Bride of Christ

      Being "IN CHRIST" is not the same as being saved from hell because "in Christ" there are NO NATIONS -- NO NATIONAL DISTINCTIONS -- ALL ARE ONE IN CHRIST and all are Abraham's seed, Gal 3:28; Col 3:11. Yet there will be many "nations" of saved people in the Millennium and on the new earth, which Christ and His bride will inherit and rule for ever, Deut 32:7-8; Ex 19:4-6; Deut 7:6-11; 26:16-19; Ps 2:8; 82:8; Isa 54:3; 61:6; Rev 2:26-27; 5:10; 20:4-6; 21:23-26.
      Being "IN CHRIST" is not the same as being saved from hell because saved people are constantly being cut off from Christ for unfaithfulness, Mt 5:13; Jn 15:1-6; Rom 11:11-22; Heb 3:6-14; 6:4-6; 10:25-31; 12:15-17,25-29; Rev 2:4-5; 3:16-17. These people will have all their works burned (rejected), but will still be saved from hell and the lake of fire, I Cor 3:7-15; II Tim 2:19-21; nations.
      Being "IN CHRIST" is not the same as being saved from hell because there will be firstborn sons who will qualify to share the firstborn sonship of Christ, and yet there are the other unfaithful and non-covenant sons who will be slave sons. See the covenant requirements concerning the firstborn and the birthright, the firstling, the firstfruits, and the firstripe, Gen 4:4; 49:3; Ex 4:22-23; 11:5; 12:12-15,29; 13:2,13,15; 22:29; 23:16,19; 34:19-26; Lev 2:12,14; 23:10,17.20; 27:26; Num 3:12-13,40-51; 8:16-26; 18:12-19; 28:26; Deut 12:6,17; 14:23; 15:19; 18:4; 21:16-17; 25:5-6; 26:10; Neh 10:34-37; Ps 78:51; 89:27; 105:36; Prov 3:9; Jer 2:3; Rom 8:29; Col 1:18; Heb 12:23; James 1:18; Rev 14:1-5; Gal 4:21--5:4.
      Although one is saved from hell eternally by the first act of repentance and faith, he does not get "INTO CHRIST" until he is baptized into Christ -- into the body of Christ, Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27. Baptism is also called the circumcision of Christ and is a prerequisite to church membership, and is therefore prerequisite to participation in the body of Christ, the temple of God, the house of God, the bride of Christ, the covenant, and all the covenant promises.
      Jesus said to His disciples (to His church), "I am the Vine, you are the branches," Jn 15:5. It's really hard to read this passage (Jn 15:1-11) and try to picture some of these branches as not really belonging in the Vine. Observe that Jesus said, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you," Jn 15:3.
      "Ede" means "already." To the disciples (to the church) Jesus said, "You are ALREADY clean," or "ALREADY you are clean." That doesn't sound like an unsaved person at all. In fact, this fits the mold of John 13, where a ceremonial cleansing is required, and which whole body cleansing they had already received, Jn 13:8-10. Compare this passage with the "whole body" cleansing of Lev 15 and other Old Testament passages. Also, compare Jn 13:8-10 with Acts 22:16; I Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; Titus 3:5.
       "You are already clean, by the Word which I have spoken to you," Jn 15:3. "By the washing of water by the Word," Eph 5:26. First comes repentance and faith, then baptism (whole body washing), then day by day washing of the feet (or hands and feet) "by grace through faith" obedience to the Word.
      To these "already clean" church members Jesus said, "Abide (continue, remain) in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides (continues, remains) in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide (continue, remain) in Me," Jn 15:4. "Meno" means to continue, remain, abide. And they would abide (continue, remain) in Christ by continuing to bear fruit, obey the Word, keep the commandments, abide in the love of God and Christ, Jn 15:1-11.
      Jesus told these saved and scripturally baptized church members that if they did not continue to abide in Him by the proper "by grace through faith" fruit bearing, they would be cut off (severed, separated) from Him, would therefore not be able to bear fruit, and would eventually be bitterly punished. Being thus cut off from Christ, they would be cut off from the church, from the covenants, and from all bridal relations. However, they would still be saved and in the nations on the new earth.