To be 'in Christ' is to be positioned in Christ by faith, so God sees the believer covered with Christ's righteousness rather than his or her own sin.
Les Feldick teaches that when a person believes what the Bible says about Christ's death, God moves that believer out of Adam and into Christ (Clip 2). Because the believer is in Him, God looks at the believer and sees Christ's righteousness, not the believer's own unworthiness (Clips 4, 5).
2 Corinthians 5:21 — Paul directly defines the believer's new righteous standing in Christ—made the righteousness of God in Him.
The Bible describes being 'in Christ' as a position in which the believer is chosen, made righteous, and sealed. Ephesians 1:4 says God 'hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.' Second Corinthians 5:21 says God made Christ 'to be sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' Romans 3:21-22 says the righteousness of God is manifested 'without the law' and comes 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.' The prophet Isaiah pictures the believer as 'clothed' with 'garments of salvation' and 'covered' with a 'robe of righteousness' (Isaiah 61:10). Romans 8:9 connects the believer in Christ with the indwelling Spirit.
Les Feldick teaches that being 'in Christ' is the believer's position after faith—moved out of Adam and into Christ. He says when Christ died on the cross and we believe what He says about the cross, every believer is no longer in Adam but in Christ (Clip 2). God then looks at the believer and does not see the person at all; He sees only the righteousness and holiness of Christ (Clips 2, 4, 5). Les describes this as being 'covered' with God's righteousness, not on the basis of law-keeping or religious effort, but by faith in Jesus Christ (Clips 0, 4, 6). He also highlights the prepositional phrase 'in Christ' as 'our position'—used 96 times in Ephesians (Clip 7). And he teaches the reciprocal union: 'We're in Him, He's in us'—so if we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us (Clip 1).
Les says the righteousness of God is not by law-keeping or being religious, but by the faith of Jesus Christ (Clip 0). When Christ died on the cross and we believe what He says about the cross, every believer is out of Adam and in Christ (Clip 2). Paul's words in Romans 3:21-22 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 show this righteous standing is 'without the law' and is 'made... the righteousness of God in him.'
Les says God doesn't see Les Feldick or the believer by name; He sees Christ in His righteousness (Clips 4, 5). The believer is clothed with the garments of salvation and covered with a robe of righteousness, so in God's sight the believer looks like a bride adorned for her husband (Clips 4, 6). This covering is God's work, not self-improvement; when a person tries to veneer or fix themselves, God sees only the open sepulcher (Clip 6).
Les describes the 'mind boggling' truth that 'we're in Him, He's in us.' If we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us (Clip 1). Ephesians 1:13 speaks of being sealed with the Holy Spirit after believing, and Romans 8:9 says the Spirit of God dwells in the believer.
Les points to Ephesians, where the phrase 'in Christ' appears 96 times, calling it 'our position in Christ, or in the body of Christ' (Clip 7). Paul uses this prepositional phrase again and again—'chosen us in him,' 'we who first trusted in Christ,' 'in whom ye also trusted'—to show that the believer's standing before God is not based on personal merit but on being placed in Christ (Clip 7).
Righteousness Apart from Law
Les shows that the righteousness which places a believer in Christ is God's righteousness manifested apart from law-keeping and received by faith in Jesus Christ.
In Christ Means the Spirit Is in Us
Les teaches that being in Christ puts the Holy Spirit in the believer—'We're in Him, He's in us.'
Moved Out of Adam into Christ
Les explains that believing what the Bible says about Christ's cross moves every believer out of Adam and into Christ, so God sees only Christ's righteousness.
No Condemnation: What It Really Means to Be "In Christ"
In Christ. Now again, I think it was just last night when we were talking about some of these things in the class. What does it mean to be in Christ? You know, that's an easy prepositional phrase to just roll off our lips, but what does it really mean to be in Christ? Well, I think one of the places that we can probably use for a little bit of an explanation of that, come back with me to Ephesians…
Clothed with God's Righteousness
Les says God looks on believers and sees Christ, not the person by name, because they are covered with God's righteousness.
Made the Righteousness of God in Him
Les applies 2 Corinthians 5:21 to show that Christ's sinlessness is imputed to the believer's account, so God sees Christ.
Covered, Not Self-Veneered
Les uses Isaiah's robe of righteousness to show that believers look beautiful in God's sight when covered by Him, not when they try to fix themselves.
The Prepositional Phrase 'In Christ'
Les notes that Ephesians uses the phrase 'in Christ' 96 times to describe the believer's position in the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
This is the clearest biblical statement that believers are made righteous in Christ.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Shows that God's righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the law.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Pictures the believer covered with a robe of righteousness—the imagery Les uses for being in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
One of the many 'in Christ' phrases that reveal the believer's position.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Connects being in Christ with being sealed by the Holy Spirit after faith.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Shows that the believer in Christ has the Spirit of God dwelling in him.
To be 'in Christ' means the believer is no longer in Adam but is positioned in Christ by faith. God looks at the believer and sees Christ's righteousness, not the believer's own sin. Les describes this as being covered with God's righteousness and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Les says God looks on the believer and does not see the person by name; He sees only the righteousness and holiness of Christ because the believer is in Him. The believer's own merit is not what God sees.
By believing what the Bible says about Christ's death on the cross. Les says when Christ died and we believe what He says about the cross, every believer is out of Adam and into Christ. This is not by law-keeping or religious effort but by faith.
Les points out that in Ephesians alone it appears 96 times. He calls it the believer's position in Christ, or in the body of Christ, indicating that the believer's standing before God is based on being placed in Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)