Most people who believe the Bible would agree that salvation is found in Jesus Christ.
But that raises an extremely important question:
HOW DOES A PERSON GET INTO CHRIST?
Before answering, notice what Scripture says is found IN CHRIST.
SALVATION IS IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“…that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
(2 Timothy 2:10, KJV)
Where is salvation?
IN CHRIST.
REDEMPTION IS IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
(Ephesians 1:7, KJV)
Where is redemption?
IN CHRIST.
Where is forgiveness?
IN CHRIST.
ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS ARE IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
(Ephesians 1:3, KJV)
Notice:
ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
↓
ARE
↓
IN CHRIST
NO CONDEMNATION IS IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
(Romans 8:1, KJV)
NEW LIFE IS IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)
The biblical picture is unmistakable.
SALVATION
REDEMPTION
FORGIVENESS
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
NO CONDEMNATION
NEW CREATION
are found:
IN CHRIST.
So we should ask:
HOW DOES SCRIPTURE SAY WE ENTER CHRIST?
PAUL GIVES THE ANSWER
Paul wrote:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
(Romans 6:3, KJV)
Notice those words:
BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST.
Paul gives the same answer elsewhere:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27, KJV)
Again:
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST.
This raises a question worth considering carefully.
Where does Scripture say:
BELIEVED ONLY INTO CHRIST?
↓
PRAYED INTO CHRIST?
↓
ASKED JESUS INTO THE HEART AND ENTERED CHRIST?
Compare those expressions with what Scripture actually says:
“BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST”
(Romans 6:3)
and:
“BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST”
(Galatians 3:27)
FAITH IS ESSENTIAL
None of this minimizes faith.
The verse immediately before Galatians 3:27 says:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:26, KJV)
But Paul does not stop writing at verse 26.
He continues:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27, KJV)
Put the two verses together:
CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH
↓
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
↓
PUT ON CHRIST
Biblical faith and baptism are not enemies.
Baptism is the obedient response of faith God has revealed.
BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH
Paul also tells us why entering Christ is connected with baptism:
“…so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
(Romans 6:3, KJV)
Where did Jesus shed His blood?
In His death.
Jesus said:
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
(Matthew 26:28, KJV)
And Paul says we are:
BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH.
Again, the water does not possess saving power.
CHRIST’S BLOOD SAVES.
But we must allow God—not human tradition—to tell us where He has placed the sinner’s obedient response of faith.
OUTSIDE CHRIST OR IN CHRIST?
Consider the contrast.
OUTSIDE CHRIST:
Sin
No redemption through His blood
No forgiveness in Him
No spiritual blessings in Him
No new creation in Him
Then Scripture describes the sinner being:
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST.
And IN CHRIST we find:
REDEMPTION
↓
FORGIVENESS
↓
NO CONDEMNATION
↓
NEWNESS OF LIFE
↓
EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING
↓
SALVATION
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED
↓
THE SINNER HEARS
Romans 10:17
↓
THE SINNER BELIEVES IN CHRIST
John 8:24
↓
THE SINNER REPENTS
Acts 2:38
↓
THE SINNER CONFESSES CHRIST
Romans 10:9–10
↓
THE SINNER IS BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27
↓
THE SINNER PUTS ON CHRIST
Galatians 3:27
↓
THE SINNER RISES TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Romans 6:4
↓
THE LORD ADDS THE SAVED TO HIS CHURCH
Acts 2:47
The question is not:
“IS JESUS THE SAVIOR?”
He unquestionably is.
The question is:
HOW DOES THE SAVIOR SAY WE ENTER INTO HIM?
If salvation is IN CHRIST, we cannot afford to ignore what Scripture says about entering Christ.
Paul wrote:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(Galatians 3:27, KJV)
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read Romans 6.
Read Galatians 3.
Read Ephesians 1.
Read Romans 8.
Read 2 Corinthians 5.
Then ask:
AM I IN CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE?
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
TheBiblicalPattern.com
The Biblical Pattern 