“Em Cristo”: O princípio fundante da eclesiologia paulina

Abstract

According to Paul, the Christian life is participation in the life of Christ, As we can understand the words of Paul “in Christ”, with its variants. He indicates a new ontological reality of that, who accepts the Christ into his existence, and practically provides the interpretative key of the thought of the Apostle. The specific principles of unity “in Christ” derived from the baptism, The Eucharist and charity. Therefore, the inclusion “in Christ” is only real in the insertion into the body of the Church. Therefore, the term does not contain any individualistic sense of union with Christ... But, is closely linked to the Pauline idea of “body of Christ”. Eat and drink sacramentally the body and blood of Christ leads to the person place himself “in Christ”, through the ground body of the Risen and Glorified which is the Church. Finally, being “in Christ” also means being “in the Spirit”.. Therefore, who is “in Christ” is not “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit”.