5.26 Epistles – Are you in Christ or Adam?

When it comes to sin and righteousness, the root issue is not our performance. The real issue is whether we are in Adam (the fallen man) or in Christ (the Redeemer). When Adam fell into sin, we were still in Adam’s loins. We were all born in sin. All the good that we do as a sinner could not save us because we were still sinners. Therefore by virtue of us being “in Adam”, all die.

(1 Corinthians 15:22, NKJV)
For as IN ADAM all die, even so IN CHRIST all shall be made alive.

And being born in the corrupt nature of Adam, sin was also manifested in our actions. The root problem wasn’t in the actions, but in the sinful nature of man.

The solution is for us to be taken out of Adam, and to be in Christ. Our old man in Adam had to die, and we are to be born again as a new creation “IN CHRIST”. How do we die? How do we get born again?

Paul’s Epistles explain the mystery of the gospel which none of the 4 Gospels Books did. It explains to us what really happened at the cross. When Jesus died, we were baptized into his death. When Jesus rose, we were raised with Him as a new creation, into newness of life. We experienced the reality of death and life at the cross at the moment when we received Jesus into our heart.

(Romans 6:3-4, 11, NKJV)
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 was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God IN CHRIST Jesus our Lord.

Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again in the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom God (John 3:3, 6). Paul said that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). When you become a new creation, and when you walk by faith as a new creation, your will bear fruit of the Spirit. The nature of Christ will be revealed in you gradually over time.

Today, the question that confronts us is: “Are you in Adam or in Christ?” There are Christians who still see themselves in the image of Adam. Though they are already a new creation, they live a defeated life in Adam. If you know you are in Christ, and you see yourself in Christ, you will experience the life and the resurrection power of Christ in you. You will reign in life with Christ.