Also, notice that it is baptism that puts us into Christ so
that we can be saved. Galatians 3:27, "For
as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
This is the only way a person can get into Christ. The preposition into
indicates a change of relationship. You can search from the front to the back
of your Bible, and you will find no other way to get into Christ except by
being baptized into Christ. Also Romans 6:3
says the same thing, "Or do you not know, that as many of us as
were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"
So the only way we can get into Christ is to be baptized into Christ. Either
a person has been baptized into Christ, or he is still outside of Christ. We
are either in or we are out. Have you been baptized into Christ in order to
be saved and have your sins forgiven? If you haven’t been, let us
notice some of the things that you are missing.
1) Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ." This
verse tells us that every spiritual blessing is located in Christ. Only those
who are in Christ can enjoy these spiritual blessings. Since this verse says
that every spiritual blessing is in Christ, then there can be no spiritual
blessings for those who are outside of Christ. If you have not been
baptized into Christ, you are still outside of Christ, and you are not entitled
to any spiritual blessings. The Lord arranged it that way and no man
has the right to change it.
2) Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." On
the day of judgment those who are in Christ will not be condemned; but those
who are outside of Christ will be condemned. We go from being condemned to
being forgiven when we are baptized into Christ. If you have not been
baptized into Christ, then you will suffer eternal condemnation.
3 & 4) Only those who are in Christ have been redeemed and forgiven
of their sins. Ephesians 1:7 says, "In
Him we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace." since redemption and
forgiveness of sins are located in Christ, those who have not been baptized
into Christ have not been redeemed and still have every sin they have ever
committed. The scriptures are so clear that a person needs help to misunderstand
it. Are you still outside of Christ? You do not have to stay outside of
Christ.
5) Next we read II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new." If one is in
Christ, he has become a new creation. He has a new beginning in life,
and his "slate has been wiped clean" since he has been forgiven of
all his sins and has become a new saved person. Although, if you are
outside of Christ, you are still an old sinful creature. You still have all
of your sins and are without hope. When is it that one becomes a new
creation? Romans 6:3-4 says, "Or do you not know,
that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His
death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death: that
just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life." When is
one raised to walk in newness of life? This scripture says that it is when we
are raised out of the waters of baptism. At that point we begin our walk in
newness of life. Newness of life does not begin until after baptism.
In John
3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, "Unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Then two verses
later in John 3:5, Jesus tells how being born again
takes place: "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Our Lord is very
emphatic in what he says. No man has the power or authority to repeal what
our Lord has said. Nor does anyone have the authority to rationalize it away
and teach otherwise. Jesus said that we must be born of water and the Spirit.
Jesus said that being born again must not only include the Spirit, but it
must include water. Here we see that when one is baptized in water, he is
raised to walk in newness of life, becoming a new creature, and thus he has
been born again. Are you still an old sinful creature or have you become a
new creature by being baptized into Christ?
6) The Apostle Paul says in II Timothy 2:10,
"Therefore
I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."
Here we see that salvation is located in Christ, and for one to be eligible
for salvation, he must be in Christ. If you are not in Christ, by being
baptized into Christ, you have no hope or promise of salvation. It will be a
horrible thing for a person, who thinks he is saved, when he stands before
the Lord on the day of judgment, if he is still outside of Christ. He will
have no salvation. He will be lost eternally in Hell.
7) In I John 5:11 we read, "And
this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is
in His Son." So according to the inspired word of God,
eternal life is located in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those in Christ have
been promised eternal life. Those who are outside of Christ have no promise
of eternal life. So what does that leave them? It leaves them only eternal
punishment, which is a sad condition. My heart bleeds for them, because I don’t
want to see anyone lost. But how can you get people to wake up to the truth
of God’s word?
The following chart sums up what we have been discussing concerning the
advantages of being in Christ. As we have seen, it is baptism that puts us
into Christ (Rom 6:3, Gal 3:27) so that we can
enjoy all of these spiritual blessings which are in Christ.
Where on the chart are you actually located? Outside of
Christ or inside of Christ? Not where you would like to be located, but where
are you actually located at this time, depending on whether you have been
baptized into Christ or not. If you were baptized for the remission of sins
in order to be saved then you were baptized into Christ. But if your baptism
was not for the remission of sins and not to be saved, then you are still
outside of Christ. If you are outside of Christ, you have no spiritual
blessings, no redemption, no forgiveness of sins; you will be condemned on
the day of judgment; you are still an old sinful creature; you have no hope
of salvation and no hope of eternal life.
As Ephesians
2:12 says, "That at the time you were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
Could a situation get any more desperate than having no hope and being
without God? This is the situation of those who are outside of Christ.
If you thought you were saved when you accepted Christ as you personal
savior, and then later you were baptized, then your baptism was not to save
you. You thought you were already saved before baptism, but you are still
lost because the baptism that puts us into Christ also saves us. If you
thought that your sins were taken away before baptism, when you accepted
Christ as your personal savior, then your baptism was not for the purpose of
forgiveness of sins. You still have every sin you have ever committed and are
still separated from God.
1) (Galatians 3:27 & Romans 6:3) The only way to
get into Christ is To
only believe in Him. Saying
the sinner's prayer. Baptism.
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2) There are many people in Christ who were not baptized into Christ.
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3) (Ephesians 1:3) Every spiritual blessing is located In Christ. Outside
of Christ. In
every person's heart.
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4) Not all spiritual blessings are located in Christ.
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5) (Romans 8:1) What advantage is stated here for those who are in Christ
Jesus? There
is no advantage. No condemnation. Condemnation.
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6) If we are not baptized into Christ we will be eternally condemned.
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7) (Ephesians 1:7) Where is redemption and forgiveness of sins located? Outside
of Christ. At
confession before a priest. In Christ.
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8) Those who have not been baptized into Christ have been redeemed and
forgiven of their sins.
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9) (2 Corinthians 5:17) If anyone is in Christ he is A new creation. An
old sinful creation. Lost.
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10) If one has not been baptized into Christ he is still an old sinful
creature.
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11) (Romans 6:3) When do we start to walk in newness of life? When
we die physically. When we are raised up out
of the waters of baptism. Each
new day.
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12) Newness of life begins before we are baptized.
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13) (John 3:5) Before we can enter the kingdom of God we must Be
born as an infant baby. First
find the kingdom of God. Be born of water and
Spirit.
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14) We are born of water when we are baptized.
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15) (2 Timothy 2:10) What have those who are in Christ obtained? Salvation. No
salvation. Eternal
punishment.
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16) One who is outside of Christ has no hope of salvation.
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17) (1 John 5:11) Only those who are in Christ have the promise of Being
rich in worldly goods. Eternal life. Not
having any problems.
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18) Those outside of Christ have the promise of eternal life.
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19) (Ephesians 2:12) Those who are outside of Christ have No hope of going to Heaven. Hope
of going to Heaven. Another
chance in purgatory.
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20) (Romans 6:3) Baptism is the only way into Christ.