him, what He did, You did. The place is in Christ. My only hope is being in Him. He said to John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 3 verse 15, thus it becometh us. Who's meant by us? Just John the Baptist? No, every believer. Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Christ did what he did as an us. and everybody he did it for, when he fulfilled righteousness, they did too. Now do you see how important this concept of being in Christ is? We're given an example in this speech turned to John chapter 15.

I am the true vine, verse one. This is part of this last discourse I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman, every branch in me. Now, think of the vine and the branches. Here we have the vine, the branches extending out, the same stem that is in the vine, is in the branches. There's no connecting point. That is how real union with Christ is. I'm one with him. The same steam going through the vine goes through the branches. No connecting point.

Hebrews 2.11, the Lord said, both he that sanctifyeth and they who are sanctified are all of one. Not close together. touching each other, one.

For the witch calls, he's not ashamed to call them brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call me, that's my brother. As the father loved me, that's how he loved him. There's nothing for him to be ashamed of. I'm ashamed of myself, but he's not ashamed of me. because there's nothing to be ashamed of, because I am one with Him in Christ. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.

Of Him, 1 Corinthians 1.30, of Him, Are you in Christ Jesus? Now somebody says, how can I know if I'm in Christ?

Not everybody is in Christ. There is a place, and I want to say this with a broken heart, and I want to say this in fear and trembling, but there is a place called hell. And it's a place where God's wrath comes down on all those outside of Christ. Not everybody's in Christ. Now if everybody, if there's no hell, I guess you could say everybody's in Christ, but there is a hell. where people will suffer the wrath of God.

So how can I know if I am in Christ? There's one evidence, faith. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God? Do you believe he's God's Christ, God's prophet, God's priest, God's king? Faith is believing who He is. And I tell you what, if you believe who He is, you will be trusting Him. If you don't trust Him, it's because you don't believe who He is. But if you believe who He is, you will trust Him.

That's the evidence of being in Christ. Now here's the concept. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me, this place, in me, you might have peace. Now what is in Jesus Christ? Let me give you some scriptures. Colossians chapter two, verses nine and 10 says, in him, in this man dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead. All the fullness of God. Every attribute of God, His omnipresence dwells in the body of Christ.

Somebody says, how could that be possible? If He's in a body, how's omnipresence being everywhere at once in Him? Well, He said to the disciples who were looking at Him, He said, no man's sins up to heaven but he that is in heaven. I'm in heaven right now. Can I explain that? No. Do I believe it with all my heart?

The fullness of sovereignty. His will is always done. The fullness of omnipotence. He's all-powerful. The fullness of independence. He has no needs. The fullness of immutability. He never changes. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. All that God is dwells in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what's in Christ. all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And the next verse says, and you are complete in Him. Guess who else is in Christ? You. Every believer without exception. You are in Him. You are complete. Nothing lacking in Him.

Colossians 2, 3 says, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In Christ is God's eternal purpose. Ephesians 3 11, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord before the world began, God had a purpose. Romans 8, 28 says, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are thee called according to his purpose. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works. There's God's purpose. Aren't you thankful it's that way? That salvation might not be of works.

Him that calleth." His Son, Jesus Christ, is His eternal purpose. He's the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence, for please the Father, that in Him should all fullness dwell. What's in Jesus Christ?

The love of God. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. God cannot not love Christ. God cannot love those in Christ. Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me. We sing the song, I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. I still wonder about it, but I do know how, because I'm in Christ. That's where all of God's love, that's where all of God's favor is. God loves you because you're in his son. His son is altogether lovely. In him, you are altogether lovely.

Christ is God's choice. Ephesians 1, 4, according as he hath chosen us in him. Don't ever try to separate election from the person of Jesus Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. What's in God's, what is in Christ? All of God's trust. I want you to be turning to Genesis chapter 42. And while you're turning there, I want to quote Ephesians 1, 12 to you. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. Who's the first person to trust in Christ? God. And what does that mean?

Genesis 42, now this is when Jacob is so upset about Benjamin, and he does not want to send Benjamin to Egypt. Verse 37 of Genesis 42. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee. Now think about that. If I don't bring him to you, kill your grandsons.

