Everything that really matters depends on whether one is in Christ. There are only two spiritual realms--the realm of Christ and the realm of Satan. We belong to either the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. There is no middle ground. (cf.. Matthew 12:30) "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." Let us study what it means to be in Christ, and let us also learn about the blessings and privileges that can be ours if we are in Christ. It would also be valuable to learn how one enters the blessed relationship that the Scriptures describe as being in Christ.

To be in Christ is to be in HIS BODY, which is THE CHURCH. To demonstrate the intimate relationship between Christ Jesus and the church, the Bible often calls it "the body of Christ." Paul wrote about how Christ's death on the cross reconciled us to God: "that he might reconcile both Jew and Gentile unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." (Ephesians 2:16) When we speak of the church as a kingdom, Christ is its King; if we speak of the church as the body, He is its head. Paul spoke of Christ in this way when he wrote that God "gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23) He reinforced it further when he openly declared, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Soon thereafter, Paul wrote of his own "afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church." (Colossians 1:24) Paul well knew that being in Christ meant being in His body, and that body was the church. One cannot be "in Christ" without being in his body, which is his church.

THE BODY IS SINGULAR. When we speak of Christ as the head of the body, we must realize that there is only ONE head, and only ONE body. Otherwise, the Lord' s body would be some sort of monstrosity. In all of God's word, there is only one Christ, and He had only one physical body, and surely only ONE spiritual body, the church (Cf.. Matthew 16:18). If two heads tried to regulate one body, there would be utter confusion. It certainly would be equally as bad for one head to try to regulate two or more bodies. Paul recognized this, and asked the saints in Ephesus to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:3-6) Now go back and check the reading. How many gods did you find? How many lords? How many spirits? How many faiths? How many bodies?

Can't you see that there are just as many bodies as there are gods? That ONE body is the church. How many churches are mentioned in that passage? Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church" (singular).

WHAT MAKES UP THE BODY? Your body consists of many members, and each member has a different function. Even so, Christ's body, the church, consists of many members. The Lord's church is not a composite of many varied churches, or bodies, or denominations. Remember, the Lord's church is His body, not bodies.

In Romans 12:4-5, the Scriptures teach, "For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another." Notice that the church is made up of those who are in the one body, and those who are in the one body are those who are in Christ. When we think of the church, we think of its many members and its head, Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, the Scriptures teach, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." Paul went on to show that the foot, hand, ear, and eye have differing places and functions, but God placed them where they best serve. He then concluded: "But now are they many members, yet but one body." Paul emphasized the need that each member has for the others, and stressed, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." When this occurs, the body of Christ, the church, is united as the Lord wants it to be. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular..." Paul further adds, in Ephesians 5:23-24, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

Especially NOTE that it is when we enter into Christ, his body, the church, that we receive God's approval and the spiritual blessings afforded us through Christ's blood. Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)

NOTE: 2 Cor. 5:17 "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS--grace, forgiveness, redemption, etc.; salvation (2 Tim. 2:10); eternal life (1 Jno. 5:11)--ARE IN CHRIST. "Blessed are those who die in the Lord." (Rev. 14:13) BUT TO BE IN CHRIST, ONE MUST BE IN HIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH.

HOW DOES ONE ENTER THE BODY OF CHRIST? Many teach that "faith alone" puts the sinner into Christ, but Galatians 3:26-27 clearly shows the way to gain entrance into Christ. "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were BAPTIZED INTO Christ did put on Christ. Verse 28 says, "There can be neither Jew nor Greek; there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one (man) IN CHRIST JESUS." When one submits, through baptism, to Christ, he enters Christ's body, the church. Paul further said, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." (1 Corinthians 12:13) Romans 6:3-4 also shows that one enters into Christ during burial into His death, where He shed His saving blood, and is then raised to walk a new life. Thus, he becomes a "new creature In Christ Jesus." This "new life," which is in Christ, follows the baptismal burial; therefore, one is not in Christ until he is baptized into him. This obedience brings us into the church, the body of saved believers (Acts 2:41,47). There, we serve under the rule of the Head, Jesus Christ, and enjoy the fellowship of all who are members of His spiritual body.

Friend, will you, by obeying now, submit to Him as Lord so that you may live with Him hereafter. Through obedience to the gospel of Christ, gain entrance into Christ, the spiritual body, the church, over which He is head.