12
YOU HAVE BEEN JOINED TO CHRISTOne of the most glorious features of salvation is that we now have union with Christ. Before we were saved, we were 'without Christ' (Ephesians 2:12).
Now we are 'in Christ' (Ephesians 1:1).
The Apostle Paul delighted to speak of being 'in Christ'. He uses the phrase nine or more times in Ephesians 1:1-14.What does it mean to be 'in Christ'?
—It means that Christ is our Head, our Representative. In Adam we were guilty and condemned: in Christ we are justified and pardoned (Romans 5:12-21).
—It means that we have a living, vital, organic union with Christ (John 15:4, 5).In Christ
—we have all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)
—we are chosen (Ephesians 1:4)
—we are loved by God (Romans 8:39)
—we are brought nigh to God (Ephesians 2:13)
—we are complete (Colossians 2:10)
—we are created anew (Ephesians 2:10)
—we are all one (Galatians 3:28)
—even death cannot sever this union (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16).'All these blessings that we enjoy become ours because we are joined to Christ. We can therefore claim that what has happened to Christ has happened to us. This is the marvel and the mystery of our salvation . . . The Son of God came down from heaven to earth; He took upon Him human nature, He joined human nature unto Himself, He shared human nature; and as the result of His work we human beings share His life and are in Him, and are participators in all the benefits that come from Him.' D.M. Lloyd-Jones