One of the frequently occuring expressions in the epistel of Paul is being "in Christ" or "in Christ Jesus". This expression may also be stated as "in Him ; by Him ; through Him ; in the Beloved ; together with Him" and other similar phrases. Without such phrases and expressions in the writings of Paul, his message truly would be dry bones. The good news of the truths about Christ would be gone.

That is reason to understand what it means to be "in Christ" or equivalent expressions. They are the basic building blocks, the foundation of his gospel. Without them the reader would not be able to appreciate the incredible good news of the everlasting gospel and be unable to experience the joy, peace and assurance of salvation.

As Christians we have nothing to show for, except that we have it "in Christ". Everything that we enjoy and hope for as believers, the immediate joys of justification by faith, the ongoing experience of sanctification and the hope of glorification, are ours only "in Christ". That is why we read first about how life was without Christ in his letter to the Ephesians, in order to underscore and bring out the good news,

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Ephesians 2:1-3.

The good news follows over many verses. Here are a few more,

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:4-10.

Considering these many messages, we realize that Paul uses the phrase "in Christ" to express Biblical solidarity, which simply means `the many in one.' This is what makes the phrase "in Christ" rather hard for many in our society to understand, since they tend to think of the individual, rather than all people. However, the Bible clearly teaches that God created all mankind in `one man' - Adam [50], and we recall that the Hebrew word `Adam' means `mankind', "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created," - where the word `man' in most English and German Bibles is "Adam" in the original. In the book of Acts we find that also documented when Paul says,

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men (andropomeos, human) for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Acts 17:26.

In the same way Paul refers to Christ as the `last Adam',

"And so it is written, The first man (andropos, humanity) Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." 1.Corinthians 15:45.

In the same sense as the first Adam represented all people born after him, so Christ represents the entire human race in His work of redemption.

Since Adam represents all of mankind, when he sinned it affected the entire human race in four ways:

1. in sin,
2. alienation,
   
3. condemnation, and
   
4. death.

The incredible good news of the everlasting gospel is, that when Christ came to this world, over 2000 years ago, He came to reverse the damage caused by the first Adam and redeem the entire human race - and we note that Christ came to redeem, not necessarily save for that involves or free will decision to want to be saved. Hopefully, you the reader, after considering this article will want to be saved. - Christ, reversing the damage, allows God to re-write the history of mankind through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ - thus changing its legal status from "condemnation unto death," to "justification unto life." Such a clear Bible message is the truth as it is "in Christ", for that it is? [See Romans 5:15-18; 1.Corinthians 15:21,22]

In teaching that we are all "in Christ", the apostle Paul uses three phases:

He uses,

1. The planning phase.

   This took place in the mind of God before the foundation of the world, even before Adam and Eve were created as Paul says in Ephesians 1:4: "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love," and the apostle John writes, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:8.

   Therefore this emphasized phrase encompasses all succeeding generations of Adam.

2. The reality phase,

   which took place over 2000 years ago when Christ was born, lived, died and rose from the dead, 1.Corinthians 1:30,31; Ephesians 2:5,6. Some Bible scholars refer to this phase as the objective facts of the gospel. In this phase Christ actually obtained salvation, full and complete, for the entire human race. This is a finished work to which we can add absolutely nothing, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Romans 3:21-31.

3. The experience phase.

   Unlike the condemnation we inherit from Adam at birth, the redemption Christ accomplished on the cross for all of mankind, we we called the reality phase, is God's supreme gift to the world. Like any gift, it has been received by faith in order for it to become effective, John 3:16; Romans 5:17.

   This experience phase will continue in the life of the believers until the Second Coming of Jesus at which time "this corruption puts on incorruption." 1. Corinthians 15:50-57 paraphrased.

It is important to notice, that, while the first two phases of the "in Christ" motif apply to the entire human race, the third, experiantial phase applies only to believers - those, who by faith, have believed in Jesus Christ and experienced the new birth. But it also applies to those who, through no fault of their own, have never heard the gospel but were faithful to the understanding they had about living a good life, as we read, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Romans 2:14-16. [100]

From what we studied so far we can draw some conclusions. This ought to give us peace of mind that God's provision for salvation is not limited to only certain people. It does not only become a reality for those who believe that one must repent and believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved, and that only then God will place that person into Christ and the provision will become reality. Such a view would limit being "in Christ" only to believers. It appears among some who are using Romans 16:7 to teach a limited salvation for certain elected people, "Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.". In that passage, Paul is implying that these two men accepted the truth as it is `in Christ' and were converted before Paul himself was converted. To construe this to mean that it applies only to believers, that is to say, the elect, is not warranted or taught anywhere in the Bible. In fact such a view, as successors of Calvin developed it, is a subtle form of legalism. It is salvation by works, since repentance and faith contribute towards one's salvation.

What does Paul say is the global truth for all mankind? Paul states about God that it is ". . . the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering . . . that . . . leadeth thee to repentance." Romans 2:4.

That is why to have faith is not allowing God or giving Him permission to put us into Christ, but it is rather accepting with grateful hearts what God has already accomplished for mankind "in Christ", 1.Corinthians 1:30,31; 2.Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 1:3,4. Christ did this for all, from Adam to the last person born.

This is God's supreme gift to the entire human race, made effective by faith, "whosoever believes in him" which will cause people to praise God instead of chiding and bad mouthing His work among man, (John 3:16; Romans 3:21-28). When God's people fulfill the proclamation of this global truth among all of mankind, they are fulfilling the presentation of the everlasting gospel of the three angels of Revelation chapter 14 with the power of the angel of Revelation chapter 18. When we would realize this, it will become inexcusable for anyone to be lost and the end will then come since this message will stop the deceptions of man, Matthew 24:4.