Those Who "BELONG" are "IN"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
When does a sinner become “in Christ"? The above Scripture implies that it is when he becomes "a new creation".
And when will sinners become "a new creation"? The above Scripture implies that it is after "old things have passed away".
Old things have NOT passed away in this "present evil age". In this age, Jesus came to "save sinners" and he has done so, all of us. We have now been RANSOMED, and God is at peace us so He no longer counts our "trespasses" against us. But we still sin and suffer its consequences from time to time, some more often than others. And eventually we die. We need to be RESCUED from that death - and we will be.
"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS...there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a RANSOM for all...Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to RESCUE us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father... (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:5-6; Galatians 1:3-4)
But as far as actually being "in Christ" and "a new creation", it is our expectation, not our reality. We will have to wait until the return of Christ who will resurrect us to immortal life. Now we "belong to Christ" but are still "in Adam" who passed sin and death on to us. When we are "made alive" we will then be "in Christ" and become part of the "new creation".
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have FALLEN ASLEEP. For since death came through a man, the RESURRECTION of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, then at his coming those who BELONG to Christ... and just as we have born the image of the earthly man, so SHALL we bear the image of the heavenly man..." (1 Corinthians 15:22-49)
And who are the ones who "belong to Christ"? Those he saved - sinners - all of us. For now we must "believe" in order to have this expectation ("hope"), but then all will believe - "old things" will have passed away.
"...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)
When does a sinner become “in Christ"? The above Scripture implies that it is when he becomes "a new creation".
And when will sinners become "a new creation"? The above Scripture implies that it is after "old things have passed away".
Old things have NOT passed away in this "present evil age". In this age, Jesus came to "save sinners" and he has done so, all of us. We have now been RANSOMED, and God is at peace us so He no longer counts our "trespasses" against us. But we still sin and suffer its consequences from time to time, some more often than others. And eventually we die. We need to be RESCUED from that death - and we will be.
"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS...there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a RANSOM for all...Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to RESCUE us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father... (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:5-6; Galatians 1:3-4)
But as far as actually being "in Christ" and "a new creation", it is our expectation, not our reality. We will have to wait until the return of Christ who will resurrect us to immortal life. Now we "belong to Christ" but are still "in Adam" who passed sin and death on to us. When we are "made alive" we will then be "in Christ" and become part of the "new creation".
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have FALLEN ASLEEP. For since death came through a man, the RESURRECTION of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, then at his coming those who BELONG to Christ... and just as we have born the image of the earthly man, so SHALL we bear the image of the heavenly man..." (1 Corinthians 15:22-49)
And who are the ones who "belong to Christ"? Those he saved - sinners - all of us. For now we must "believe" in order to have this expectation ("hope"), but then all will believe - "old things" will have passed away.
"...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)
Yep, we all "belong to Christ" so we're going to be "in Christ".