Heart2Heart SHARING

Three little words are sometimes more powerful in God’s Word than thousands. “He is Risen” have got to be at the top of my list. “I have sinned” would simplify our lives greatly if we used them instead of the long drawn out apologies we tend to use. “God is Love” is the phrase that carried me through for years of my life. “Go in peace” is the blessing from the Lord. “Come, Lord Jesus” defines our hope. “Pray without ceasing” gives us purpose in life. “It is written” is our greatest weapon against the enemy. “It is Finished” indicates our redemption is complete.

Of all the key phrases in God’s Word, none is so deep and its beauty so vast as the phrase: “In Christ Jesus”. This phrase is in one way so overwhelmingly simple it screams out “this is easy to understand”, but in other ways it subtly defies the greatest experts to even begin to comprehend its full meaning. Everything we have as children of God is “in Christ Jesus”. Everything God did for us, He did “in Christ Jesus”. The entire purpose of the ages and the ultimate will of God is “in Christ Jesus”. In a way, everything we need to know about our Christian character, nature, calling and purpose is all “in Christ Jesus”.

Whereas the phrase “Christ in you” is only used a few places in the New Testament; the phrase “in Christ” is used 88 times with 49 of those being “in Christ Jesus” usages. If one were to scrutinize the Greek texts, there would probably be more places where texts omit the word “in” or fail to add the word Jesus after Christ. The point is, there are a minimum of 49 places in the New Testament where the phrase “in Christ Jesus” is used.

It is important to understand the difference between “Jesus” and “Christ”. Jesus was our Savior’s name given to him by Mary per God’s instructions. The word “Jesus” simply means “deliverer”. When the word “Jesus” is used alone, it is emphasizing the humanity, servant’s attitude and redeeming qualities of Jesus the man. Just as Joshua delivered the children of Israel in the Old Testament; so Jesus delivered us through him giving his life in the New Testament.

Jesus was born in a manger, lived a simple life of a servant, suffered and died on the cross. Whenever you see a crucifix, it reminds us of the humiliated and humbled man who through his love gave himself a perfect sacrifice for our sins. The Jews had Jesus crucified and Pilate ordered Jesus beaten and whipped relentlessly. The Roman guards planted a crown of thorns on Jesus head and drove nails into his hands and feet. Jesus hung on the cross and uttered those stupendous last words; “It is finished” when his personal work was done. The last thing Jesus could do for us was give up his life.

When Jesus was alive he was known as the Christ or the Messiah. He was the promised seed and future king of Israel. His people rejected him and put him to death. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He was now CHRIST. This name, as it used throughout the New Testament, other than the Gospels, refers to the risen, exalted and glorified Son of God whom God raised from the dead with eternal life spirit. From God’s point of view, when He is referring to what He did through the resurrection; He uses the name CHRIST.

Thus, when the emphasis is on what the man who was born in Bethlehem did personally for us, the name Jesus is used. When the emphasis is on what God did for him and us through the resurrection; the name Christ is used. When used together, whichever name is used first is the emphasized quality being exhibited. Jesus Christ places the emphasis on Jesus, for it is used first. Jesus Christ is the humiliated one who gave his life for us and is the one God raised from the dead. Christ Jesus is the resurrected, exalted and glorified one who gave his life for us.

In its simplicity; “Jesus” emphasizes his humility, love and service while “Christ” emphasizes his glory, majesty and power. “Jesus” focuses on what he did for us through his life and death. “Christ” focuses on what God did through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. There are good reasons why at times you see only “Jesus” or only “Christ” in the New Testament. There are also reasons why you see “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” as well. Always remember that the reason for the name used in any given scripture is EMPHASIS. God is placing special emphasis on something in the verse by way of His choice of names and the order of the names.

Before moving on, I must mention the third word used which is “Lord”. This word, which means “master” is reserved for one with authority over the affairs of a household or property. The word denotes ownership and indeed, a Lord is served by slaves and servants. Lord is the designation given to whoever is “head” of the operation, household or business. When used of Jesus, this title is used to designate him as leader of the church and head of the body of Christ. Again, when used with other names, the order of the words reflects the emphasis being placed at the time it is used.

