What Does It Mean to be In Christ?

[Fred]

I would think that someone who believes the gospel of the kingdom of God and is baptized into Christ is IN Christ.
To say otherwise is a denial of Galatians 3

Gal 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 - For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 - And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Do you see any way that scripture can be twisted?

Galatians 3:27 refers to the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

 

[LeviR]

Galatians 3:27 refers to the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

So I’ve heard. Romans 6?

 

[Arial]

It was an act of faith that the Jews came to the Jordan to be baptized. If they had no faith, they would not have come.
They believed their Messiah had come and so they went by faith to Jordan.

John was baptizing before Messiah showed up as well a after. That baptism was a baptism of repentance, not salvation. It was in preparation of his imminent coming. "Behold the voice of one crying in the wilderness---" (Before) "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (After.)

Christian baptism did not begin until Christ's work among us was complete and he returned to the Father where he was before he came to us.

 

[Mr GLee]

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.

Belief leads one to be baptized. Being baptized is a work of faith.

Some say this baptism spoken of above refers to Holy Spirit baptism. I disagree.

In that way we must be careful what we hear by whom we do hear.

Christ labor of love is a work of his faith or powerful belief. It is not of us that have no power of faith .human faith. . powerless .

In that way Christ poured out his Holy Spirit on dying mankind in jeapordy of his Own Spirit life . giving us a little of the faith or power calling us "Ye of little faith" . Thinking it would make a great tattoo

Be careful how the word faith is used.

Satan the counterfeiter would make it all one in the same to take away the spiritual value the unseen things of Christ who woks in us

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

[Fred]

So I’ve heard.

Then you heard correctly.

Romans 6?

Same thing.

So too with 1 Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 2:12 and Ephesians 4:5.

 

[Fred]

Romans 6:3-6
(3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
(4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
(6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

A person is no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6) when the spirit of slavery (Romans 8:15) is cancelled.
This took place when Cornelius and the other Gentiles with him received the Spirit of adoption (Acts 10:47; cf. Romans 8:15) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48).

 

[Fred]

Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Romans 6:3
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

Since being "baptized into Christ" in Romans 6:3 refers to the baptism with the Holy Spirit (see my previous post), the same is true here in Galatians 3:27.


Notice that the beginning of Galatians 3 the focus in on the Holy Spirit - not water baptism.

Galatians 3:1-5
(1) You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
(2) This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
(3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
(4) Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
(5) So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

When one receives the Spirit (v. 2) is the beginning of their Christian life (3:3).

The same Greek word for "received" in Galatians 3:2 is used in reference to the Gentiles in Acts 10:47 before their water baptism in Acts 10:48.
Acts 10:47-48
(47) “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”
(48) And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.


There are two other important points:
1. At the same moment when one receives the promise of the Spirit through faith (v. 14) = through faith (v. 26) - is when this "baptism" (v. 27) takes place.

2. Since Cornelius and the other Gentiles with him received the promise of the Spirit (Acts 10:47) proves the blessing of Abraham belonged to them (Galatians 3:14), and as such they were Abraham's descendant's (Christians) before their water baptism (Galatians 3:29; cf. Acts 10:48).

Galatians 3:14, 26-29
(14) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
(27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(29) And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

 

[Fred]

1 Corinthians 12:13 refers to the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Drinking of one Spirit occurs when He is received.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free,
and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

John 7:37-39
(37) Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
(38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
(39) But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Acts 10:47-48
(47) “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”
(48) And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Since the Holy Spirit was received by the Gentiles (Acts 10:47) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48) proves they did
"drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13) before their water baptism.
Thus, the baptism mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:13 refers to being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 

[Fred]

Colossians 2:11-12
(11) and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
(12) having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

All who have undergone this baptism have been circumcised made without hands. Reference is to the spiritual aspect of each. There is an allusion to literal circumcision as well as to literal water baptism, but not a reference to them.

The circumcision Paul speaks of "is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit" - the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Since Cornelius and the other Gentiles with him were already given the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-45) means they were worshiping in the Spirit.
Acts 10:46
For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

Thus, before their water baptism they were already members of the circumcision (i.e., Christians) - see Philippians 3:3.

Philippians 3:3
for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

The removal of the body of flesh (Col. 2:11) corresponds with our body of sin might be done away (Romans 6:6) which takes place when one is baptized with the Holy Spirit. (see post 26).
Colossians 2:11
and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
Romans 6:6
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

 

[Fred]

Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

It's very easy to figure out what the "one baptism" is in Ephesians 4:5 for it is the same thing as being "sealed with the Holy Spirit" that Paul earlier spoke of in Ephesians 1:13 (and later on in Ephesians 4:30). This baptism/sealing with the Holy Spirit takes place at the moment one becomes a member of the NT Church.

Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:7-8
(7) After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
(8) And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.

This "giving" of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:8) = being sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
This took place when the Gentiles were "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 11:16; cf. Ephesians 4:5) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48).

 

[LeviR]

Then you heard correctly.



Same thing.

So too with 1 Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 2:12 and Ephesians 4:5.

