Lesson Description
The expression in Christ is one of the important truths in the New Testament. It describes the believer’s new spiritual position and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When we believe the gospel, we are no longer to understand our lives only through our past, our achievements, our failures, or what other people say about us. We learn to understand ourselves according to what God has accomplished through His Son.
In this lesson, we will examine what it means to be in Christ, why our new identity matters, and how this truth helps us grow in grace. We will also distinguish between our position in Christ and our ongoing spiritual growth.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the opportunity to learn more about my new life in Jesus Christ. As I study Your Word, help me understand what it means to be in Christ. Teach me to see myself according to Your truth rather than allowing my past, my failures, or the opinions of others to define me. Help me understand the riches of Your grace and learn how to walk in the new life You have given me. May the Holy Spirit guide me into a clearer understanding of Your Word. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Lesson 1: Being in Christ Means Belonging to Him
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV)
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul reminds believers that their position in Christ comes from God. We do not place ourselves in Christ by our own power or by becoming sufficiently religious. God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ, and we receive it through faith.
Being in Christ means that our relationship with God is now understood through Jesus and His finished work. He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
This truth changes the foundation upon which we build our understanding of ourselves. Instead of depending on our personal achievements to establish our acceptance with God, we look to Christ.
Practical Example
A person who has recently believed the gospel may feel that their lack of Bible knowledge makes them unworthy to belong to God. But being in Christ is not a reward for knowing everything. The believer can grow in knowledge while resting in what Christ has already accomplished.
Remember
Our place in Christ is based on God’s provision through Jesus, not on our personal achievements.
Lesson 2: In Christ, We Have a New Identity
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Understanding the Scripture
The phrase in Christ points to a new spiritual reality. The believer is described as a new creature because God has brought about a new life through Christ.
This does not mean that every memory disappears or that all old habits instantly change. It means that the believer’s identity and relationship with God have changed.
Our past experiences may be part of our story, but they do not have to remain the final authority over how we see ourselves. God’s Word teaches us to understand our new life through Christ.
As we learn this truth, we can stop treating our former life as though it has the final word about our future.
Practical Example
Someone who once made serious mistakes may continue to feel ashamed after believing the gospel. Learning what it means to be a new creature helps that person acknowledge the past without allowing it to become their permanent identity.
Remember
In Christ, we have a new identity that is grounded in God’s work, not defined only by our past.
Lesson 3: In Christ, We Have Righteousness Through Faith
Scripture: Philippians 3:9 (KJV)
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul contrasts his own righteousness based on the law with the righteousness that comes from God through faith. His confidence is no longer based on his religious accomplishments.
This is an important truth for every beginner in the faith. We cannot make ourselves righteous before God by collecting enough good deeds or comparing ourselves with other people. Our standing before God rests on Jesus Christ.
This does not mean that our conduct is unimportant. Rather, our conduct should grow from our relationship with Christ instead of becoming an attempt to purchase God’s acceptance.
When we understand righteousness through faith, we can pursue a godly life with gratitude rather than living as though salvation is a prize we must continually earn.
Practical Example
A believer may compare themselves with someone who appears more knowledgeable or spiritually mature. Instead of concluding that God accepts the other person more because of their achievements, they can remember that righteousness before God is received through faith in Christ.
Remember
Our righteousness before God comes through faith in Christ, not through our ability to establish our own righteousness.
Lesson 4: In Christ, We Have Redemption
Scripture: Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Understanding the Scripture
Redemption speaks of deliverance through a price paid. Paul identifies the basis of our redemption as the blood of Jesus Christ.
Notice that the verse says, “we have redemption.” Paul points believers to something God has provided through Christ. The forgiveness of sins is connected to the riches of God’s grace.
This means that our confidence does not rest on how much we can do to compensate for our past. We cannot undo the work of Christ or add our personal achievements as another payment for redemption.
Instead, we learn to appreciate the cost of our salvation and respond to God’s grace with faith, gratitude, and a desire to walk in truth.
Practical Example
A person who believes they must suffer emotionally for years to pay for their past sins can learn from this verse that redemption is provided through Christ. They can acknowledge their past honestly while trusting in God’s provision for forgiveness.
Remember
In Christ, redemption and forgiveness are provided according to the riches of God’s grace.
Lesson 5: In Christ, We Have Peace with God
Scripture: Romans 5:1 (KJV)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul connects justification by faith with peace with God through Jesus Christ.
This peace is more than a temporary feeling of calm. It describes the restored relationship with God that believers have through Christ. Our standing with God does not depend on whether we feel peaceful every moment.
A Christian may experience fear, sadness, confusion, or anxiety. Such feelings should not automatically be interpreted as proof that God has rejected them. Feelings can change, but we must learn what God’s Word says about our relationship with Him.
As we understand the gospel more clearly, we can approach God with confidence and learn to face life’s difficulties from the foundation of His grace.
Practical Example
A believer who feels afraid during a difficult season can return to Romans 5:1 and remember that peace with God is grounded in justification through Jesus Christ, not in having a trouble-free life.
Remember
Through Jesus Christ, we have peace with God because we are justified by faith.
Lesson 6: In Christ, We Are Accepted by God
Scripture: Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul praises God for His glorious grace and declares that believers have been accepted in the Beloved. The phrase the Beloved refers to Jesus Christ.
