Being 'in Christ' is the most repeated phrase in Paul's letters. It describes a new identity, a new position before God, and a new source of all life and power.
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KJV Questions
Being 'in Christ' is the most repeated phrase in Paul's letters.
It describes a new identity, a new position before God, and a new source of all life and power.
The 21 verses below are drawn from across both Testaments, each with a short commentary explaining what it means in its original context and how it applies today. Every verse is from the World English Bible (Public Domain).
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
In Christ, identity is completely renewed — not improved, but recreated.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainI have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
The old self is dead — Christ's life now animates the believer.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainThere is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
In Christ — no condemnation. The legal verdict is final and permanent.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainI can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Every capacity for godly living flows through Christ — He is the source.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public Domainand in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
In Christ we are complete — nothing is lacking in Him.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainThus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ we are dead to sin's power and alive to God's purposes.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Every spiritual blessing is already given — in Christ, the inheritance is ours.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
In Christ we become God's masterpiece — designed for works He prepared in advance.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainFor as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
Two realms — in Adam brings death; in Christ brings life.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainAnd the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Peace comes through Christ — He is the environment in which peace operates.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainFor you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The believer's life is hidden in Christ — secured beyond the reach of anything.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainNo, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Victory is not our achievement — it is received through Christ who loved us.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public Domain'I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.'
All fruitfulness flows only from abiding in Christ — apart from Him, nothing.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public Domainand be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
In Christ we wear His righteousness — not our own performance.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainNow thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the fragrance of his knowledge in every place.
God leads us in triumphal procession — in Christ, we are always in His victory parade.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainBut of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
All we need — wisdom, righteousness, holiness, redemption — is found in Christ.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public Domainin whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Redemption and forgiveness are found in Christ — purchased by His blood.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainFor if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.
Through Christ's death we were reconciled — through His life we are sustained.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainYou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Grace is in Christ — we access strength by drawing from what is in Him.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
In Christ, all human divisions are transcended — a radical equality.
World English Bible (WEB) — Public DomainFor I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The final security — nothing can remove us from being in Christ.
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