FEBRUARY 21, 2016
IN HIM REALITIES 1
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”
When we speak of terms like “in him”,”in christ” we are speaking of identification. The scripture makes us see that all that Christ is, we already are. All we are, we are because he is.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world 1 John 4:17
Now all men are born sinners because all men were born after the first Adam’s image. We all identify with Adam’s sinful nature. This is usually referred to as the “old man” in the epistles.
Romans 5:12-14 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come”
Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”.
So we see all men are sinners by identification with the Adam.
Now in Christ, there are many things we are by our identification with him.
Let’s examine a few of these things.
We are new creatures.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17
As new creatures, we have a new way of life because we have received a new and divine life.
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”. Ephesians 4:24
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all”. Colossians 3:10-11
Just as Christ got born again from spiritual death and was the first to do so and became a new creature so have we!
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”. Colossians 1:18
The second reality is that we have become righteousness.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. 2 Corinthians 5:21
He became sin for us. He identified with Adam even though he wasn’t of him. He took our place, paid the price of sin and has made us right in God’s presence. We are right in God’s eyes because he became sin and after fulfilling the demands of divine justice was justified for our sakes.
“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Romans 4:23-25”
So in Christ we have all that he is.
We have identified with him by faith in the gospel.
We can boldly say as he is, so are we!
CONFESSION: I am a new creation. I have the life of Christ in me. I am righteous, I am holy. I have been justified and sanctified. Amen
FURTHER BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 6, John 13
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