Someone said that there are three keys to being successful in business: 1) location 2) location and 3) location. Where you are is vitally important. It is even more vital in the spiritual realm. In fact, it’s critical. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6).

1. What are the benefits of being in Christ? In Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). My friend, if you are outside of Christ and remain that way when you die or when he comes again, you will be condemned. In Christ you get better than a do-over, you are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ there is a loving, forgiving family of Christians (the church) because they, too, have been loved and forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). They are not perfect in and of themselves. But they are folks who are slowly but surely being transformed into the image of Christ. In Christ there is an abundance of grace, faith, love and every other spiritual blessing (1 Timothy 1:14; Ephesians 1:3).

2. How do I get into Christ? When Jesus suffered, shed his blood and died on the cross he paid the sin debt for all the world. The Bible says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). You don’t get into Christ by moral transformation. You get into Christ through his blood. That blood was not shed for a select few but for all. The apostle John writes, “He is the propitiation [the satisfaction of sacrifice] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Regardless of what you’ve done or how long you’ve done it, Christ died for you. But even though the price has been paid for all, all the world is not saved. The Bible teaches that to be saved, to get into Christ where salvation is, we must believe and be baptized (Mark 16:16). Paul says it like this in Galatians 3:26,27, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Faith is not in baptism. Faith is in Christ when we are baptized. Baptism in the Bible is immersion. Paul describes it as being “buried with him [Christ] through baptism” (Romans 6:4). Baptism does not achieve anything of merit for us. It is a matter of trusting God to do what he said he would when we do what he tells us to “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12).

3. How do I stay in Christ? I stay in Christ by clinging closely to him by following him and trusting him. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). And John wrote, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Staying in Jesus is a matter of following Jesus. If you’ve taken your eyes off him, focus again and follow him.

Are you where you need to be? Just trying to be good won’t do it. Finding your “own way” to heaven won’t get you there. Great blessings are waiting for you. But you’ve got to be in Christ.