"Created in Christ"

Paul repeats this phrase or idea several times in his letters, and frankly, it's an idea I often think and talk and write about, and just as often puzzle over in times of prayer and meditation. I understand it, but it baffles me at the same time.

Recently I was asking the Lord again about this. "What does it mean...created in Christ?" I had this answer from Him, "When does this imply your creation took place?" The obvious answer thrills and puzzles me even more, as do many truths of scripture.

If we were created in Christ, it necessarily puts our creation at the time of His creation. It means that in creating Jesus, or at least Jesus the man, the Father was also creating us. When He made Jesus, He made us.

This is clarified in Romans, as Paul explains how sin passed to us through Adam and righteousness through Christ. How did we inherit sin? We inherited it in the basis of genetics. Genetically, all of us were actually, physically "in" Adam when he fell.

It is the same with righteousness. When Jesus lived, preached, healed, worked miracles, suffered, died, conquered hell and death, rose and ascended, we were there. This is not physical genetics, but Paul says it works the same way.

Our spiritual genetic material was already in Jesus from the moment of at least His human creation, although we may have to put it before the foundation of the world to consider the rest of scripture. Why is our inner self righteous, powerful, holy, loving, unchanging, wise, and always victorious? Because we were there every moment of Jesus' life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

I guess this is why Paul calls the gospel a revealed mystery. I get it...but I don't. God is good.