Notice how many of the verses we read about our status “in Christ” dealt with death and resurrection.  Death is the universal human common denominator.  The gospel wouldn’t be good news unless it dealt with our own death.  If humans remain destined to die and disappear forever, then our lives don’t really matter.

Saint Athanasius wrote a very good explanation of how Christian believers now view death in light of our status “in Christ”.  Starting in Section 20:

“But beyond all this, there was a debt owing which must needs be paid; for, as I said before, all men were due to die.  Here, then, is the second reason why the Word dwelt among us…

… In the same act also He showed himself mightier than death, displaying his own body incorruptible as the first-fruits of the resurrection.”

Athanasius. On The Incarnation (p. 17). GLH Publishing.

Then in the next section:

“Have no fear, then.  Now that the common Saviour of all has died on our behalf, we who believe in Christ no longer die, as men died aforetime, in fulfilment of the threat of the law. 

… Like seeds cast into the earth, we do not perish in our dissolution, but like them shall rise again, death having been brought to nought by the grace of the Saviour.”

Athanasius. On The Incarnation (pp. 17-18). GLH Publishing.

When we are “in Christ”, we will follow Jesus through physical death to resurrection.  Paul tells us that if we have died with him, we will also be raised with him:

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

… Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Romans 6:1-5,8 NIV

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over every power and authority.  In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands.  Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Colossians 2:9-12 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;

2 Timothy 2:11 NIV

And Peter tells us the same thing:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV

Thoughts

CityAlight captures the good news of redemption in their song, “Grace”:

“By grace I am redeemed,
By grace I am restored,
And now I freely walk into
The arms of Christ my Lord.”