Plugged In

The most important two words

If you could highlight two words in the entire New Testament, they'd be: "in Christ."

Paul uses this phrase (and its variations — "in Him," "in whom," "in Christ Jesus") over 160 times in his letters. It's not decoration. It's the core of everything.

"If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Being "in Christ" doesn't mean you're standing near Him. It means you've been placed inside what happened to Him. His story became your story. His death became your death. His resurrection became your resurrection.

How it works

Think of it like this: imagine you're inside a building. Whatever happens to that building happens to you. If the building moves, you move. If the building is destroyed, you're destroyed with it. If the building is rebuilt, you're rebuilt with it.

When Christ died, everyone who is "in Him" died. When He was buried, they were buried. When He rose, they rose.

"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." — Ephesians 2:6

This already happened. Past tense. You're not waiting for it. You're not working toward it. If you're in Christ, it's done.

Baptism: the picture

This is what baptism represents — going under the water (buried with Christ) and coming back up (raised with Christ):

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." — Romans 6:3-4

Baptism isn't what saves you — it's a picture of what already happened to you spiritually. You went down with Him. You came up with Him. The old life ended. A new one started.

You're adopted

Here's the part that should wreck you (in a good way): you're not just forgiven. You're not just "allowed in." You're adopted.

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" — Romans 8:15

"Abba" is the Aramaic word for "Dad." It's intimate. It's personal. It's the word a little kid uses when they run into their father's arms.

That's your relationship with God now. Not judge. Not boss. Not distant creator. Father. And you're His child — not because you earned it, but because He chose you.

"He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." — Ephesians 1:5

In accordance with His pleasure. He wanted you. Let that land.

So what changed?

Everything. Here's the before and after:

Before Christ:

• You were a self-sourcer — trying to generate life from within
• You were separated from God — the veil was up
• You were under the law — which only showed you how broken you were
• You were spiritually dead — breathing but not truly alive

In Christ:

• You're a receiver — life flows from the Source through you
• You have direct access to God — the veil is torn
• You're under grace — loved and accepted as you are
• You're spiritually alive — raised with Christ, new creation

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." — Galatians 5:1

You're free. Not free to do whatever you want. Free to finally be who you were made to be — a child of God, alive with His life, connected to the Source.

But what does that life actually look like when it's flowing? That's next.