In Christ Or In Adam

As we explore the phrases found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as our platform for discovering God’s grace and our new identity in Christ, we begin to unpack the “Theology of In.”

In this overview, we begin to grasp the general concept of what it means to be in Adam, or what it means to be in Christ. The Bible tells us that we participate with the one we’re in.

TRANSCRIPT:

One of the most crucial things to understand about our relationship to God is summed up in just two letters: “i – n.” In.

Today we’re going to start to explore what the Bible has to say about being in Adam and being in Christ. We’re glad you’re here, New Creations. Let’s dive in!

Welcome to episode two of The We Are Recreated Podcast, where we’re exploring the answers from the Bible to two of life’s biggest questions: 1) what is God like towards me and 2) who am I because of Jesus and the cross? You know, these are significant questions that we need to find truth to so that we can live freely in the world and under God’s power and strength. And so we’re starting with this: 2 Corinthians 5:17. It says, “If anyone is in Christ they are a brand new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Our first series here at We Arer Recreated is beginning to unpack this verse, to take it apart piece by piece so that we can see what God has to say about who we are. And so we’re going to start to focus in on this little phrase here: “in Christ.”

As we look at this idea of being in Christ, we need to take a step back and lay some groundwork to understand a broader concept that’s been called by some “The Theology of In.”

“In” is a tiny word, this little preposition, but it carries some profound implications. And when I think of the word “in,” I can’t help but think of Sesame Street. The kids and I often quote one of my favourite Sesame Street sketches from the ’80s. It’s hilarious. It’s the classic Grover the Waiter illustrating how significant this little word is. So, we’ve we’ve got to watch this together. I agree. Here it is:

[Grover] Alright, in the soup. Oh, fly! Little fly! Cute little fly! Now I am looking in the soup, and I do not see a fly, sir. I think you are mistaken

[Mr. Johnson] No, no. Now you’re looking on my soup. You see, the fly isn’t on my soup. It’s not under my soup. It’s not next to my soup. The fly is in my soup, and you haven’t even looked in my soup! You’ve looked everywhere but in my soup!

[Grover] Gah! Well, where do you want the fly??

[Mr. Johnson] I don’t want the fly anywhere!

[Grover] Then why did you ask for a bowl of fly soup?!

I didn’t ask for fly soup.

So, “in” – that small word that carries profound implications. Yep. “In” is a concept that’s all over the Bible, particularly the idea of being in Christ and what it means to be in Christ. And the Bible often contrasts being in Christ with being in Adam. So, here are some examples from the word that use that phrase “in” so we can see what it’s like to be in Adam or to be in Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:22 says in Adam all die.

Romans 8:1 says there is therefore nowno condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.

Galatians 3:26-28 says in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

And that’s just a few of the biblical examples. If you want a more robust list, you can check out Kim’s study guide. There’s a link in the description box below this video.

So, let’s talk about why in is so important. It’s because in our spiritual reality, what happens to the person you’re in also happens to you. More specifically, the Bible shows us that what happened to Adam in the garden we also participated in, not because we were there in person, but because we were all in Adam.

But when we put our faith in Jesus, we’re transferred out of Adam and placed into Christ. And so we find in Scripture that in Christ, what happened to Him at the cross also happens to us. It’s really exciting to dig into. So we’re going to explore the details of each of these positions in a later video. But for now, we’re just grasping the general concept of “in,” and so to do that we want to give you some examples or some illustrations. And the first one is this:

It’s a mom who’s pregnant with a baby in her womb. We know that where Mom goes, baby goes; that what Mom eats (or in this case, drinks), baby eats and drinks. If Mom falls down, baby also falls down with her. Where mom goes, baby goes because the baby is in the mom. That’s what it was like for me [JM] the last time I was on a motorcycle: I was in the womb (and I haven’t been that cool since probably!).

The first time we saw an illustration of “in” was with a pen in a book. Remember this?

Oh, yeah!

When the pen is in the book, what happensto the book happens to the pen by default. So, if the book is on the table, the pen is in the book on the table. If the book moves over here, the pen is in the book over here. If the book drops, the pen also drops because it’s in the book. And if the pen is in the book when the book whacks the guy… don’t be so dramatic!

You’re such a Bible thumper!

Then, uh, the book and the pen whack the guy.

Thanks a lot…
You’re welcome!

One more example: it’s chocolate chips in chocolate chip cookie dough – my personal favourite, actually. As the dough gets mixed, the chocolate chip in the dough also gets mixed. Where did you get that?? As the dough goes on the tray, the chips go on the tray because the chips are in the dough. As the dough is in the oven being baked, the chips are also being baked. And as the cookie or the muffin is eaten, the chocolate chips are also eaten.

Did you bring one of those for me?? *Kim shakes her head “no…”

Okay.

So, in a similar kind of way, what happened with Adam in terms of sin and experiencing the consequences of sin also happened to all of humanity because everybody starts out in Adam. But when we put our faith into Jesus, we’re transferred out of Adam and placed into Him, into Christ, so that what’s true of Him is also true of us. What happened to Him at the cross happens to us. We participate with Him.

If you’re catching a glimpse of how the spiritual truth of being in works, let us know by tapping the thumbs up button and liking this video.
(I know that’s your favorite part…
Yep.)

Hey… we’ve got one more thing for you here from the Bible that kind of talks to this idea of being in. It’s from Hebrews 7:9-10. It’s Levi and Abraham. It says “One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, also paid the tenth through Abraham because when Melchizedek met Abraham Levi was still in the body of his ancestor…”

Thanks, Hebrews. And you go, “How does that help us understand the concept of in?” Well, Levi wouldn’t be born for about 70 years after Abraham died, and yet he somehow paid the tenth to Melchizedek because he was in his ancestor. What happened to Abraham, Levi also participated in.

So, in God’s view, there are only two kinds of people: those who are in Adam, and those who are in Christ. The question is “who are you in?” Or another way of saying it, the biggest issue is which family are you in? Are you in Adam’s Family, or have you been adopted into the family of God? We’re going to unpack both of these positions, which means that it’s time for you to click the link and head on over to the next video because in the next video we’re going to start to explore exactly what it looks like to be in Adam, and we would love to see you there!

And until we do, remember: We Are Recreated.

[Grover] Where’s my tip?