To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, (Phillippians 1:1b)
Apostle Paul uses the phrases ‘in Christ’, ‘in Christ Jesus’ & ‘in Lord’ quite frequently in his letters. ‘in Christ’ occurs 48 times, ‘in Christ Jesus’ occurs 34 times & ‘in Lord’ occurs 50 times. Clearly Paul drives the point that To be in Christ Jesus is the very core essence of Christianity.
In this verse, Paul refer’s ‘God’s holy people in Christ Jesus’. Holy would mean ‘set-apart for God’ or ‘consecrated to God’. We see references of ‘God’s holiness’ to the Priests of Levite order (Leviticus 21:6), to the tithe (Leviticus 27:30), ‘to the central part of the temple’ (Exodus 26:33), ‘the People of Israel themselves’ (Exodus 19:6). In all these instances ‘holy’ refers to being set-apart, being different from others.
So what’s the difference? where does it come from ? The difference comes through Jesus Christ, by being in Jesus Christ. It is about a special relationship with Christ.
“When Paul spoke of Christian being in Christ, he meant that the Christian lives in Christ as a bird in the air, a fish in the water, the roots of a tree in the soil”
Marvin R. Vincent (as referred in William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible)
Christians are called to live continually in the atmosphere and the spirit of Christ. We are called to be ‘set-apart’ for Him & ‘consecrated’ to Him by being conscious of His presence, His strength & His power every-time & everywhere.