The phrase “in Christ” is used seventy-seven times in the New Testament. Seventy-four of those times are found in Paul’s letters. Luke used it once (Acts 24:24), and late in Peter’s life, he used it a couple of times (1Pet. 3:16; 5:14). During the night recently, I was lying in bed thinking about the things of God and the thought came to me, “How many things does the Bible say are in Christ?” And so, I arose and looked up the scriptures concerning what is in Christ Jesus. Here is what I found (along with a few verses that say “in me” or “in him” when referring to Christ):
God the Father
John 10:38b: The Father is in me, and I, in him.
2Corinthians 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
The Fullness of God’s Nature
Colossians 1:19: God was pleased for all His fullness to dwell in him.
Colossians 2:9: In him dwells all the fullness of God’s nature, bodily.
Life
John 1:4: In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Redemption
Romans 3:24: Being freely made righteous by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Believers
Romans 12:5: We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another.
2Corinthians 5:17: If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature.
The Law of the Spirit of Life
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death!
The Love of God
Romans 8:39: . . . nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Understanding
2Corinthians 3:14: Their minds were blinded, and even until this very day, in the reading of the Old Testament, the same veil remains, not taken away – which thing is removed in Christ.
Simplicity
2Corinthians 11:3: I fear, lest, as the serpent led Eve astray by his craftiness, so your thoughts likewise be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Liberty
Galatians 2:4: False brothers . . . slipped in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus.
No Human Differences
Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor freeman, nor male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 6:15: In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but being a new creature does.
All Spiritual Blessings
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven.
Access to God
Ephesians 2:13: In Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The Promise of God (the Spirit)
Ephesians 3:6: The Gentiles are to be heirs with the Jews, and of the same body, and partakers together of His promise in Christ, through the gospel.
The Attitude of a Servant
Philippians 2:4–5: Let each of you look not to his own interests, but each one also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.
The Calling of God
Philippians 3:14: I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The Will of God
1Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Faith and Love
1Timothy 1:14: The grace of our Lord abounded, with the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.
2Timothy 1:13: Maintain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The Faith
1Timothy 3:13: Those who have served well earn for themselves good standing and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
God’s Promise of Eternal Life
2Timothy 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, in accord with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus . . .
The Grace of God
2Timothy 2:1: So, my son, you be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Salvation
2Timothy 2:10: I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they might attain to the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
There are many good things in Christ. May we discover and experience what they all are!
