"In Christ"
Ephesians 1:3
Every blessing of grace
is "in Christ". God only deals with sinners in mercy "in
Christ". Everything that God himself can give to and everything he
requires of sinners is "in Christ". And "in Christ" God has
from eternity given every blessing of grace and glory to all his elect,
according to his own purpose of grace in covenant election (Eph. 1:3-6; II Tim.
1:9). These blessings of grace, bestowed upon us "in Christ" before
the world began, are unconditional, immutable, and irreversible. "For the gifts and callings of God are without
repentance" (Rom.
ELECTION,
PREDESTINATION, AND ADOPTION ARE IN CHRIST. Christ was first elected to be our
Surety, Substitute, Mediator, and Representative as the Servant of Jehovah
(Isa.42:1). Then we were chosen in him, pre- destinated to be like him,adopted to be sons of God, in the family of God, with
him,and accepted by God in him.
REDEMPTION, THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND SAVING GRACE ARE IN CHRIST. Redemption is that which
Christ obtained for God's elect by pouring out his life's blood unto death as
our Substitute for the satisfaction of Divine justice (Heb.
REGENERATION, FAITH,
AND PRESERVATION ARE IN CHRIST. Eternal life is in Christ. Apart from Christ
there is no life. In regeneration Christ comes to live in us and causes us to
live in him by the power and grace of his Spirit. The immediate fruit of
regeneration is faith in Christ, faith by which we receive all the benefits of
his finished work. And we are sealed in grace, kept and preserved, by God the
Holy Spirit, who dwells within us.
EVEN OUR RESURRECTION,
HEAVENLY INHERITANCE, AND ETERNAL GLORY ARE IN CHRIST. When we are raised from
the dead, we shall eternally enjoy an inheritance which Christ has earned,
purchased, and claimed for us, and we shall be partakers of his glory as our
Mediator! That is grace!
Don Fortner