Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old is gone, behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
To be in Christ is a term Paul often uses in his letters.
Christians also use it, but do we really know what it means? It can be a somewhat tricky concept to grasp.
I know I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. And maybe you aren’t, either.
So, what does it mean to be in Christ?
Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
What Does It Mean to Be In Christ?
Being in Christ is basically another way of saying you are saved. It also means you are united with Christ, joined to Him, and belong to Him. Jesus died for your sins on the cross and made a way to restore you to God. And when you believe that only He can do that, and by faith, you trust in Him, you are saved or in Christ.
Believers in Christ are Like Noah in the Ark
I first heard this analogy from David Jeremiah.
When God told Noah to build an ark, He told him to cover it inside and outside with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
Interestingly, the Hebrew word, Kaphar, is the word for “pitch’ in Genesis 6:14 and also “atonement” throughout the Old Testament (see Exodus 29:33, 36-37; 30:10, 15-16; 32:30).
In other words, the pitch that covered the ark and kept Noah safe during the flood is like the atonement that covered the Israelites’ sins and kept their souls safe from God’s punishment.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.
Furthermore, Jesus’ blood and death on the cross atoned for the sins of the world. It’s why we can be saved if, by faith, we believe in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice.
See Pitch and Atonement for a further look at the connection.
When we believe, Christ comes to live in us, and at the same time, we are placed in Christ. It’s like Noah entering the boat covered with pitch on the inside and the outside. It’s double protection.
Another Analogy
I heard a pastor demonstrate what it means for a believer to be in Christ in God using four storage tubs of varying sizes.
Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The second to the smallest tub represented the believer, and the smallest tub was Christ. He placed the smallest inside the second smallest and put the lid on. He showed how Christ was in the believer.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
The pastor then placed the believer tub inside a larger tub that again represented Christ. He put the lid on it. The believer now had Christ inside and out.
But wait! There is even more protection for the believer. You not only have Christ in you, and you are in Christ, but you are also in God because Christ is in God.
So, the pastor placed the large Christ tub containing the believer with the small Christ tub inside in an even larger tub representing God.
To be in Christ is to have triple protection. How cool is that?
In Christ Alone, My Hope is Found
25 Benefits of Being in Christ
If you are in Christ, you are…
- No longer condemned – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
- Set free from the law of sin and death – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
- Dead to sin and alive to God – “Even so consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11
- Justified – “They [those who believe] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24
- Sanctified – “…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord–both their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2
- Given grace – “I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4
- There by God’s doing – “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus…” 1 Corinthians 1:30a
- Established and anointed – “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us in God.” 2 Corinthians 1:21
- Unveiled – “but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted because it is set aside only in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 3:14
- A new creation – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Reconciled to God – “That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
- Free – “But it is because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” Galatians 2:4
- A Child of God – “For through faith in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26
- One body – “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
- Blessed with every spiritual blessing – “Blessed be the God of our Father and Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
- Chosen to be holy and without fault – “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Ephesians 1:4
- Positionally raised up and seated with Christ – “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6
- Privy to God’s riches of kindness and grace – “in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7
- Created anew to be God’s masterpiece – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
- Brought near to God – “But now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
- Offered God’s peace – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
- Taken care of – “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
- Rising first if you physically die – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
- Meant to give thanks in everything – “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Saved and called – “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” 2 Timothy 1:9
What It Means to Be in Christ
Final Thoughts
As you can see, being in Christ is equivalent to being saved.
You are joined to Christ and united with Him. You belong to Him.
Because you accepted God’s free gift of salvation, you have Christ in you, and you are in Christ who is in God.
The ark covered with pitch on the inside and out is a picture of what it means for us to be in Christ. As long as Noah was in the boat, he was covered and saved.
The great news about being in Christ is it lasts forever because there is no more condemnation. You are free from the law of sin and death. You are saved eternally.
If you are not sure of your salvation or even who can be saved, please read