Oh, Reuben, brilliant. I love what Jacob said about Reuben. He said, unstable as water, thou shalt not excel. So good old Reuben, this unstable man that had some issues. I'm gonna give my son to let you kill him if I don't bring him back. You know, I mean, it just, you know. I love Jacob's response. Verse 38, and he said, my son's not gonna go down with you. He doesn't trust him for a second.

Verse 43, And the famine was sore in the land, and it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, and buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we'll go down, by the food. But if thou will not send him, we'll not go down. For the man said unto us, you shall not see my face except your brother be with you.

And Israel said, wherefore have you dealt so ill with me as to tell the man whether you had a brother? And they said, well, the man asked us straightly of our state and of our kindred, saying, is your father yet alive? Have you another brother? And we told him, according to the tenor of these words, could we certainly know? He would say, bring your brother down.

And Judah said unto Israel, who did Christ come from? Which tribe? Judah. The lion of the tribe of Judah. Now Judah speaks to Israel. Remember Benjamin said, send him down with me. He ain't going with you. Now Judah speaks. And Judah said unto Israel, his father, send the lad with me, and we will arise and go. I think that's a reference to the resurrection. We will arise and go that we may live and not die, both we and thou and also our little ones.

I will be surety for him. I will be the guarantee of his return. Do you know the Lord said that about you? I will be surety for every one of my people. I will be surety for him of my hand, shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee and set him before thee, let me bear the blame forever.

What's in Christ? He's my eternal surety. All of God's trust. The Father trusted Christ to save me. He's the first one to trust Christ. And when He trusted Christ to save me, did He look for anything out of me? No. All in my surety. And you know that one the Father trusts is the one I trust. And I trust Him the way the Father trusts Him. The Father trusted Him for everything. I trust Him for everything. What's in Christ? The Father's trust.

Listen to this scripture, 1 Corinthians 1.30. Of Him are you in Christ Jesus. What a place to be. Accepted in the Beloved of Him. Are you in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us?

Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. What's in Christ? Wisdom. I have the very wisdom of God. What's in Christ? Righteousness. I have the righteousness of God. What's in Christ? Holiness, sanctification. I'm holy in Christ. What's in Christ? Redemption, complete deliverance. What's in Christ?

The forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1 7 says, In whom? We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. All my sins have been blotted out in Christ. And here's why. 1 John 3, verse 5 says, in Him is no sin. If I'm in Him, I have no sin. Sinless in Him. What's in Christ?

Much fruit. He that abideth me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. You see, in Christ is the object of our faith. My faith is not the object of my faith. In Christ is the object of my faith. All God requires of me is in Christ, and he is who I am.

Hoping in, now notice what he says in our text. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. Peace. And he is speaking of the same peace that Paul referred to in Romans chapter five, verse one, when he said, therefore being justified. By faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, if I'm justified, I stand before God having never committed a sin, having perfect righteousness. I hate it when preachers say, well, justification's a legal term. Well, I guess it is, but it's more than that. It's not just me being legally accounted justified before God. It's me being justified before God, standing without guilt, without sin.

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God objectively because He's at peace with us. He's not mad. He's perfectly satisfied, at perfect peace with me through the Lord Jesus Christ. And the peace that I have objectively is because of the peace He has with me. the peace I have subjectively, not whatever feeling of peace or whatever it is. Here's why, because he's at peace with me. He made my peace. He is our peace.

Now, he says, these things have I spoken unto you that in me, you get that? In me, not in you, not in your works, not in your courage, Not in your faithfulness, not in your faith. These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In the world, you're gonna have tribulation. You're gonna have trouble. You're gonna have trials. But be of good cheer.

I have overcome Now turn with me to 1 John chapter 5. 1 John chapter 5. Verse 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood.

And it's the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us, eternal life. And this life is where? In his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. And he that hath not the Son hath not life.