Our acceptance is therefore connected to Christ. We do not have to establish our worth through human approval, religious performance, or comparison with other people.
This truth does not mean that every choice we make is right or that we should refuse correction. God’s grace gives us a foundation from which we can learn, receive instruction, and mature.
When we understand our acceptance in Christ, correction does not have to mean rejection. We can face areas that need to change without believing that our entire relationship with God depends on our perfection.
Practical Example
A Christian who receives correction from a mature believer can consider the advice carefully without immediately concluding, “God does not love me.” Their acceptance in Christ provides a foundation for learning and growth.
Remember
Our acceptance before God is grounded in His grace and our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Lesson 7: In Christ, We Are No Longer Under Condemnation
Scripture: Romans 8:1 (KJV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul teaches that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In Romans 8, he explains the believer’s life in the Spirit in light of God’s work through Christ.
The verse should not be used to suggest that sin does not matter or that believers never need correction. Rather, it directs our attention to the freedom from condemnation that is found in Christ.
There is a difference between condemnation and correction. Condemnation declares a person guilty and rejected; godly correction helps a believer recognize what is wrong and learn to walk in truth.
When we understand this distinction, we can address our mistakes honestly without returning to the belief that we must earn our salvation through perfect performance.
Practical Example
When a believer recognizes that they have acted wrongly, they can acknowledge the wrong, seek to make things right where appropriate, and learn from Scripture. They do not need to conclude that Christ’s work has become meaningless or that God has stopped offering grace.
Remember
In Christ, we are free from condemnation; this freedom encourages us to walk in truth rather than ignore our mistakes.
Lesson 8: In Christ, We Have Direct Access to the Father
Scripture: Ephesians 2:18 (KJV)
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul explains that through Jesus Christ, believers have access to the Father by one Spirit. Our access to God is made possible through Christ.
We do not need to believe that God is unreachable until we have performed enough religious activities or found a special person to make us acceptable. Christ is the basis of our access to the Father.
Prayer, fellowship, and learning God’s Word remain important parts of the Christian life. But they are not payments we make to purchase access to God. They are ways we respond to the relationship God has provided through His Son.
This truth can help new believers develop a personal life of prayer grounded in faith rather than fear.
Practical Example
A new Christian may feel unsure how to pray. They can begin by speaking honestly to God, learning from Scripture, and remembering that access to the Father is through Jesus Christ rather than through perfect words.
Remember
Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Lesson 9: In Christ, We Belong to One Body
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV)
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul describes believers as members of the body of Christ. This teaches us that the Christian life is not meant to be understood only as an individual experience.
Believers have different gifts, responsibilities, backgrounds, and opportunities to serve. These differences do not mean that one person is more valuable to Christ than another.
Belonging to Christ’s body calls us to learn from one another, serve one another, and pursue unity in the truth. It also reminds us that spiritual growth should not lead us into pride or contempt for other believers.
At the same time, unity does not require us to accept every teaching without examination. We should continue to test what we hear against Scripture while treating others with love and respect.
Practical Example
A new believer may think that they have nothing to contribute because they are not a preacher or teacher. Yet they can encourage others, pray, help someone in need, or serve faithfully in another appropriate way.
Remember
In Christ, we belong to His body and can learn to serve others according to the grace God gives us.
Lesson 10: We Must Learn to Walk According to Our Identity in Christ
Scripture: Colossians 2:6 (KJV)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
Understanding the Scripture
Paul encourages believers to walk in Christ in the same way they received Him. We receive Christ through faith, and our continuing walk is rooted in Him.
This means that Christian growth does not require us to abandon grace and return to trying to earn God’s acceptance. We continue depending on Christ as we learn, obey God’s Word, serve others, and mature in our conduct.
We may discover areas where our thinking and behaviour do not yet reflect what Scripture teaches. When that happens, we can return to God’s Word, receive instruction, and take practical steps toward growth.
Our new identity is the foundation of our Christian walk, not a substitute for learning and living faithfully.
Practical Example
A believer who learns that they have been speaking harshly to others can study what Scripture teaches about speech, acknowledge the problem, and practise responding with patience and kindness. They do this as someone learning to walk in Christ, not as someone trying to buy salvation.
Remember
We receive Christ through faith and continue learning to walk in Him through the truth of God’s Word.
Lesson Summary
Being in Christ means that our new spiritual position and relationship with God are grounded in Jesus Christ and His finished work. In Him, we have a new identity, righteousness through faith, redemption, peace with God, acceptance, freedom from condemnation, and access to the Father. We also belong to the body of Christ.
These truths do not mean that believers never make mistakes or no longer need to grow. Instead, they provide the foundation from which we learn and mature. We do not have to build our identity on our past, our achievements, our feelings, or the approval of other people.
As we study Scripture, we learn to think and live in a way that reflects the life we have received through Christ.
Final Takeaway
Being in Christ means that our identity, relationship with God, and spiritual standing are grounded in Jesus Christ. We grow by learning to understand and live according to the truth of who we are in Him.
Reflection Question
Which truth about being in Christ has encouraged you most in this lesson, and how can you use that truth when facing challenges in your daily life?