What does it mean to be "In Christ?" Pt. 14 Apostles in Christ bring heaven's truth to us.

Paul saw and heard wonderful things in Christ



NASA photo of Milky Way galaxy.

Corinthians 12:1-4 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul gives us a very unique view of life as an apostle "in Christ." The Corinthians spent much time glorying or being proud of the wrong things. Some were proud because they followed Apollos and others because they followed Peter. Some gloried in the fact that they followed Paul but all this glorying was not good and Paul spent time and energy attempting to bring them back to where God wanted them to be. 

The table below shows some of the negative spiritual realities at Corinth that reflect the misguided thinking at Corinth.

Terms indicating focus on Externals at Corinth
New Testament Word or Phrase	Total in  NT Letters to Corinth	Total in other NT Letters	Corinthian Total #	% of NT references in Corinthians
Boast (ing)	19	6	13	64%
Foolish (ness)	8	0	8	100%
World	27	0	27	100%
Puffed up	5	0	5	100%
Glorying	4	0	4	100%
Outward appearance	1	0	1	100%

This is why Paul leads them to seeing boasting in a different light. He tells us he knew a man 14 years ago who received visions and revelations from God. If you look at the timeline of when Paul wrote to Corinth this would place the event he is writing about to the Corinthians at the time he was stoned and left for dead at Lystra in Acts 14:19-23). 

In other words, Paul is speaking about his own experience as he was temporarily absent from his body and present with his Lord after being stoned. All that the apostle described was an "In Christ" experience that he was granted when he was stoned and  left for dead at Lystra.

Apostles are "in Christ" and they speak for God. 

• Paul tells us he knew this man "in Christ" 14 years ago.

• Paul could not say whether his knowledge of this man was in the body or out of the body.

• Paul tells us this man received visions and revelation from Christ.

• Paul tells us this man was caught up to the third heaven and the glorious abode of God.

• Paul tells us that this man heard words which were not lawful to communicate.

Paul emphasized the importance of glorying in what God has said and in what God has revealed, rather than boasting in earthly things or in following a certain teacher. 

Visions, revelation and words from God were given to Paul as part of the inspired record. It is a reminder for each one of us to be attached to truth and not the distractions of the world or even of church life. 

2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 

In the same chapter of 2 Corinthians Paul reminds them that "in Christ" he speaks before God as an Apostle for the purpose of building up their faith and strengthening the church. 

Twice in this chapter Paul shows us a record of verbal inspiration and the reality that the apostles speak for God. 

This means that when we read our Bible we can be sure that we are reading what God has said and we are holding inspired scripture in our hands. We can be certain that God will do what He says He will do as He seeks to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5-7  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7  Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 


Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 pastoral letters to this young man. In this text Paul states that he was ordained to be a preacher and an apostle. Paul's ordination occurred on the road to Damascus when Jesus Christ stopped him in his tracks to save him. 

The apostle put the idea of inspired truth two ways in this text, First Paul said he speaks truth "in Christ." Next, Paul stated that because he speaks truth in Christ he does not lie. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Believers in Jesus Christ ought to be greatly encouraged because our Lord saw fit to give us perfect truth from heaven communicated  through the apostles. We never have to wonder what God thinks or what His will is because He has blessed us with the treasure of His word. We see God's will revealed and His heart toward mankind when we read inspired scripture. 

The Christians at Corinth became mired down in boasting about who had the most spiritual gifts or who followed the best teachers. They were losing sight of being born again and slipping back into carnal thinking. They needed to hear from God again and the Apostle Paul brought the truth to them so that errant thinking could be corrected.

Boasting and glorying in carnal things is not what God wants for you and me. If we glory in anything, let it be the cross of Christ. If we boast in anything let it be about Jesus Christ the mediator between God and man. 

May we rejoice because God used men "in Christ" to show us how to live a God honoring life and to bring us truth from heaven. 

Bob