In
in
–preposition
1. (used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park.
2. (used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the autumn.
3. (used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.
4. (used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.

There are more samples to be sure, but none pertinent here.



adverb

Over and over, in the definitions for “in”, are the words, ”used to indicate an inclusion” or “to be included.” To be included in the family of Christianity is an important position. To be included is to be invited. Through our baptism we have been invited, we have been included in God’s family. We have been marked and chosen to share in the eternal life that Jesus offers us.
Have you ever seen a movie where the people are all standing in line to get into a popular nightclub? Perhaps you have even stood in one of those lines. The place is so popular that the owners can now be choosey about who comes in and who doesn’t. The guy at the door has the power to use his discretion as to who is cool enough to be let into the club.
The club that I am referring to though, is the eternal life club. We, the baptized, are already card-carrying cool enough! We are permanently “in”!
During the Exodus out of Egypt, the Israelites were told to put the blood of a spotless lamb on their door frames. The angel of death passed over those particular door frames in the night. Those homes were spared. The angels only took the first born of the houses whose doorposts were not marked. Because of our baptisms, we have been marked by the blood of the Lamb too. The Lamb this time, spotless once again, was Jesus. Only this time, it is we who are invited into the kingdom which is, of course, the coolest club around! We get to go right up to the gold rope and St. Peter will recognize us as one of the elect. He will unclip the rope and welcome us home. We are in! How cool are we now?