The "In Christ" Gospel

 

 "If any man be In Christ he is a New Creation (creature)…" (2 Cor. 5:17).         "For we are His Workmanship, created In Christ Jesus…" (Eph. 2:10).     "... ye are Complete In Him…" (Col. 2:10).

No religious ceremony, ritual or rite, neither circumcision or baptism, can make us spiritually "complete." All we needed was to "believe (trust in)" Christ as Savior to receive the eternal riches of then being eternally set "in Christ" when we first believed.  Paul uses the phrases "in Christ" and "in Him" 94 times in his 13 epistles to "the body of Christ." Paul's "In Christ" gospel is the glorious truth of believers freely receiving their eternally secure position "in Christ."

"It Was God [personally present] IN CHRIST, Reconciling and Restoring the world to Favor with Himself, NOT counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [their sins, but Cancelling Them], and Committing To Us The Message Of Reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). (2 Cor 5:19 (AMP)

Many Christians only know, or are satisfied with, salvation through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ... but God our Father wants us to have and enjoy "much more" (Rom 5:10) than this.

- He wants us to have "the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2), to know the security, the blessedness, and the glory of being "in Christ."

- He wants us to know "the exceeding riches of His Grace" (Eph. 2:7).

- He wants us to now enjoy "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).

God asks us now to "Walk worthy (appropriately) of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1).

"For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us..." (2 Corinthians 5:14 (AMP). "...it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Of course Satan, the "adversary," doesn't want us to have, know and enjoy all that is ours "in Christ." Why does Satan oppose every Christian knowing he is "in Christ"? It's because the believer's awareness of the truth of being "in Christ," and having "Christ in you" (Col 1:27), empowering our walk in Union With Christ. Thus they can and will boldly proclaim this message, hastening the day of Satan's demise.

It's only by being "in Christ" and knowing and enjoying these Pauline truths that one can come to be an expression of Christ's life and enjoy our Christian life. Only the Christians who know they are saved 'with understanding' of their position "in Christ" will have the boldness, and burning desire, to share this glorious message of God's grace in Christ.

When "the church, which is the body of Christ" is full and complete it will be Raptured to dwell with Christ "eternal in the heavens" (2Cor 5:1b) just before the Tribulation judgments come upon the Satanically inspired world, and then ultimately upon Satan himself when he will be "cast into the lake of fire."

We as knowledgeable believers have a commission as declared here by Paul.

"But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]." (2 Corinthians 5:18 (AMP)

"Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:9 (AMP)

It was for proclaiming these glorious truths that the Apostle Paul himself was bitterly opposed on every hand, not only secularly, but also by many saved Jewish religious leaders of his day (i.e.,  James). Satan does not oppose these truth in bars but in churches! If you proclaim this message today you likely will be opposed as Paul was. Satan hates this formerly secret message of Paul's "the gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24) that the glorified Lord from heaven revealed to  Paul for us today. (cf., Eph. 3:1-5).

Be aware of the fact that, as in Paul's day, Satan will again seek to use even saved religious leaders and teachers, even many of the neo-evangelical leaders. They will oppose Paul's message of God's PURE GRACE by preaching "the Law and works," thus robbing Christ of His glory and many of the believers of their blessings to be found only "in Christ."