The "in Christ" doctrine

[RichardBurger]

The "In Christ" Doctrine, Written by: Robert Pate

This article is probably the most important thing that I have ever learned as a Christian. When I learned the "In Christ" doctrine it made an astounding difference in the way that I viewed the Bible. After I had embraced this doctrine the Bible became alive. Verses that I had never understood before now became crystal clear. It was like I had been in the dark and someone turned on the light. Many of the scriptures that I thought were for me to do, I discovered had already been done for me by Jesus Christ.

The "In Christ" doctrine has freed me from a life of religion, subjectivism, and legalism. The "In Christ " doctrine has given me a life of peace and rest in Christ.

Paul said to the Philippians, "That I might be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is of faith in Christ." Philippians 3:9.

How does one get 'In Christ?" All who have accepted Christ as their savior are "In Christ." Ephesians 1:12-13 says, "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." All who are "In Christ" have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. You can never be unsealed. You can never lose your salvation. If you fall away from Christ you never did have faith in him, you were a counterfeit.

God broke into history in the person of Jesus Christ. He clothed himself in human flesh and became one with us, but not one of us. His mission was to provide salvation for a lost and dying world. He is the new Adam and the representative of the human race. The first Adam brought sin and death upon us. The new Adam (Christ) brings righteousness and eternal life. All that Christ is, and all that he has done was for us. He is God's great gift to humanity.

God in the person of Jesus Christ has come into the world to do for us that which we are not capable of doing for ourselves. He did not come into the world to show us the way; he came into the world to be the way. By his sinless life he has offered everything to the Godhead that the law requires. By his death on the cross he has atoned for the sins of the world and has defeated the devil.

Paul said in Romans the 6th chapter, v.6 "Knowing this that our old man (Adam) is crucified with Christ. V.3, Know you not that so many of us were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death. V.4, That as Christ was raised from the dead even so we should walk in newness of life. V. 8, Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him."

This is an excellent picture of being "IN Christ" Crucified with Christ., dying with Christ, raised with Christ, living with Christ. This has nothing to do with water baptism. This is the operation of God in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4 "If you have been risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set you affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall you appear with him in glory."

What are the benefits of embracing the "In Christ" doctrine?

1. The "In Christ" doctrine is a death blow to religion, subjectivism, and legalism. Christ has done it all. God accepts the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are accepted only in him.
2. This means that we can remain sinners and still be saved. We don't have to be good enough. Christ was good enough for us.

3. It means that we don't have to do good works, rituals like baptism, to go to heaven. Christ has done all of the good works for us, including baptism.
4. It means that we don't have to practice holiness, speaking in tongues, miracles, revelations, etc. We are already holy "In Christ."
5. It means that "In Christ" we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1st Corinthians 1:30.
6. It means that by faith we can rest in the finished work of Christ.

 

[Prentis]

This doctrine completely abolishes the power of Christ, both to put to death the flesh and to live by the Spirit.

If there is no sin in Christ, and you are in Christ, can you sin?

Paul says he presses on, not as though he had already attained. This doctrine says I have attained, and don't need to press on.

It is the antithesis and opposite of the Gospel

God bless you, Richard :)

 

[brionne]

The "In Christ" doctrine has freed me from a life of religion, subjectivism, and legalism. The "In Christ " doctrine has given me a life of peace and rest in Christ.

Paul said to the Philippians, "That I might be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is of faith in Christ." Philippians 3:9.

How does one get 'In Christ?"


Faith.

 

[RichardBurger]

OUR ARK: (the “in Christ” doctrine)

I believe what Paul said when he penned the words ""in Christ."" I also believe that we are placed ""in Christ"" by God. It is an operation of the Holy Spirit (God). See verses 21 and 22 below.

2 Cor 1:19-22
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us-- by me, Silvanus, and Timothy-- was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you ""in Christ"" and has anointed us is God,
22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
(NKJ)

I look at the words ""in Christ"" and think of them in reference to Noah and the flood.

Noah was told by God to build an Ark. It was built by human hands (Noah’s hands). The waters of God‘s wrath in the flood did not touch Noah and those with him. Noah, by his choice, obeyed God and went into the Ark he had built. --- The waters of the flood were the judgment of God on a sinful world full of sinful people. That does not mean that Noah was sinless. It means Noah believed what God told him.

Today there is another Ark. It is “”NOT”” built by human hands. It is built by the hands (will) of God. - Man can not go into the Ark that God has built by his own efforts (will). He must be placed in God’s Ark (Jesus) by God (the Holy Spirit). God places a person in the Ark (Jesus) He built when that person places their faith, trust and confidence in Jesus’ work on the cross to save him/her. -- This Ark that God has built carries those in it safely over the sins “THEY” commit in their flesh. Their sins can not touch them.

