What a wonderful thing to be in Christ! Truly Christians have good reason to be the most joyful people on earth. Even though our present situations may or may not be ideal, our future is secure, for we are in Christ. As I pondered this topic, I thought that while it is important to realize that we must abide in Christ in our daily walk with Him, it is also important to understand that the moment each of us is born again we are eternally in Christ. There are many blessings that come from being eternally secure in Christ through salvation, and also many blessings that come from abiding in Him each day. Although there are too many references to “being in Christ” to include them all in this article, let’s take a look at some Scriptures that express these wonderful blessings.
•Redemption
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)
Just look at what Christ has saved you from, and you’ll realize what a blessing this redemption is!
•No Condemnation
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)
If you are born again, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus Christ. This is surely a great blessing of being in Christ.
•The Love of God
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)
Not only do we have the blessing of receiving God’s love, but also the assurance that nothing can separate us from it.
•Fellowship with Believers
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Romans 12:5)
All who are in Christ are a necessary part of the body of believers--each can serve the Lord in his own place, encouraging and learning from other members of Christ.
•A New Life
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
In Christ, we are changed and become a new creature-another of the many blessings.
•Simplicity
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)
It is true that there is simplicity in Christ. The gospel is simple. For a saved person, “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10) because if we simply love God and our neighbor, we will want to do what please the lord.
•Promise of Fruitfulness
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4)
To bring forth fruit, we need to abide in Christ each day, allowing Him to work through us.
•Perfect Peace
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
If one is abiding in Christ, his mind should also be stayed on Christ. When our mind is on the Lord, we will be blessed with this perfect peace.
This list is only the beginning o fall that is ours in Christ! How could we not desire to abide in Him, when we realize all that the Lord has done for us?! If our focus is on the Lord and what we can do to serve and please Him, fruitful lives will be the result. Not only will it be worth it in eternity, but also we’ll experience the blessings of abiding in Christ on earth here.
I’d like to close with the words of a favorite hymn, “Constantly Abiding.” It beautifully sums up the blessings we have in Christ.
There’s peace in my herat that the world never gave,
A peace it cannot take away;
Tho’ the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I’ve a peace that has come here to stay!
All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and king,
When peace sweetly came o my heart;
Troubles fled away and my night turned to day,
Blessed Jesus, how glorious thou art!
This treasure I have in a temple of clay,
While here on His footstool I roam;
But He’s coming to take me some glorious day,
Over there to my heavenly home!
Chorus: Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
Constantly abiding, rapture, divine
He never leaves me lonely,
Whispers, O so kind, “ I will never leave thee,”
Jesus is mine.
(Hymn by Mrs. Will L. Murphy)
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