There is no place more important for one to be than “in Christ”! Only “in Christ” does one have access to “all spiritual blessings” (Eph. 1:3), “the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7), “an inheritance” (Eph. 1:11), a life with “no condemnation” (Rom. 8:1), “all the promises of God” (2 Cor. 1:20), and “eternal life” (1 John 5:11). The “salvation” that each person so desperately needs can only be found “in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10).
The New Testament plainly teaches that there is only one means of entering into Christ. Paul affirms in Romans 6:3, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” The same is confirmed in Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” These are the only two verses in the New Testament which teach how one enters into Christ. Since salvation is in Christ, it should not surprise us that the Bible also makes it clear that one is baptized in order to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16).
It is obvious how one gets “into Christ,” but how can we know, from that day forward, that we are still in Christ? The Bible warns us about “falling.” “Take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12), “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4), “again entangled… and overcome” (2 Pet. 2:19-22). But, God has not left us to wonder. He has not thrown us into a world of despair or uncertainty regarding our relationship with Christ. We can know!
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:3-5).
Read that again. John says that we can know that we know Him! John says that we can know that we are in Him! How can I have that confidence? These three verses shout it three times — “keep His commandments!”
There is more to keeping the commandments of the Lord than just thinking that we are keeping them! (Read Matthew 7:21-23.) There is more to keeping the commandments of the Lord than just saying that we are keeping them! (Read Mark 7:1-23.)
We have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10), thus let us “keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22). When obedience to the commandments of the Lord is our life’s aim, we know that we are in Christ!