The phrase, “Lord Jesus Christ” places the emphasis on “Lord” then on “Jesus” and finally on “Christ”. The phrase “Jesus Christ our Lord” puts the emphasis on “Jesus” then “Christ” and finally on “Lord”. Understanding this principle of Biblical research will help you greatly to better grasp God’s heart as He lays out a great truth in conjunction with various aspects of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The little word “in” means exactly that—“in”. In the Greek, the little preposition “en” represents a dot in the middle of a circle. It represents what is found “within” something. We put gasoline IN the tank. We find money IN the bank. We have horses IN the barn. There are calories IN chocolate cake. There are people IN the mall. The little word “in” represents abiding and remaining within, or at rest within. We sleep IN the bed. We live IN the world.

Placing the word “in” before any of the names or titles of our Savior, changes the emphasis from being ABOUT him to what is found IN him. It also is used to describe the state of fellowship and identification a believer reaches through the renewed mind. When a believer is “IN CHRIST JESUS”, he is at rest within everything God did through the resurrection and ascension of Christ and everything Jesus did for us. Very simply put, there are two ways this phrase is used; one describes various things made available to us from God found “IN CHRIST JESUS”. The other describes us when we rise up through the renewed mind to become “As HE IS”. He is Christ Jesus, as we know.

There are numerous places where the phrases “in Christ” and “in the Lord” are used, and these provide exciting adventures in learning for another time and place. When we see the three words “IN CHRIST JESUS” they should immediately jump off the page of our Bible and shout “look at me!” When we see this phrase used many times in one chapter or one book of the Bible, we should take special note of the section and spend time reading and working it to understand what is being shown.

A classic example of this would be found in Romans chapter 8. There are three usages of “in Christ Jesus” in the chapter. Another prime example is Ephesians chapter 2 where the phrase is used four times, and chapter 3 where it is used another 3 times. The phrase is used 3 times in Philippians chapter 4 and it used 5 times in 2 Timothy. Interestingly, it is not used at all in 2 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians or any book after 2 Timothy. It is a phrase unique to Paul’s writings and in fact, presents the revelation God gave him in all its grandeur.

Perhaps the first place this phrase is used is the best place to start building an understanding of its significance. In Acts 24:24 we find the only usage outside of Paul’s writings; and we find perhaps the very foundation upon which the understanding of this wonderful phrase is built:

“And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.”

Some of the texts add “Jesus” after the word Christ. Either way, what is important to note is that FAITH is “IN CHRIST” or perhaps “IN CHRIST JESUS”. Whatever the true Christian faith is, it is found “IN CHRIST”. Please look at these other examples of the “faith in Christ Jesus”:

“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints.”

Colossians 1:4

“For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 3:13

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”.

2 Timothy 1:13

Our very faith, the Christian faith, is found “in Christ Jesus”. If we sincerely want to understand what we have, who we are and everything God asks of us; it is all found “in Christ Jesus”. The beginning point of understanding is found in Romans3:24 where it says:

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

We have been acquitted of all previous sins and offences freely by God’s grace. The way God imparted this wonderful gift to us is through, or by means of, the redemption that is “IN CHRIST JESUS”. Redemption is the purchasing back by way of paying a ransom. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins through his willingly giving his life. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son… God paid the ransom for our redemption in Christ Jesus. Because of this, we have been justified freely by His grace.

Our redemption is not found “in Jesus” or even “in Jesus Christ”. Our redemption is “IN CHRIST JESUS”. God did not place the order of these names here by accident. It was through the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus that our redemption was made complete. When Jesus gave his life, the price was paid, but without the resurrection and later the ascension; God would never have been able to appropriate that redemption TO US.

Right off the bat in our introduction to this subject, we have seen that both the Christian Faith and our redemption is “in Christ Jesus”. Those are two pretty powerful things to have their root in a phrase that for the most part is skimmed over and rarely studied. As we continue looking at the various things found “in Christ Jesus”, I promise that you will be amazed at the simplicity and the wonder of God’s Word.

As in everything in life; whatever we love, we want more of. The more we can develop a love for the Word of God; the more we will be drawn to it, read it, study it, memorize it, speak it and live it. I am not ashamed to say I love the Word of God. I love the simplicity, honesty and absolute integrity of God’s Word. After all, the Word of God represents the very life of God for God breathed it into existence. This is why I love to go hard to the Word and find those jewels of knowledge and wisdom.