In Him
These two words, ordered in this manner, mean absolutely nothing to the world. Because these two words are part of the language of heaven, unbelievers find nothing in them. A student of the English language may recognize a phrase, a preposition, but they would demand more of the sentence, in order to ascribe meaning.
The Christian, by contrast, recognizes these two words, and he or she would tell you of a gold mind of infinite value. If mature in the faith, the saint would gladly interpret the language for you. In short, “in Him” refers to, “in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1).”
The whole of the Christian life is captured by these two words because the life lived outside of Christ is nothing but sin, waiting for death, then judgment, with its sentence of eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Mt 25:46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). Apart from Christ, man has nothing of eternal value, and he can do nothing about his plight (Jn 15:5). He is like a branch severed from a tree, having no life in itself.
In Christ, the saints have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Eph 1:3), where the Bible positions us, “seated with Christ (Eph 2:6).” This collection of blessings is bestowed upon believers by God’s grace “in the Beloved (Eph 1:6).” In other words, God’s grace is reserved for those who are members of Christ’s body, His church (Mt 16:18; Eph 5:25).
Christ’s blessed church are those God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13). Those chosen to be in Him, have redemption through His blood (Eph 1:7). God’s kind intention was to forgive the sins of His chosen, redeemed people, who hold the status, “forgiven” in Him. This is the mystery of God’s will, revealed to us, who are positioned in Christ, the second Adam (Rom 5:12–21).
The consummation of the ages will complete the summing up of all things in Christ (Eph 1:10). Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” to the glory of the Father. The kingdom and dominion of God’s beloved Son are everlasting (Dan 4:3, 34; 7:14,27). Christ’s church will be presented holy and blameless because of her union with the Son of God (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22), who bought her for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23) with His precious blood on the cross (1 Pet 1:19).
This purchase of blood, from the slave market of sin (Rom 6:6), has set free the redeemed, who have received the token of marital love, the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 4:6; 5:5). This pledge of eternal love is the hope of our inheritance (Eph 1:12), reserved for us in heaven. Those predestined by God to adoption as sons (Eph 1:5), by the will of God, will be united to their inheritance, also predestined for them (Eph 1:11).
So this willed inheritance waits for us, in full, while we enjoy the token or pledge who gives us hope, and who causes us to praise the God of all glory, for having mercy on us and extending the grace of the Gospel message to us. Having been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13), the Gospel message preached to us is now living in us, as our hope in Christ (Eph 1:12).
God did not send this pledge of love to everyone in the world; rather, He sent His Spirit to the elect of the Father, who are the redeemed of Christ. God’s own possession (Eph 1:14), who belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23), as the sheep of His pasture (Ps 100:3).
The sheep know the voice of their Good Shepherd and they trust Him, implicitly. This is a common faith handed down to all the saints (Jude 3), who share in the knowledge of what has been given to them in Him, Christ, the Great Shepherd of His sheep (Heb 13:20). This knowledge is the gold in the gold mine. Everything is abandoned for the sake of this treasure of the heart. It is a glorious inheritance (Eph 1:18), which cannot be lost, stolen, or damaged.
This wisdom, being spiritual, and the revelation of the knowledge of Christ (Eph 1:17), is brought to light only in Christ (Eph 1:20), by the power and illumination of the Holy Spirit. This is the treasure in our earthen vessels. Knowing Christ, because we are known by Him, is more precious than silver or gold or anything else in this world.
The Christian rejoices that he is in Christ and that Christ is in him (Jn 17:23). It is God’s doing that each believer is in Christ (1 Cor 1:30), who has become our all in all (Eph 1:23). Jesus Christ is the head over the church, and all things in the church are subject to Him (Eph 1:22), who is our one and only Leader (Mt 23:10), who sits far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come (Eph 1:21).
Are you in Him? Then, be reminded, by having read this brief essay, that these treasured blessings are yours, in part. There is the promise of so much more to come. Rejoice in the knowledge of these things and delight in Him.
Are you not in Christ? Then, the things I have written to you will have no value in your opinion, nor in your reality. You will continue to value the world and the things of the world, as more precious than the things of Christ and of God. The reason for your poor valuation, of the things of Christ, is that they do not belong to you, nor do you belong to Him (Jn 10:26), which is why you are not in Him. Repent.
David Norczyk
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
November 25, 2020
