What does it mean to be “in Christ?”

While Jesus did not talk often about what it means to live in Him, the apostle Paul wrote many letters to the early churches, sharing the truth that Christians are “in Christ.” We read that being “in Christ” means that we have been a part of God’s plan from before the foundation of the world, that God thinks of us as having been with Christ during His life, death, and resurrection, that we can live and act today out of that union, and that we have a new community of faith that stems from being united with Christ.

In Eternity Past

First, Paul explained that being “in Christ” means that we have been a part of God’s plan from eternity past. While we experience a time of not knowing Christ as Savior before becoming Christians, in the thoughts of God, we have always been united with Christ. Ephesians 1:4–5 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Our identity as sons and daughters of God has never been in doubt or at risk but has always been part of His perfect plan.

In Jesus’ Life, Death, and Resurrection

In addition, Paul explained that God also thinks of believers as having been “in Christ” during Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. His righteous life is credited to us who believe in Him (see Phil. 3:9). God thinks of us as having died with Christ (see Rom. 6:6; 2 Cor. 5:14) and raised to life with Him (see Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1). Our identity is no longer that of sinners but that of saints because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection on our behalf.

In the Present

Paul’s teaching about being “in Christ” is not limited to the past, however. It also has strong implications for the present. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6–7). In calling us to “walk in Him,” Paul commanded believers to act not out of our own strength or for our own glory but in the strength of Christ and for His glory. This echoes what Jesus Himself said to His disciples in John 15:5: “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

In Community

A fourth aspect of being “in Christ” in Paul’s teaching is that in Christ we are a part of a new community of believers. In Romans 12:5, he said, “We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Our identity in Christ is also an identity as a member of the new, redeemed community of saints.

Paul’s teaching of being “in Christ” permeates his letters and has far-reaching implications. In Christ, our identity is secure, having been determined from eternity past. In Christ, we are redeemed children of God, not children of wrath. We act not to build our own reputation but through Christ’s strength to give Him glory. And in Christ, we identify with a community of fellow believers who also seek to serve and honor Him.

John Murchison

John Murchison is the director of an equipping and resourcing ministry in Texas. He holds a Masters of Divinity Degree. He and his wife, Sarah, have four daughters. John is a contributor to the Life in Christ Bible.