Bride of Christ

      The church is not really the body of Christ, but is metaphorically called the body of Christ (a metaphor is a figure of speech, a symbolic representation). We were not really baptized into Christ (into the body of Christ), but metaphorically we were baptized into Christ. Again, we were NOT baptized "unto" or "with reference to" Christ, but were symbolically baptized "INTO" the body of Christ and thereby our bodies were symbolically "JOINED" to Christ and became members of the body of Christ, I Cor 6:15-17. By thus being baptized into the body of Christ, we are now "in Christ", which means in the body of Christ.
      The church, as the body of Christ, was crucified together with Christ (in the body of Christ) when Christ was crucified. The church, as the body of Christ, died together with Christ (in the body of Christ) when the body of Christ died. The church, as the body of Christ, was buried together with Christ (in the body of Christ) when the body of Christ was buried. The church, as the body of Christ, was raised and glorified together with Christ (in the body of Christ) when Christ was raised and glorified.
      The bodies of the members of the church are called the members of Christ, I Cor 6:15-17. Therefore, generically, our bodies, as the members of Christ, were crucified together with Christ when Christ was crucified. Our bodies, as the members of Christ, died together with Christ when Christ died. Our bodies, as the members of Christ, were buried together with Christ when Christ was buried. Our bodies, as the members of Christ, were raised and glorified together with Christ when Christ was raised and glorified.
      In this same way, we "put on" Christ by being baptized into Christ. By baptism we initially "put off the old man" and "put on the new man." Now, each day, every day, and constantly every day of our lives, we are by faith to put off the old man and put on the new man. Generically, as members of the body of Christ, we put off the old man and put on the new man when Christ was crucified, died, was buried, raised, and glorified. Also, when we were baptized, we were baptized into the crucified, dead, buried, raised, and glorified body of Christ. In this way we were baptized into Christ's crucifixion, into His death, into His burial, into His resurrection, and into His glorification.
      Therefore, we are reckoned to be glorified members of the glorified body of Christ. This is the beginning (and only a part of) what it means to be "in Christ." NONE of this is true of saved people OUTSIDE a true local church, which in this age is the bride of Christ.