The New Testament repeatedly uses a small but extremely important expression:
“IN CHRIST.”
Paul wrote:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
2 Corinthians 5:17
He also wrote:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
Romans 8:1
And:
“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
These passages raise an important question:
IF SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS ARE IN CHRIST, HOW DOES A PERSON ENTER CHRIST?
Rather than relying upon religious tradition, we should allow Scripture to answer.
SALVATION IS IN CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10
Where is salvation?
IN CHRIST JESUS.
Paul also wrote:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Ephesians 1:7
Where is redemption?
IN CHRIST.
Where is forgiveness?
IN CHRIST.
God has placed the spiritual blessings of salvation in His Son.
The question therefore becomes enormously important:
HOW DOES THE SINNER ENTER CHRIST?
PAUL TELLS US HOW WE ENTER CHRIST
Paul wrote:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
Romans 6:3
Notice the wording carefully:
BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST.
Paul did not say they were baptized because they were already in Christ.
He said they were:
“baptized into Jesus Christ.”
He makes the same point in Galatians:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27
Again:
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST → PUT ON CHRIST
Those are Paul’s words.
FAITH AND BAPTISM ARE NOT OPPONENTS
Sometimes Galatians 3:27 is separated from the verse immediately preceding it.
Paul wrote:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26
Someone may stop there and conclude:
“See? Faith alone makes us children of God.”
But Paul did not stop there.
The very next verse explains:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27
Read the statements together:
CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS
and
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
There is no conflict.
Baptism is not the enemy of faith.
It is part of the obedient response of faith.
WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST’S DEATH
Why is being baptized into Christ so significant?
Because Christ’s blood was shed 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
Paul then explains:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
Romans 6:3
The sinner is not saved by the physical properties of water.
The sinner is saved by Christ.
But God has connected baptism with entering Christ and being united with His death.
WE ARE BURIED WITH CHRIST
Paul continues:
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
Romans 6:4
Baptism portrays the gospel itself.
Christ died.
Christ was buried.
Christ rose again.
In baptism, the sinner is united with that pattern:
DEATH TO SIN
↓
BURIAL WITH CHRIST
↓
RESURRECTION TO A NEW LIFE
Paul says:
“…that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:4
WHEN DOES THE NEW LIFE BEGIN?
This deserves careful attention.
Paul does not describe someone walking in newness of life and then later being baptized merely as an outward symbol of something that had already happened.
Instead:
BURIED WITH CHRIST BY BAPTISM
then
RAISED TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
That sequence matters.
It agrees with Jesus’ teaching concerning the new birth and with the conversion accounts recorded in Acts.
GOD ADDS THE SAVED TO THE CHURCH
On Pentecost, Peter commanded:
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
Acts 2:38
Those who accepted that message responded:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…”
Acts 2:41
Then Scripture tells us:
“…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Acts 2:47
Notice who did the adding.
THE LORD.
People did not vote themselves into the church.
They did not join a denomination of their choice.
The Lord added the saved.
THERE IS ONE BODY
Paul wrote:
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”
Ephesians 4:4
What is that body?
Earlier in the same letter Paul described Christ as:
“…the head over all things to the church,
“Which is his body…”
Ephesians 1:22–23
Therefore:
THE CHURCH = CHRIST’S BODY
Paul also wrote:
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…”
1 Corinthians 12:13
The New Testament does not present salvation in Christ and membership in Christ’s body as two unrelated events.
Those who belong to Christ belong to His body.
BEING “IN CHRIST” CHANGES EVERYTHING
Consider what Scripture says is found in Christ.
REDEMPTION
“In whom we have redemption through his blood…”
Ephesians 1:7
FORGIVENESS
“…the forgiveness of sins…”
Ephesians 1:7
NO CONDEMNATION
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
Romans 8:1
A NEW CREATION
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
2 Corinthians 5:17
ETERNAL LIFE
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING
“…all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
Ephesians 1:3
If these blessings are in Christ, then entering Christ is not a secondary question.
It is central to understanding salvation.
CAN WE FIND ANOTHER WAY INTO CHRIST?
This is where we must be especially careful.
Search the New Testament for the expression:
“INTO CHRIST.”
Then ask:
Where does Scripture say that a sinner:
BELIEVES ONLY INTO CHRIST?
Where does Scripture say that a sinner:
PRAYS INTO CHRIST?
Where does Scripture say that a sinner:
ASKS JESUS INTO HIS HEART AND THEREBY ENTERS CHRIST?
Compare those ideas with what Scripture actually says:
“…baptized into Jesus Christ…”
Romans 6:3
And:
“…baptized into Christ…”
Galatians 3:27
We should not substitute terminology invented by men for terminology revealed by the Holy Spirit.
THIS DOES NOT MAKE BAPTISM THE SAVIOR
The Savior is Jesus Christ.
The blood is Christ’s blood.
The grace is God’s grace.
The gospel is God’s power unto salvation.
The question is not whether baptism replaces Christ.
It does not.
The question is whether we will accept what Christ and His apostles said about baptism.
Paul explains what occurs in baptism:
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God…”
Colossians 2:12
Who operates?
GOD.
What does the person exercise?
FAITH.
Baptism therefore does not represent faith in ourselves.
It represents:
“FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD.”
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
When we put these passages together, the picture is consistent:
OUTSIDE CHRIST — SIN
↓
HEAR THE GOSPEL
↓
BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
↓
REPENT OF SIN
↓
CONFESS JESUS CHRIST
↓
BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
↓
PUT ON CHRIST
↓
RISE TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
↓
THE LORD ADDS THE SAVED TO HIS CHURCH
This is not a denominational formula.
It comes from comparing the words of Jesus, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians.
ASK THE QUESTION THE OTHER WAY AROUND
Instead of asking:
“WHY DO I HAVE TO BE BAPTIZED?”
Consider asking:
“WHY WOULD I NOT WANT TO BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST?”
If Scripture says baptism is:
INTO CHRIST — Romans 6:3
INTO HIS DEATH — Romans 6:3
A BURIAL WITH CHRIST — Romans 6:4
CONNECTED WITH NEWNESS OF LIFE — Romans 6:4
INTO CHRIST AND PUTTING ON CHRIST — Galatians 3:27
why would anyone who believes in Jesus want to separate baptism from salvation?
The issue is not what a religious organization teaches.
The issue is not what our family has always believed.
The issue is not what is popular.
The issue is:
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY?
Paul wrote:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27
Open the Scriptures.
Read the passages in their context.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Then ask yourself one of the most important questions anyone can ask:
AM I IN CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL PATTERN?
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
The Biblical Pattern 