Paul’s important expression “in Christ” and its equivalent (“in Him”) appears more often in Ephesians (35 times) than in any other New Testament book. The “in Christ” relationship that is available to every believer is rich and multifaceted:
- we have received every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3),
- we were chosen in Christ (1:4, 11),
- we were adopted as God’s children in Christ (1:5),
- we have redemption in Christ (1:7),
- our hope is in Christ (1:12),
- we were sealed in Christ (1:13),
- we were made alive in Christ (2:5),
- we were raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly realms (2:6),
- we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (2:10),
- we are joined together in Christ (2:21),
- we are sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (3:6),
- we can approach God with freedom and confidence in Christ (3:12), and
- we are called to strengthen ourselves in Christ’s mighty power (6:10).
What John says Jesus has made us
To him who loves us and has set us free[g] from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom,[h] priests[i] to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6