Our True Answers to Our Questions is found "in Christ">
Often our focus is to find the will of God and answers to our many questions. Do we not know that the Father's will and the answers to our many questions will all be found "in Christ"? What is the difference from a birthed son and a covenant son? What are some significant every and all statements found "in Christ"? What is a revelation of Jesus Christ? Why is that important and how will it affect us for Christ? These are just a few of the important things we want to look into, as we open the Word of truth with some of the 210 "in Christ" verses found in the New Testament. Reveal Christ, O Holy Spirit is my prayer.

"IN CHRIST"
By Dwight Davis

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One having once then blessed us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ: According as He for Himself once then chose us in Him before laying down the foundation of the world, that we should ever be holy and unblemished before him in love" (Eph. 1:3,4, author's translation).

First, Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenlies is In Christ
The Apostle Paul in his epistles alone uses the term "in Christ" at least 145 times. It may be found in Paul's epistles also using synonym terms such as: "in Him," "in Christ Jesus," "in Jesus Christ," "in the Lord," or "in God." In fact, in the entire New Testament, I have found 210 references to this "in Christ" statement. There is much to understand about the finished work of Christ on the cross, bound in that simple, but infinite statement of "in Christ." The scripture clearly tells us that "all spiritual blessings" (KJV) or "every spiritual blessing" (NKJ, NIV, NAS) in the heavenlies is in Christ. Our Father has birthed us by the Holy Spirit placing the Spirit of His Son in us and us "in Christ." Every spiritual blessing comes through the truth that we are now a birthed son of God, while Israel was a covenant son of God. Every member of the Church is a birthed son of God. Israel was primarily promised temporal blessings. The church is primarily promised spiritual blessings and they are all "in Christ." This is where Paul exhorts us to ever be "rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).

Second, All the Promises of God to the Birthed Sons are In Christ
Paul even goes further and tells the brethren that "all the promises of God are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (II Cor. 1:20). Why? It is again because we are a birthed son, no longer a covenant Son like Israel. We have all the promises because we are birthed "in Christ" and we are one with them "in Him." Paul said, "In Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (I Cor. 15:22). Every born again son is made alive because we are "in Christ" and Christ is in us (I Cor. 12:13; I Pet. 1:23; Col. 1:27). Why indeed would we use Old Testament applications from God dealing with His Covenant Sons to translate them as promises for the Church? We are a new creation race (II Cor. 5:17). God is dealing with the Church in a much different way than any other dispensation. Those in the Old Testament had had the Holy Spirit working upon them. A few were noted as being filled with the Spirit. Peter declares that it was "the Spirit of Christ" working IN the Old Testament Prophets (I Pet. 1:11). Although, none in the Old Testament were eternally born again with His Son.

Third, The Father Placed All the Fullness of Truth in Christ
Paul declares, "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fullness once then indwell" (Col. 1:19). It is the Father's plan that all fullness should be found "in Christ." Then, why would the Church look in other directions for anything? This really makes the direction easy and clear for the Church. Is it in Christ? If it not in Christ, it is not a part of the eternal plan of God for the Church. If it focused in Christ, by Christ and through Christ – then it is in truth.

Fourth, We are Complete in Christ the Head with the Fullness of the Trinity
Paul shares another significant fact, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). When you received Christ at the Spirit rebirthing, you received the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Father, all in Christ. "We are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:10). Why do believers attempt to fight against Satan? We certainly know Satan is real and don't want anyone to underestimate Him. However, do we not know that greater is He that is within us, than he who is in the world (I John 4:4). Do we not really know that we have the head of all principality and power living in us? Do we not really know that we have all the fullness of the Godhead bodily living in us through Christ, who is our life? It is Christ in us, who defeats Satan.

Fifth, In Christ are Hid All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge
We have the Father to provide His will and direction to us. We have the Holy Spirit to renew our mind, so that the same mind will be in us, that was also "in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). The Holy Spirit will let us know that our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification (or holiness) is all in Christ (I Cor. 1:30). Christ was made all these things in behalf of us. Paul encourages us toward "all riches of the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2). Paul declares that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden in both the Father and Christ (Col. 2:2,3). Again, Paul has declared that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ (Col. 2:9). As Spirit rebirthed sons, Christ now dwells in us and we are complete "in Christ" (Col. 1:27; 2:10). This is why Paul can declare that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ in us.

Sixth, The Holy Spirit Teaches and Reveals A Revelation of Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit had been intensely teaching me for several years, as I intensely sought more and more of the Lord. The Holy Spirit provided me His firm foundation in the Word and the Spirit. I remember asking the Lord for some answers to about 17 different questions. At that point in time, He began directing me to go to a Bible College. I began taking a Theology course in the Book of Ephesians. On September 17, 1974 – we were discussing Paul's prayer to the Ephesians. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give to you the spirit of wisdom and the revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph. 1:17). I then reflected on having prayed that for myself for over a year. In about five seconds, the Holy Spirit gave to me a revelation of Jesus Christ. It was like a great open door in the Spirit had been opened up for me at that time. I now saw Christ was my answer for every question that I had been asking. Christ is wisdom and knowledge. Christ is truth. Christ is peace and my joy. Christ is everything that I was searching for. Every answer was revealed to be "in Christ." My life has never been the same since. It was not a new revelation, but the Holy Spirit revealed the same unfolding revelation given to the Apostle Paul.

Seventh, Christ is our Life, our Strength, our Fullness and Our All in All
The Father wants the Church to know the mystery of His will. It is according to His good pleasure that He purposed His will to be in Himself (Eph. 1:9). In all the fullness of times the Father is gathering "together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him" (Eph. 1:10). Our liberty is "in Christ" (Gal. 2:4). God always causes us to triumph "in Christ" (II Cor. 2:14). For Christ is our life – our strength – our fullness – our all in all.