“…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
When the Bible mentions being “in Christ,” the reference is to our position of surrender to Christ, a spiritual position that makes it possible for us to have a restored relationship with God. It’s a family position with God as our Father, and with us as His restored children. It’s also an authorized position where we are given right standing with our holy God through the righteousness we have become in Christ.
True salvation is more than asking for the forgiveness of sins; the new birth takes place when a person completely surrenders their heart to the lordship of Jesus Christ. True salvation causes a recreation of our spirit, remaking us to be like God in purity and holiness. True salvation opens the heart to the presence of the Holy Spirit, whose power helps us to live our life in surrender. With our hearts changed, we begin a process of transformation of becoming more like God in our desires, our thinking, and our behavior. If we make a wrong choice, our position in the family isn’t necessarily changed, but our fellowship with God becomes distant. The Holy Spirit pursues us, drawing us back home with a compassionate conviction.
True salvation will know the glory of Christ’s resurrection by knowing the suffering of His death through dying to self and yielding the heart to His lordship. Because Christ paid the ransom for our redemption from death, we don’t have to die the same death; however, we do need to daily pick up our cross to live a crucified life, putting to death any desire that would take us outside of our relationship with God. When we do, not only are we in a right position before God in Christ, but we also will enjoy daily life in God’s presence.
Application: Do some research to find out how many times the phrases “in Him, in Christ, or in whom” are used in the New Testament. Study those scriptures and learn what Christ did for you. Renew your surrender to the Lord and place yourself in a yielded position before Him for today.