Jesus Christ is OUR ARK, and just as those in Noah's Ark were kept from the waters of the flood, we who are placed ""in Christ,"" by God, are kept from the judgment of the law. If we are not ""in Christ"" the law condemns us.

This is how I see it. Is this how you see it? If it is not, then why?

Scripture references:

Rom 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are ""in Christ"" Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life ""in Christ"" Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
(NKJ)

It is not that we no longer sin in the flesh, it is that since we are in Christ we are walking in the Spirit and have no confidence in our flesh. Walking in the Spirit is the same as walking in Christ.

Eph 1:10
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things ""in Christ,"" both which are in heaven and which are on earth-- ""in Him.""
(NKJ)

When we are placed “in Christ” we are holy and without blame because He loves us and covers our sins of the flesh with His blood shed on the cross.

Psalms 23
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
NKJV

In verse 4 the shadow of death is the condemnation of the Law. In verse 5 the enemy is Satan.

Philippians 3:3
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice ““in Christ“” Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
(NKJ)

Rom 12:5
5 so we, being many, are one body ""in Christ,"" and individually members of one another.
(NKJ)

Rom 16:7
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were ""in Christ"" before me.
(NKJ)

1 Cor 1:28-31
28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
30 But of Him you are ""in Christ"" Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
(NKJ)

1 Cor 3:1
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes ""in Christ.""
(NKJ)

1 Cor 15:21-23
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so ""in Christ"" all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
(NKJ)

2 Cor 5:16-18
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is ""in Christ,"" he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
(NKJ)

Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles ""in Christ"" Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(NKJ)

Gal 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one ""in Christ"" Jesus.
(NKJ)

Gal 5:5-6
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For ""in Christ"" Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (God’s love, not ours)
(NKJ)

The love mentioned is God’s love for us. It is our faith working through God’s love.

Eph 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us ""in Him"" before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
(NKJ)

Colossians 2:9-11
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
(Not Legalism but Christ)
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision “””made without hands,””” by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
NKJV

Verse 11 does not mean the WE put off the sins of the body. God does that when He puts us “”in Christ”.

 

[Prentis]

Right. Noah was like everyone one else, God really liked him so he decided "make an ark and come into it, and your sins will drown in the water". Great to be God's favorite, isn't it.

Noah was righteous. We are called to be righteous and holy. The problem with what you say, using one verse or two, is that it disagrees with about half of scripture that says we must persevere.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

[RichardBurger]

This doctrine completely abolishes the power of Christ, both to put to death the flesh and to live by the Spirit.

If there is no sin in Christ, and you are in Christ, can you sin?

Paul says he presses on, not as though he had already attained. This doctrine says I have attained, and don't need to press on.

It is the antithesis and opposite of the Gospel

God bless you, Richard :)

Romans 8:9-10
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
NKJV
If you are dead who is typing at your computer?

 

[Episkopos]

One doesn't embrace a doctrine to be in Christ. One is resurrected into His presence in reality to be in Christ.

 

[Perspectives]

This doctrine completely abolishes the power of Christ, both to put to death the flesh and to live by the Spirit.

If there is no sin in Christ, and you are in Christ, can you sin?

Paul says he presses on, not as though he had already attained. This doctrine says I have attained, and don't need to press on.

It is the antithesis and opposite of the Gospel

God bless you, Richard :)

Ya, and the same Paul said he died daily.....I Cor.15:31.

 

[Perspectives]

Romans 8:9-10
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
NKJV
If you are dead who is typing at your computer?

May I add that the pitch that sealed the ark tipifies the blood of Jesus. If one begins to think spiritually, this opens other portals of revelation. As to dead, obviously Paul is not teaching physical death, anymore than Jesus taught cannibalism in Jh. 6:53-56. It's the death of self. He didn't just die for us on the cross, but as us! Still, we must walk out that death over time. If God took everything not Godly out of us at one time it would literally kill us. Your on a hot line with this one Mr Burger. Soooo glad to see something of substance for a change.

 

[RichardBurger]

May I add that the pitch that sealed the ark tipifies the blood of Jesus. If one begins to think spiritually, this opens other portals of revelation. As to dead, obviously Paul is not teaching physical death, anymore than Jesus taught cannibalism in Jh. 6:53-56. It's the death of self. He didn't just die for us on the cross, but as us! Still, we must walk out that death over time. If God took everything not Godly out of us at one time it would literally kill us. Your on a hot line with this one Mr Burger. Soooo glad to see something of substance for a change.

