Do you remember the feeling of being “in”, in high school?  Or being “out”?  It is so much a part of high school culture.  There are kids who are in with some, and out with others.  There are kids who are in with none.  And there are the fortunate few who are in with everybody.

Now, to Jesus Christ, a pivotal figure in history.  A revolutionary figure in history. That he was “God made flesh” is earth-shaking in its implications.  And, reading the gospels, it is crystal clear that the earth did respond to his authority.  Storms were quieted.  Trees blossomed and died at a word from him.  An earthquake occurred at the moment of his death.

People were changed, too, because of his time on earth.  The lame were healed. Lepers were cured – dead people came to life.  And a group of his disciples became the nucleus of a whole new lifestyle, which eventually affected the dominant Roman culture, and the whole world shifted its timetable to reflect the moment in history Christ came.

But what about now, today, 2011 years later? Jesus Christ is not walking among us in the flesh.  He is part of the annals of history, as recorded by scribes.  Or is he?

We are all still affected by Christ’s coming, like it or not, as we live under the umbrella of “A.D., the year of our Lord” or the era of years that were counted from the birth of Christ.

What Christ came to bring us “in” to, though, is so much more than having his name associated with changing the calendar.

So much more, that I wonder why I focus on things in front of me rather than this amazing, awesome truth.  I, and countless others who bow their knees to Christ, are in! Perhaps we didn’t know what we were signing up for, but we are in!  And being in, scripturally, carries with it tremendous ramifications for life.

What being in Christ means is revolutionary.  It is a transformation from one state of being to another, completely different state.

Consider just a few highlights of what this transformation looks like.

• For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  I Cor. 15:22
• In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4
• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  II Cor. 5:17
• for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  Galatians 3:26
• There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
• the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. (Ephesians 1:7)
• In him we have obtained an inheritance. (Ephesians 1:11)

And, there is so much more.  I want you to sense the awe and depth – the reality – that is new when you are in Christ.  Please remember this the next time you check the date.  It is 2011 A.D.  And you are in.  If you are not in…you can be.