The prepared solider knows where his or her victories come from. It is a common mistake for Christians to forget who and where the source of their victories comes from. We often will focus on what gives us strength, not who gives us strength. The Christian life should be lived with a constant reliance on God s strength and a willingness to act on God s truth. Being a Christion means Christ s power has come to us from a real spiritual union with Him. As already discovered, this means all are in one of two spiritual conditions. One is either spiritually dead and spiritually powerless in Adam or spiritually alive and empowered in Christ. All are born in need of a spiritual change and new identity. The Scriptures teach all are physically born by nature in Adam, but are in need of being spiritually reborn into Christ. The Bible clearly defines who the true believer is and Christ s power given to them.

There is no shortage of terms used to refer to someone who has a relationship with God. Terms and phrases like Christians, believers, the redeemed, the saved, the set free, and those who have asked Jesus into their hearts are widely used today. But the question should be asked," How does the New Testament speak of those who have become partakers in God's redemptive works?" The New Testament speaks of these as those who are (in Christ)/ (in Jesus)/ (in God)/ (in Him)/ (in me)/ (in you), and (in them). One of the above phrases collectively is used several hundred times in the New Testament. According to Scripture, one of the most biblical terms used for God's people is those who are "in Christ." One of the key verses to be studied regarding this truth is found in 2 Cor. 5:19: "namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (NASB) It is God's redemptive plans through Christ's works that reconcile us to God! Christ s victories have empowered the true believer.

A person either remains spiritually in the sinful nature of Adam s fall, or the newness of life provided in Christ (Rom. 6:2-6, Col.3:3-4, Rom. 6:6-7, 12, 14, Gal. 2:20; Gal. 6:14, Rom. 8:1). All live in opposition to Christ or in the power He gives to live a new life. In Christ, the Christian solider finds power, freedom, acceptance, security and purpose. It is of great importance to see Christ as central to God's overall redemptive plan to defeat Satan and evil forces. The true believer is prepared and stands on a new battlefront. He or she has been given the power to fight the good fight in Christ.

There is power in having the knowledge of who we are in Christ. The person "in Christ" is said to be transformed from a "sphere" of sinfulness and separation into a new sphere of being "in Christ." The Bible speaks of the human condition as being in "Adam," or being in "Christ" (1 Cor. 15:21-22). A life remaining in Adam brings death and separation from God while a life in Christ brings new spiritual life, reconciliation, and eternal hope. The life in Christ is a new life in the Spirit (Rom 8:9, 9:1, 14:17). Salvation is something God did through Christ's redemptive works, and genuine salvation brings change in one's life. Christians become a part of one body that lives a life in the Spirit by faith and by obedience even in the face of great difficulties. To say one is in Christ is to say one has been brought into union with Christ and all the benefits of His birth, life, death, resurrection, and final glorification are ours. This was God's plan, prepared before eternity, and true believers have been blessed with spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3-4). They have been set apart by God and equipped for spiritual battle. They are saved unto good works and given the power to perform them.

An important point should be made here, much of the teachings on this subject are found in the writings of the apostle Paul. Paul was uncovering a truth that had remained a mystery in the Old Testament times (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:3-126; Heb. 1:1-3, 1 Pet. 1:10-12). This is a great example of how God's Revelation (Bible) is a written plan of redemption and that its truth is revealed progressively. This is also why I have chosen to approach the subject of spiritual warfare from a redemptive perspective. The great mystery has been revealed. It is that Christ is now able to live His life through His believers.

In Ephesians two we find that being in Christ involves a real powerful union! In this chapter one can read of the ways a believer is united in Christ Jesus. The true believer joined in Christ is joined with His death, resurrection, ascension, and reign. The believer becomes a new creation and old things have passed away and have become new (2 Cor. 5:17). The true believer becomes God's workmanship created in Christ to do good works (Eph. 2:10). Union with Christ is to live today with a new hope (Eph. 1:16/ Eph. 3:6). This is the hope that does not disappoint (Rom. 5:5). Christ becomes our hope of glory (Col. 1:27). Christ is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1). Read the following verses to become more informed on this important topic:

Old self crucified - Rom 6:6; Gal. 2:20
Being buried with Christ- Rom. 6:4-11
Being raised with Christ- Eph. 2:6
Eternal life in the Son- 1 John. 5:11
The Bible uses analogies to describe the many different aspects or facets of a true union in Christ: the following are some examples:
Buildings- Eph. 2:20-21; 1 Peter. 2:4-5
Marriage relationship- Eph. 5:22