What Does "In Christ" Mean?
Lesson 2 - New Life in Jesus Christ
(Bite-Sized Bible Course)

Have you ever been reading along in your Bible and come across a phrase that seemed strange? Maybe you've asked, What does 'in Christ' mean?

It’s a peculiar phrase if you don’t understand it. But it’s a very important phrase to understand. In fact, there are few phrases in the Bible more important than this one (see Ephesians 1:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:1 for examples).

Why? That’s what we’re going to study in Lesson 2 of our New Life in Christ Bite-Sized Bible course.

So stick around. This is important stuff.

What Does "In Christ" Mean?

One of the most important phrases in the New Testament is a simple expression: in Christ. It appears again and again. It pops up in Paul’s letters, explaining what it means to belong to Jesus (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3).

So let’s form a definition before we begin this journey. To be in Christ is not just to admire Him, learn from Him, or follow His example. It means that by God’s grace, we are united to Him (Galatians 2:20). When we believe in Jesus, everything we receive from God comes to us through that union (Ephesians 1:3–7).

Let’s look a little deeper at this important phrase.

What Does "In Christ" Mean in the Bible?

The Bible describes the phrase “in Christ” as a real spiritual union with Him. We don’t stand before God on our own. We join with the crucified and risen Savior. Because we belong to Him, His saving work becomes the foundation of our standing before God (Romans 6:3–5; Philippians 3:8–9).

This is why the phrase matters so much. Outside of Christ, we are still in our sins. They still condemn us. They continue to separate us from God (Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 1:21).

But in Christ, everything changes. God brings us near to Him through the One who lived for us, died for us, and rose again for us (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

He is Christ. And we are in Him.

Union with Christ is not a minor idea tucked away in a few verses. It’s one of the great themes of the New Testament. It helps us understand why believers can be forgiven, accepted, and called children of God (Ephesians 1:5–7; 1 John 3:1).

What does “in Christ” mean? It means that every spiritual blessing comes to us through Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Being In Christ and Justification

One of the clearest blessings we receive in Christ is justification. What is it? I’m glad you asked.

To be justified means that God declares us righteous in His sight. He doesn’t do this because we are righteous in ourselves. He justifies us by applying the righteousness of Christ to us. We are justified through an alien righteousness (Romans 3:21–24; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is why Romans 8:1 says that no one in Christ Jesus can be condemned. It doesn’t say there is no condemnation for those who try hard enough. It leaves no room for those who feel sorry enough. That verse states that people can’t improve themselves enough (Romans 8:1).

What does it really say? It says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

That’s great news because our hope never rests on our performance. We could never stand before God in our own name. We would be condemned (Romans 3:10–12, 23).

But when we are in Christ, we stand before God clothed in the merit of Another. His obedience, His sacrifice, and His righteousness are the reasons we are accepted. In this way, we are truly saved by Jesus Christ in every way (Philippians 3:8–9; Hebrews 7:25).

This is the difference between religion and the gospel. Religion tells us to build a record we hope God will accept. The gospel tells us that sinners are accepted in Christ because His record is perfect (Galatians 2:15–16).

What does “in Christ” mean? It means we are justified. It means that the verdict has already been given. In Christ, the believer is counted righteous before God (Romans 5:1).

Adoption and the Family of God

The Bible also teaches that those who are in Christ are adopted into God’s family. Salvation is not only about being forgiven in a courtroom sense. It’s also about being welcomed into a household (John 1:12–13).

God doesn’t merely clear our guilt. He brings us near as His sons and daughters. We go from enemies to family (Romans 5:8–10; Colossians 1:21–22).

Ephesians 1 says that God predestined us for adoption to Himself through Jesus Christ. That means adoption is not separate from union with Christ. It’s one of the blessings that comes to us because we belong to the Son (Ephesians 1:5–6).

By nature, we are not children of God in this saving sense. But in Christ, we are brought into the family of God. We are given the full rights of beloved children (Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 4:4–7).

This should change the way we think about the Christian life. We aren’t trying to earn a place in God’s family. In Christ, that place has already been given (Ephesians 2:19).

We pray to God as our Father, not as strangers hoping to be noticed. We obey Him, not to become His children. In Christ, we are already His children (Matthew 6:9; 1 John 3:1–2).

Why This Changes Everything

What does “in Christ” mean? To be in Christ means that our whole identity has changed. Our past, our guilt, our failures and our efforts no longer define us. Our relationship to Jesus Christ provides our identity (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:3–4).

What is true of Him as our Savior now shapes what is true of us before God. That should cause us to pause. If this is true, humility and assurance should grace our every step (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

This knowledge gives us humility because none of these blessings come from us. We didn’t justify ourselves, adopt ourselves, or unite ourselves to Christ by our own power. It’s all of grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).

But it also gives us assurance. How? Our standing with God rests on Christ, not on our changing emotions or uneven obedience (Hebrews 10:19–23).

This is why the phrase “in Christ” is so precious. It reminds us that salvation is not found in self-improvement of any kind. Salvation is found in a Person. When we are joined to Jesus Christ by faith, we receive the blessings He has purchased for His people (John 3:16; John 10:27–28).

What Does In Christ Mean for Us?

This truth is deeply personal. If you’ve already trusted in Christ, you are saved to the uttermost. You’ve already answered the question, “What does ‘in Christ’ mean?” (Hebrews 7:25).

What does this look like?

• You are justified. (Romans 5:1)
• You are adopted. (Ephesians 1:5)
• You are accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
• You belong to Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior, you aren’t “in Christ.” Don’t think that you can look within yourself for the foundation of your hope. Salvation just doesn’t work that way (John 14:6).

Look to Christ. Look to God’s saving mercy through Him. That’s the safest place a sinner could ever be (Acts 4:12).

God bless.

Find the final lesson here.

Want more from New Life in Christ? Find it here.

The homepage is right around the corner.

Full disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, links to Amazon may earn Biblephoria.com a commission on qualifying purchases. We do this to help support this cause. Thank you for your purchases.

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. The Image of Jesus Christ: What Is This All About?

   Apr 24, 26 10:24 PM

   
   What are we talking about when we say we need to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ? Is that just an expression or is there something behind it?

   Read More

2. What Does "in Christ" Mean?

   Apr 22, 26 08:18 PM

   
   What does "in Christ" mean? It seems like such a strange phrase. Almost mysterious. What is its significance? Why is it important? Let's find out.

   Read More

3. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit

   Apr 17, 26 11:02 PM

   
   What doe we mean when we talk about regeneration by the Holy Spirit? Is that really a thing? Or is it just some kind of psychological nonsense? Let's find out.

   Read More

Find our Privacy Policy and User Agreement here.