That Romans 6 and Galatians 3 refers to baptism of the Holy Spirit is usually an argument made by those who don’t accept that the manifestation of miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased.
Proof positive might make a better case.

 

[Fred]

That Romans 6 and Galatians 3 refers to baptism of the Holy Spirit is usually an argument made by those who don’t accept that the manifestation of miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased.

That doesn't apply in my case.

Proof positive might make a better case.

I already gave plenty of evidence (which has not been refuted) that both Romans 6 and Galatians 3 refer to the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

 

[Arial]

That Romans 6 and Galatians 3 refers to baptism of the Holy Spirit is usually an argument made by those who don’t accept that the manifestation of miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased.
Proof positive might make a better case.

You needed to specify that is what you were referring to when you said some believe the Romans and Gal passages were thought to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And then not argue against the baptism ,mentioned in those passages has nothing to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit on those grounds. @Fred is correct, we are baptised into Christ by the Holy Spirit. It is this baptism: Matt 3:11-17 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." That is John the Baptist speaking.

So the Holy Spirit is doing two things. Baptizing into Christ and judging those who are not baptized into Christ. Jesus tells us in John 3 in his conversation with Nicodemus, just how the Holy Spirit brings one into Christ. Through the new birth which is an inner change of heart, one that was turned away from God to one that is now turned towards him. And he says no one will come to him, (be joined to him through faith) unless God does this by the Holy Spirit.

All true believers are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, they are sealed in him by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit indwells them for God's glory---not leaving his children as orphans.

 

[Fred]

"in Christ"

I would add the above to the quotation below:

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT): Phrases such as en kyriō, en pneumati, en heni sōmati, en pistei and en alētheia indicate states which Christians live and act (3:1191, Appendix F. "en" 4. Figurative Sense, M. J. Harris).

en kyriō = in (the) Lord
en pneumati = in (the) Spirit
en heni sōmati = in one body
en pistei = in faith
en alētheia = in truth

 

[LeviR]

You needed to specify that is what you were referring to when you said some believe the Romans and Gal passages were thought to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And then not argue against the baptism ,mentioned in those passages has nothing to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit on those grounds. @Fred is correct, we are baptised into Christ by the Holy Spirit. It is this baptism: Matt 3:11-17 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." That is John the Baptist speaking.

So the Holy Spirit is doing two things. Baptizing into Christ and judging those who are not baptized into Christ. Jesus tells us in John 3 in his conversation with Nicodemus, just how the Holy Spirit brings one into Christ. Through the new birth which is an inner change of heart, one that was turned away from God to one that is now turned towards him. And he says no one will come to him, (be joined to him through faith) unless God does this by the Holy Spirit.

All true believers are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, they are sealed in him by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit indwells them for God's glory---not leaving his children as orphans.

According to the context, Cornelius was a believer in the God of the Jews. And even with knowledge of the Messiah as the word of God had spread throughout all of Judea.
So, I wouldn’t presume it was the giving of the Holy Spirit which caused Cornelius to believe and then be baptized.
And again, according to the context, Cornelius was given the Holy Spirit as a way to show the Jews that God had opened the door of salvation for the Gentiles also.
There would have to be some display of confirmation for the Jews to realize this.
Something more than just going to be baptized.

 

[Arial]

According to the context, Cornelius was a believer in the God of the Jews. And even with knowledge of the Messiah as the word of God had spread throughout all of Judea.
So, I wouldn’t presume it was the giving of the Holy Spirit which caused Cornelius to believe and then be baptized.
And again, according to the context, Cornelius was given the Holy Spirit as a way to show the Jews that God had opened the door of salvation for the Gentiles also.
There would have to be some display of confirmation for the Jews to realize this.
Something more than just going to be baptized.

Just because someone has never heard of something does not mean that something has not happened. And I don't presume it, I showed you where Jesus tells us about this in John 3.

 

[Fred]

According to the context, Cornelius was a believer in the God of the Jews. \

But still not saved (Acts 11:14).

And again, according to the context, Cornelius was given the Holy Spirit as a way to show the Jews that God had opened the door of salvation for the Gentiles also.

To show that he was saved (1 John 4:13).

There would have to be some display of confirmation for the Jews to realize this.

Acts 10:46.

 

[Arial]

And again, according to the context, Cornelius was given the Holy Spirit as a way to show the Jews that God had opened the door of salvation for the Gentiles also.

The speaking in other languages was the sign. And the sign was to show that both Jews and Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit, which is how people are brought into Christ. Salvation had come to the nations.

 

[Fred]

1 Corinthians 12:28 teaches the gift of tongues is for those "in the church."

Did these Gentiles have this gift (Acts 10:46) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48)?

 

[makesends]

1 Corinthians 12:28 teaches the gift of tongues is for those "in the church."

Did these Gentiles have this gift (Acts 10:46) before their water baptism (Acts 10:48)?

Do you think the Spirit cannot cause anybody at all that God chooses to speak in tongues, whether they are believers, "in the church" or not?

Look to the tower of Babel.

You are taking 1 Corinthians 12:28 out of context, to make it such a blanket statement.