There’s a little nugget in Philippians 3 that is especially important, but it’s often overlooked. Paul was describing his pedigree as a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (v.6), and then said, “these I have counted loss for Christ” (v. 7).
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (vv. 8-9).
I want you to notice two simple words in verse nine: “in Him.” One of Paul’s favorite descriptions of Christians and of Christianity, was that phrase, “in Him,” or “in Christ.” In Paul’s correspondence, he used that phrase eighty-seven times. It’s a good way to describe our relationship with God.
And it’s unique to Christianity.
Jews don’t speak of being “in Moses.” Buddhists don’t say, “in Buddha.” Muslims don’t talk about being “in Muhammad.” Mormons don’t say, “I’m in Joseph Smith.” But we’re told throughout the New Testament that, if we believe in Christ, we are “in Him.”
What does it mean to be in Him? It means that, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus. You’re identified with the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When God looks at you, He sees Jesus Christ. Let that settle.
Now, you can’t go sixty miles an hour by yourself. But in a car, you can. You can’t fly through the air at 500 miles per hour by yourself. But in a plane, you can. You can’t get to heaven by yourself. But in Christ, you can.
God has taken the sinless nature of Christ—who committed no sin—and exchanged it for our sinful nature. So “He [God] made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). You’re in Christ.
Don’t take these little words, this simple description, and say, “I don’t know what that means. It’s sort of obscure.” No, it isn’t. You are in Christ.
And I hope the next time you see this phrase, you’ll zero in on it and contemplate what it truly means.
“That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:8-9).
So, are you in Christ?
