In Jesus, disciples have peace and good cheer (John 14:1; 16:33). God’s blessings have often been restricted to specific locations:
- The tree of life was in the garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve were driven from there, they had no access to its blessings (Genesis 3:24).
- God offered salvation from the flood in the ark. All who were not in it perished (Genesis 6–9).
- When the firstborn of every family in Egypt faced the plague of death, God provided safety in houses where the Passover lamb’s blood was on the door posts and the lintel (Exodus 12).
- Rahab was saved in Jericho as long as she remained in her house (Joshua 2).
- Paul told those in a storm on his pris on ship: “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31).
Peace, spiritual prosperity, and safety are where God placed them—in the church (Ephesians 1:3; 3:21; Psalm 122:7). Being in Christ is synonymous with being a member of His church (Galatians 3:26–27; Ephesians 1:22–23; 4:4). Some of the blessings found “in Christ” (a phrase Paul used 169 times) include the following:
- Redemption (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14).
- Peace (Romans 5:1).
- Joy (Romans 5:11).
- Grace (Romans 5:17).
- Abundant life (Romans 6:11).
- Eternal life (Romans 6:22; Ephesians 1:3–13; 1 John 5:11).
- Newness of life (Romans 6:4). “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
- Forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7).
- Salvation (2 Timothy 2:10; Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
Since all spiritual blessings are in Christ, and none outside of Him, to receive them, we must be in Him. How does one get into Christ? Several Scriptures answer that question, and they all say the same thing—one is baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12:13). One is brought to Christ by hearing the gospel (Romans 10:13–14), believing it (Hebrews 11:6), repenting of sins (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3), and confessing Christ (Matthew 10:32–33; Romans 10:10). Then one is brought into Christ by baptism.