We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I have heard numerous times over the years, he's a defeated Christian. Nonsense. There is no such thing as a defeated Christian. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Be of good cheer in the world. You're gonna have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Now I love this statement, be of good cheer. We're gonna close by thinking about this for just a couple of minutes. He said be of good cheer. Now if the Lord tells you to be of good cheer, do you have reason to be of good cheer? If he tells you to? Be of good cheer. I've overcome the world."

Now, the first thing I thought of was there, and it's in three of the Gospels, where those fellows come, four of them bearing their friend to a house where the Lord was preaching. And it was so crowded, they couldn't get in. And the men climbed up on the roof. with this man, this paralytic man in this mat, gurney or whatever it was, they were getting him up there, and they broke up the roof, they broke up the tiles. Can you imagine the people sitting there listening to the Lord preach, all of a sudden the ceiling starts crumbling down. And they lower this man down into the midst, right at the feet of the Lord. Now, I would have expected the Lord to say, when he saw their faith, rise up and walk. That's what they brought him for, rise up and walk. You have this faith, when he saw the faith of those four men, I would have said, rise up and walk.

But you know what the Lord said? He said, son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. Oh, don't you want him to say that to you? Now the fellows listening said, who is this that speaketh blasphemies? There's none that can forgive sins but God alone. You know, if I tell you you're forgiven, that doesn't mean you're forgiven. Only God can forgive sin. Well, they were right. Only God can forgive sin. And the Lord read their thoughts.

And he said, what's easier to say? Thy sins be forgiven thee. Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Now, it's easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, because there's no evidence whether they were or not. You can just say it. But if I say, rise up and walk, if nothing happens, it proves there's nothing to my word.

So he looked at that fellow after he said, Thy sins be forgiven thee. He said, I say unto thee, rise, take up thy bed, and walk. up and walked. And He said, I'm doing this that you may know that the Son of Man hath power on the earth, hath authority on the earth to forgive sins. Son, be of good cheer. Thy sins be forgiven thee.

I love the story of the woman that had an issue of blood. She had some kind of menstrual disease. And she had spent every dime she had on many physicians, and they didn't do her any good. She was left where there were no other options. That's when someone becomes interested in Christ, when there are no other options. She spent all, and she wasn't made better, but rather grew worse. But she said in her heart, if I can but touch the hem of his garment, I'll be whole. And she went crawling through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment.

And the Lord stopped and said, who touched me? Old Peter says, everybody's thronging you. Why are you saying who touched me? But he perceived that virtue, power had gone out of me. Who touched me? And this woman came trembling and said, I'm the one that did it. She was afraid. You know what the Lord said?

Daughter, be of good cheer. Thy faith hath made thee whole. He's walking on the water, and the disciples are terrified when they see him walking on the water. And they cried out, and he said, be of good cheer, it is I. With regard to everything in your life, Be of good cheer. It is I. I am the cause.

Bartimaeus was crying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. They say, shut up, Bartimaeus. Quit crying. He cried the more, a great deal. Have mercy on me, thou son of David. And then those same people who told him to shut up said, be of good cheer, rise, he calleth thee. Be of good cheer, he calleth thee. How can I know if he's calling me? Well, if he calls you, you'll call. You'll call on him. That's the evidence of his calling to you. You call on him. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He said to Paul in that Roseland prison cell when Paul was obviously depressed, be of good cheer, Paul. Be of good cheer. And here he says to his disciples, in the world you're gonna have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

Amen. Lord, how we thank you for the excellency and the glory of thy blessed son, our savior. And Lord, I ask in Christ's name, by your spirit, that you would create saving faith in each heart here according to your will. Say to us that in you is peace. Say unto us these things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. Not in our works, not in our knowledge, not in anything about us, but only in thy Son. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.

O Lord, you've told us in the world we're going to have trouble and tribulation and trial and pressure, but be of good cheer. Say that to us, Lord, be of good cheer. You have overcome the world. Bless this word for Christ's sake, in His name we pray, amen.

What Is In Christ?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being in Christ?

How do we know that Christ has overcome the world?

Why is the concept of being in Christ important for Christians?

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What Is In Christ?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being in Christ?

How do we know that Christ has overcome the world?

Why is the concept of being in Christ important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

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