"IN Christ"
Jim Byrd

Surely none of us can read the first chapter of Ephesians without seeing that the Holy Spirit constantly holds before us the glorious fact that the saints of God are safe because we are "in Christ."

1. We were blessed "with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ," verse 3. I take that word "all" to mean exactly what it says. How ever many spiritual blessings there are, they were "all" bestowed upon us "in Christ."

2. We were chosen "in Him" to be "holy and without blame" before the world was ever formed, verse 4. The Father, in covenant grace, chose us unto salvation in His Son. Christ is the Father’s elect Servant (Isaiah 42:1) and we were chosen "in Him."

3. We were predestinated to be God’s children through or "by Jesus Christ," verse 5. Effectual calling does not make us God’s children, but reveals that we are His children through Christ.

4. We were highly favored by God to be "accepted in the Beloved," verse 6. There is no acceptance of any sinner outside of the Lord Jesus. God looks upon us "in Christ" and therefore accepts us. Christ is our righteousness and our worthiness.

5. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood," verse 7. Redemption is a finished, successful, completed work. We were held in bondage by the justice of God, but by His bloody death, the Lord Jesus upheld the integrity of the law enabling God to be just and the Justifier of the ungodly. He fully paid our ransom price.

6. "In Christ" God will someday gather all things together, verse 10. When the ordained time arrives, all of the chosen vessels of mercy will be gathered together in that One Who is our living Head.

7. "In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance," verse 11. "In Christ" we were predestinated to be in the family of God and assigned an everlasting inheritance which no power can possibly hinder us from receiving; it is already ours "in Him."

8. Christ Himself is the Object of our faith. "In Whom ye also trusted," verse 13. We don’t merely believe a plan of salvation, we believe on and trust in Christ.

9. "In Whom" we were sealed by the Holy Spirit, verse 13. Note three things. [1] The sealed ones are the elect of God. [2] The Sealer is the Holy Spirit of promise. [3] The One "in Whom" we are sealed is the Lord Jesus Christ. The elect can never be lost for we are preserved in everlasting safety "in Him."