Thoughts on Being IN Christ

That Christ is in us, and we are in Christ is the unity Jesus prayed about in John 17:20–23

“I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me." (NASB 2020)

It is spiritual unity.

“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17, NASB 2020)

We are in Christ in much the same way that we are in our earthly family. By human birth, we are inexorably made children of our parents for life. We are members of their family. We are in their family. By spiritual birth we are inexorably made children of God for Life. We are members of His family. We are in His family.

In marriage, too, we have an example. When human brides say "yes" to their future husband's proposal and get married, they change their identity and move from their birth family to a new family. In the spiritual realm, we all begin life in Adam's family. The family of the flesh. When we say "yes" to Christ's proposal, we are married to Him, our identity is changed and move from our fleshly-birth family to a new family.