Thanks, It is good to have a friend. There are so few of them on forums.

One doesn't embrace a doctrine to be in Christ. One is resurrected into His presence in reality to be in Christ.

So you can see Him with your flesh eyes, right!

 

[Perspectives]

Thanks, It is good to have a friend. There are so few of them on forums.



So you can see Him with your flesh eyes, right!

Thanks for being here. Friends? Absolutely!

 

[prism]

One doesn't embrace a doctrine to be in Christ. One is resurrected into His presence in reality to be in Christ.

Exactly. It is sad that so often we are subtly turned from Christ back on to ourselves.From start to finish Salvation (sanctification included) is 'extra nos' (outside ourselves).

 

[Episkopos]

Thanks, It is good to have a friend. There are so few of them on forums.



So you can see Him with your flesh eyes, right!

So we can see Him where He is, and be like Him in this world.

 

[Duckybill]

How does one get 'In Christ?" All who have accepted Christ as their savior are "In Christ." Ephesians 1:12-13 says, "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." All who are "In Christ" have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. You can never be unsealed. You can never lose your salvation. If you fall away from Christ you never did have faith in him, you were a counterfeit.

A VERY dangerous doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

 

[aspen]

5. It means that "In Christ" we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1st Corinthians 1:30.
6. It means that by faith we can rest in the finished work of Christ.

Hmmm....so you've been justified, sanctified and redeemed AND you are still a sinner? Why didn't Jesus come down from Heaven and die on the spot, in the Garden of Eden; therefore redeeming A&E and leading them to the tree of Life? Would have saved a lot of horror and bloodshed.

If the redeemed are still sinners - people with hearts of stone instead of hearts of flesh - how is the finished work of Christ any different than the unfinished work?

 

[RichardBurger]

5. It means that "In Christ" we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1st Corinthians 1:30.
6. It means that by faith we can rest in the finished work of Christ.

Hmmm....so you've been justified, sanctified and redeemed AND you are still a sinner? Why didn't Jesus come down from Heaven and die on the spot, in the Garden of Eden; therefore redeeming A&E and leading them to the tree of Life? Would have saved a lot of horror and bloodshed.

If the redeemed are still sinners - people with hearts of stone instead of hearts of flesh - how is the finished work of Christ any different than the unfinished work?

Your conclusion is yours, not mine. The problem with being perfect is that those that think it can not see their own sins, just the sins of others. The children of God living in sinful bodies look forward to their new bodies that do not sin. If a person thinks they no longer sin then why would they look forward to a new body that does not sin?

It is our spirit that is "in Christ" not our sinful flesh body.

 

[Prentis]

In Christ dwelt the fulness of God (Col. 2:9), and we are exhorted to be such that the fullness of God would dwell in us (yes, fleshly body) (Eph 3:19)

Your Spirit is in your body, and the Spirit of God is meant to dwell in earthly temples (the body!).

To think otherwise is to postpone the gospel as if it was not to happen until we physically die, and by this to deny the power of God to save us from the current corruption while we are still in this body.

 

[RichardBurger]

In Christ dwelt the fulness of God (Col. 2:9), and we are exhorted to be such that the fullness of God would dwell in us (yes, fleshly body) (Eph 3:19)

Your Spirit is in your body, and the Spirit of God is meant to dwell in earthly temples (the body!).

To think otherwise is to postpone the gospel as if it was not to happen until we physically die, and by this to deny the power of God to save us from the current corruption while we are still in this body.

Romans 7:14-23
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
NKJV

 

[Prentis]

It would be good not to stop half way through the passage, lest we lose the real meaning ;)

[sup]24[/sup] O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [sup]25[/sup] I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
[sup]1[/sup] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[sup][a][/sup] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If we walk in the same power as Christ, we are not under the law of sin and death, we are no longer held by sin, and are not longer over powered by death! In this life!

 

[RichardBurger]

It would be good not to stop half way through the passage, lest we lose the real meaning ;)

[sup]24[/sup] O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [sup]25[/sup] I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, """""""""but with the flesh the law of sin.""""""
[sup]1[/sup] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[sup][a][/sup] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If we walk in the same power as Christ, we are not under the law of sin and death, we are no longer held by sin, and are not longer over powered by death! In this life!

Thank you for the additional verses. I thought you would add them. Seems you wish to ignore the last 8 words in verse 24.

Walking in the spirit is walking in faith in the work of God on the cross. If a person is walking in trying to perfect the sinful flesh he/she is walking in the flesh.