Being in Christ means hearing the word of truth, believing the gospel, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise—with nothing else required for salvation.
Paul’s word to the Ephesians puts it directly: after hearing the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) and believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick stresses that this happens at salvation, when God makes a person His child and places him into the body of Christ. A genuine believer is therefore in Christ and under no condemnation.
Ephesians 1:13 — This is the central verse Les uses to define being in Christ: hearing the word of truth, believing, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:9 — It gives the proof of being in Christ: the Spirit of God dwelling in you, so you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.
In Ephesians 1:13, Paul describes what happens when a person is in Christ: "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." Verse 14 adds that the Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. This is the Bible’s own sequence: hearing the word of truth, believing, and being sealed. Romans 8:9 gives another direct statement: "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." Scripture also connects being in Christ with death and life: "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." (Romans 6:8)
Les Feldick teaches that 'in Christ' is not an empty prepositional phrase. It is the result of hearing the Word of Truth—the gospel that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—and then believing it. He repeatedly points out that Ephesians 1:13 contains nothing besides believing: no church membership, no aisle-walking, no rote repetition. On the human side, a person must understand that he is a lost child of Adam and truly believe that Christ died for him; on God’s side, God then makes that person His child and puts him into the body of Christ. Les also teaches that being in Christ brings the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and that this is the mark of God’s ownership. For Les, genuine faith produces eternal security: because the believer is in Christ, there is no condemnation, and he is a child of God and always will be. He also uses Romans 8:9 as the practical proof: if the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are in the Spirit; if not, you are none of His.
According to Les Feldick, the sequence is found in Ephesians 1:13. A person hears the word of truth—the gospel of salvation—and then believes. He emphasizes that the word 'trusted' could just as well be 'believed,' and that nothing else is attached to salvation. In Clip 1, he adds that a person must genuinely understand that they are a lost child of Adam and believe that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again. Then God moves in and makes that person His child and puts him into the body of Christ.
Les teaches that after a person believes, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. In Clip 2 he says that being sealed means being marked by the person of the Holy Spirit Himself. In Clip 7, he uses Romans 8:9 to show that the proof of being in Christ is the indwelling Holy Spirit: if the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
Les Feldick says that for the person who has genuinely come under the power of the Holy Spirit and has genuinely believed the gospel with all his heart, Scripture says there is no condemnation; they are a child of God and always will be. He is quick to say this does not apply to people who simply went through a system of church membership, walked an aisle, or repeated a rote procedure. Eternal security belongs to those who genuinely believed.
Les Feldick connects being in Christ with identification with Christ’s death. In Clip 4 he says that when we believe the gospel, we identify with that death, old Adam is put to death, and life really begins. This is the beginning of a new relationship with God that becomes part and parcel of our everyday existence. He also notes that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more.
Les Feldick says that 'in Christ' is a phrase that can roll off our lips easily, but it has deep meaning. He points to Ephesians 5 and says that Ephesians is a deeper level, higher ground, deeper water, where Paul brings out things he does not bring out in Romans, Galatians, or Corinthians. So being in Christ is not merely a formula; it is a profound spiritual position.
The Sequence of Hearing and Believing
Les uses Ephesians 1:13 to show that being in Christ requires hearing the word of truth (the gospel) and then believing—with no other condition attached.
How God Places Us Into the Body of Christ
Les explains that genuine faith looks like a person understanding he is a lost child of Adam and truly believing Christ died, was buried, and rose again; at that point God makes him a child and puts him into the body of Christ.
Sealed and Marked by the Holy Spirit
After believing, the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, and Les describes that sealing as being marked by the person of the Holy Spirit Himself.
Deeper Ground Than Romans
Les says that 'in Christ' is deeper than an easy phrase, and that Ephesians moves to higher ground and deeper water than Paul's earlier epistles.
Identification With Christ's Death
When a person believes the gospel, he identifies with Christ's death; old Adam is put to death and a new life with God begins.
No Condemnation for Genuine Believers
Les insists that a person who has genuinely believed the gospel is under no condemnation and is a child of God forever—unlike those who merely went through religious rituals.
Nothing Added to Believing
Les highlights that in Ephesians 1:13 the only requirement after hearing the gospel is believing; people often expect other things to be there, but nothing else is mentioned before the sealing of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit as the Proof
Les uses Romans 8:9 to show that if the Spirit of God dwells in someone, that person is in the Spirit; if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
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,
This verse directly answers the question by showing that being in Christ involves hearing the word of truth, believing, and being sealed with the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
It explains that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the believer's inheritance in Christ.
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.
It gives the proof of being in Christ: the presence of the Spirit, and warns that without Him a person is not His.
Romans 6:8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
It shows that being in Christ means identifying with His death and looking forward to living with Him.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
It emphasizes the risen Christ, the basis for the believer's new life in Him.
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:
It shows that righteousness comes through faith in Christ to all who believe, regardless of Jew or Gentile.
After a person believes the gospel, Ephesians 1:13 says he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick explains that this sealing means the believer is marked by the person of the Holy Spirit Himself, and that the Spirit is the earnest, or guarantee, of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14).
No. Les Feldick repeatedly points out that Ephesians 1:13 contains only belief after hearing the word of truth. He says people often think other things should be in there, but nothing else is mentioned before the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
For the person who has genuinely believed the gospel, Les Feldick teaches there is no condemnation; they are a child of God and always will be. He contrasts this with people who only went through religious routines without genuine faith.
Les points to Romans 8:9 as the proof: if the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are in the Spirit, not in the flesh. If a person does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
Watch the Teaching: Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained