We named these ways the Scriptures show how we are united with Jesus Christ: by faith in his blood, by being obedient to Jesus as Lord, by being united with him in baptism, by being added to His Body the church and by putting on the traits of Jesus in our lives.

The little phrase, in Christ, is often found in the New Testament. Much is summed up in this little prepositional phrase. The whole Gospel is found there. Eternal life is realized there. A new life, a better way, is found there. Here are a few examples:

"Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10.)

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:15.)

"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:11.)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3.)

Lost man should be glad that there is a place of safety from the wrath to come. There is a place of forgiveness and peace and eternal life. If salvation is found only in Christ, then anyone who is found outside this place of redemption and security is without hope and without God.

One: Many do not understand the spiritual meaning of being united with Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must make it known to them by teaching and preaching the Gospel. Two: some do understand, but do not want to change their sinful lifestyles. There have chosen the filth of sin above the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Third: No one should think that having been immersed into Christ, all the requirements have been met. The great effort of putting off the old man and putting on the new has just begun. It is a lifetime of growing, sometimes painful growth, putting to death the old man of sin and growing to maturity in Christ. Paul wrote, I die daily.

(1 Cor. 15:31.)

Cities of refuge. After Israel had occupied the land of Canaan, six cities were specified as cities of refuge. The cities were Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, Golan (east of Jordan), Hebron, Shechem, and Kedesh (west side). They were all well known to the Israelites. The cities of refuge were accessible to all who needed to flee there for safety. A person blamed with a serious offense could go to one of these cities and be assured of physical safety while the elders of the city could hear his case.

We too have committed serious offenses against God. We have sinned against the Holy One of Israel. The wrath of God could be poured out upon us. We need a spiritual place of refuge. The only place where we can go is to Christ Jesus. Redemption is found only in Him and in no other. If you are found outside this place of refuge, your life is in great danger.

Blood on the doorposts. Once a year, during the Passover, a meaningful ceremony was performed by every family in Canaan. A paschal lamb was slain for a special meal. The blood of the lamb was put on the sides of the door and above the door entering into their houses. During the Passover in Egypt, an angel of God passed over Israel. Every home that had the blood of the lamb on the door would be safe. But the homes that did not have the blood on the door, the first-born sons and cattle would die. This was done to commemorate the last of the ten plagues in Egypt where the first-born sons and cattle died when the death angel of Jehovah passed over. As far as is recorded in the Bible, not one child among the Israelites died when the angel passed over. The fathers were careful to put the blood on their homes so that their children would be safe.

The New Testament says "for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor. 5:7-8.) In order to be safe and to live, we must have the blood of Christ on our door posts or we will die. Understanding how we have the blood of Jesus on our homes and families is very important. We, of course, do not have the physical blood to put there. We cannot see it to be sure that it is there. How do we have the blood covering our lives? The simple answer is by "faith in his blood." (Rom. 3:25.) This includes all that we have named above. It begins by one being baptized into Christ, into his death. (Rom. 6:4.)

Think about all of the things in the New Testament where the blood of Jesus has some spiritual connection. 1) The communion. "This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remem-brance of me." (1 Cor. 11:25.) 2) The church. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28.) 3) Baptism. "Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood." (Rev. 1:5.) "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16.) 4) The new testament. ". . . through the blood of the everlasting covenant." (Heb. 13:20.) "For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of the testator." (Heb. 9:16.)

The Hebrew writer explained that almost all things are purged with blood. All the vessels used in the temple in worship, the book and the people were all sprinkled with blood. The blood used under the Old Testament was the blood of bulls and goats. The blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies us, his covenant, and his church today. Without this blood and faith in it, there can be no forgiveness or sanctification before God. The blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies everything in the New Testament.

For many people, what we have been discussing has little meaning. They make light of it and go their way. Jesus told a parable about a king making a marriage feast for his son. Servants went forth and invited many to the feast to honor the King and his son. When various people were invited, the Bible says "they made light of it." (Matt. 22:5.) So do many today. Do not repeat this mistake. Here are some good reasons why you should obey the Gospel.

Jesus was baptized. I find it amazing that the only sinless one in the history of mankind would humble himself and be immersed in the Jordan River. John the Baptist recognized this paradox. He said, I should be baptized of you and you come to me. Jesus had to assure him that it was alright for him to baptize him. He said, Suffer it to be so that we might fulfill all righteousness. (Matt. 3:15.) Jesus was immersed (a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins—Mark 1:4) because all the Jews were commanded to receive the baptism of John, in order to set an example for others to follow, to show others the importance of listening to the voice of God, and to receive the Spirit of God. When John baptized Jesus, then John knew for certain who the Messiah was. All doubts were removed when he heard the voice from heaven and he saw the Spirit of God coming upon him in the form of a dove.

We should be baptized because Jesus was. If Jesus who had no sins was immersed in water, how much more should I obey the Gospel!

Everyone should. Peter told the large audience of Jews gathered on Pentecost, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38.) What is required of one sinner is required of all. All men everywhere are commanded to repent and be baptized. (Acts 17:31.) This includes the President of the United States, the Queen of England, Prime Ministers, Senators, Representatives, rich, poor, Jew and Gentile alike. No one is excluded or may lightly regard God’s command to obey the Gospel.

God’s good counsel for us. If someone were giving us advise about our spiritual condition, they should tell us that our sins have hid God’s face from us. After we heard all the bad news, we might ask, What would you advise us to do? When John the Baptist preached to the Jews of his day, the publicans justified God being baptized of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves not being baptized of him. (Luke 7:29-30.) This is what God had counseled them to do through John and they rejected God’s counsel. Imagine the terrible position that such a person would find himself in having rejected God’s advise! You should repent and be baptized because God has advised you to do so for your salvation.

Because salvation is connected to it. Jesus said, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16:16.) That is simple language. Simple enough for everyone to understand. The Protestant religious world has rejected baptism as necessary to salvation. You should understand why they have done so. It is not because there is some confusion over the meaning of the biblical references. These are some of their reasons: Protestants protested the practices of the Roman Catholic Church which included baptism as being necessary, they championed faith only because the Catholics believed in works of merit, and probably because they saw it as being insignificant. Many reason this way---how could something this small and meaningless be connected to the salvation of the soul?

Because church membership is connected to it. The Bible teaches that the Lord adds the saved to his Body, the church. (Acts 2:47, 1 Cor. 12:13.) There is one baptism that applies to all people and that is related to salvation. (Eph. 4:6.) It is not possible for you to be a member of the Lord’s church in any other way. You can attend for fifty years, but that won’t make you a Christian. You can give five million dollars to the church, but that won’t wash away one sin. You can say that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord in your heart, but until you obey the Gospel you have not obeyed accepted him as Lord.

Why did the Lord choose immersion in water as the way to enter into his Body? We may never know all the reasons, yet the Bible is clear that he did so. Jesus told Nicodemus that man must be born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5.) I suggest these as possible reasons: God has chosen the base things, the humble things, the weak things to confound the proud, wise and mighty. He did that so that no flesh should glory before Him (1 Cor. 1:27-29.) God chose something that would be easy for everyone to do. Two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered with water. It is everywhere. Man needs it to survive. Baptism in water, as well as other symbolic things we are commanded to do, so wonderfully and accurately represents the real thing. The pale bread so well represents the body of Jesus. The wine looks like blood. Immersion in water looks like the real thing of the Gospel---the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.