The text that has shaped our month’s devotion (2 Corinthians 5:17) contains an important, short phrase that appears again here Romans 16:7: “in Christ.”
This phrase is one of the Apostle Paul’s favorite descriptions of those who believe in the Lord Jesus, receiving redemption in Him, and being transformed into the likeness of Christ. They are “in Christ.” Christ is their home, their resting place, the source of their life.
Today it is more common to say that these people are Christians. Paul said that they are “in Christ”.
Andronicus and Julius are new creations “in Christ” along with all the others that Paul mentions Romans 16. And, according to Paul, they were believers “in Christ” before Paul himself. Furthermore, his “in Christ” character led him to follow Christ into prison with Paul. His service to the Lord was so remarkable that Paul described him as “outstanding among the apostles.”
How did these two people become “in Christ”? God led them to believe in the only Savior, Jesus. God’s love for them transformed them into people who loved God. God created them in the new creation. And their change points to something greater: God’s new creation!
Thank God with me if He has done the same for you!
