1. We
Are Justified
Romans 3:24
…and are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
We have been found innocent of sin in God’s eyes.
That is what justified means. When we were saved through Christ Jesus, God
looked at us on trial and cleared us of all sins. He wiped our slate clean so
to speak. Christ paid for this, justification through his redemption when he
died. In Old Testament times, if a person owed debts that he couldn’t pay, he
was sold as a slave. A relative, of course that meant a male next of kin, could
redeem him; or buy his freedom. Christ paid a blood price for our freedom from
the slavery of sin.
2. We
Are Not Condemned
Romans 8:1
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus.
We no longer have to worry about death when we
become a Christian. We may die in the flesh, but we live again in spirit. Death
is the world’s justly punishment for sin. Because Christ died as our sacrifice
for sin, when we put our faith in him, we are set free from that punishment.
3. We
Are Set Free From The Law of Sin
Romans 8:2
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit
of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
The Spirit of Life is the Holy Spirit. It was there
at the creation of the world and gives us the power to do what God asks of us.
When we were born again, God gave us the Spirit. It is because we follow it in
doing God’s will that it sets us free from the law of sin. The law of sin leads
to death, while the Law of the Spirit leads to life everlasting in God’s
kingdom.
4. We
Are Sanctified in Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:2
…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to
be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours.
We are called to be holy. God invites us to be part
of his eternal kingdom. Jesus Christ is the only one, however, who can grant
entrance into this glorious kingdom. He is the only one who removes our sin.
5. We
Are Righteous and Holy
1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness, and
redemption.
God is the source of, and the reason for our
relationship with Christ. Our union and identification in Christ is because of
the wisdom and knowledge from God, possessing right standing with God, being
holy, and having the penalty of our sins paid by Jesus (redemption).
6. We
Will Be Made Alive
1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be
made alive.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, the
punishment was death. This punishment was passed down to all humans who came after.
When Christ died, he paid the price for sin and brought life instead of death
to those who believe in him. We still die a fleshly death, but we live again in
the spirit.
7. We
Are New Creations
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old is gone, the new has come.
Christians on the inside are new people. We are
given new life by the Holy Spirit. We are no longer the people we were before.
We are not rehabilitated, reeducated, or reformed. We are re-created, living in
union with Christ. At a conversion, we are not so much turning over a new leaf;
we are beginning a new life under a new Master. That master is Jesus.
8. We
Receive God’s Righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When we put faith in Christ, we make an exchange-our
sin for his righteousness. Our sin was poured into Christ when he was
crucified; his righteousness is poured into us at our conversion. This is what
is meant by “Christ is atonement for sin.” Bartering only works when people
exchange things of equal value; however, God barters his righteousness, a thing
of immeasurable value, for our sin, a thing that is completely worthless. How
grateful I am for such a price to be paid for my sins.
9. We
Are One In Christ With All Believers
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus.
It was a Jewish male custom to pray every morning,
“Lord, I thank you that that I am not a Gentile, slave or a woman.” The role of
women was enhanced by Christianity. They were able to do things that normally
would have not been allowed, especially in the church. Granted, women were
still treated unequally in regards to duties in the church, but at least they
were able to be active. Faith in Christ transcends the differences of people
and makes all believers one in Christ. We must make sure we do not impose
distinctions that Christ has removed, such as ethnic background, economic
status, and sex/gender. Because, we as believers are his heirs, no one is more
privileged or superior to anyone else.
It is natural for us to feel uncomfortable around
people who are different from us and stay close to those who are similar to us.
But, by doing so we allow our differences to separate us from fellow believers.
This is showing disregard for biblical teaching. We should make a point to seek
out and appreciate the people who are not just like us, but also those who are
quite different. We may just find a friend in an unlikely person.
10. We
Are Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing In Christ
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ who blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ.
“Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with
every spiritual blessing” means that in Christ we have all the benefits of
knowing God-being chosen for salvation, being adopted as his children,
forgiveness, insight, the gifts of the Spirit, power to do God’s will, the hope
of living forever with Christ. Because of our intimate relationship with
Christ, we can enjoy these blessings now. The heavenly realms means that these blessings are eternal, not
temporal. The blessings come from Christ’s spiritual realm and not the earthly
realm we are living in.
11. We
Are Holy And Blameless
Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him
before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Paul says that God
“chose us in him” to show that salvation depends totally on God. We are not
saved because we deserve it, we don’t. We are saved because God is gracious and
freely gives salvation. We didn’t influence his decision to save us. God had
always planned on doing it. We therefore cannot take credit for our salvation.
The mystery of salvation originated in the timeless mind of God long before we
existed. It is hard to understand how God could accept us. But, because of
Christ, we are holy and blameless in his sight. When we belong to God through
Jesus Christ, God looks at us as if we never sinned.
12.
We Are Adopted As God’s Children
Ephesians 1:5-6
5 In love he
predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has
freely given us in the One he loves.
Predestined means
marked out beforehand. This is another way of saying that salvation is God’s
doing and not ours. In his infinite love, God has adopted us as his own
children. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, he has brought us into his family and made
us heirs along with Christ. In Roman law, adopted children had the same rights
and privileges as biological children. Paul uses this term to show how strong our
relationship to God is. Have you entered into this loving relationship with
God? I have.
“Freely given us in the
One he loves,” means that God graciously accepts us now that we belong to his
dearly loved Son, Christ Jesus.
13.
Our Sins Are Taken Away And We Are
Forgiven
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
riches of God’s grace.
Speaking of Jesus’
blood was the way the 1st century Christians talked about Jesus’
death. His death brings out two wonderful truths: redemption and forgiveness.
We talked about redemption earlier in reference to it being a price paid for
slave’s freedom and how it relates to Jesus being our redemption. Forgiveness
was granted in Old Testament times through the sacrifice of an animal’s blood.
Christ was used as such a sacrifice for our sins. He died as the perfect and
final sacrifice.
14.
We Will Be Brought Under Christ’s
Authority
Ephesians 1:10-11
10 To be put in effect
when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in
heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were
also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
God’s purpose for
sending Christ was to bring the Jews and Gentiles together in one body with
Christ at the head. Many people today still do not understand God’s plan, but
all will be revealed at the proper time (when the times will have reached their
fulfillment). He will bring us together to be with him forever. At that time
everyone will understand. On that day, we all will bow to Jesus as our Lord,
either out of love or fear of his power. It is God’s plan to offer us
salvation. He is Sovereign and he is in charge. When life seems chaotic and
uncontrollable, rest in the truth that Jesus is Lord and God is in control.
God’s purpose to save us cannot be thwarted, no matter what Satan may bring.
15.
We Are Identified as Belonging to God By
the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:13
And you also were
included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised
Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is
God’s seal that we belong to him. It also serves as his deposit for
guaranteeing that he will do what he has promised. The presence of the Holy
Spirit within us demonstrates the genuineness of our faith. It proves we are
God’s children and secures eternal life for us.
16.
We Have Been Raised Up To Sit With
Christ In Glory
Ephesians 2:6
And God raised us up
with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus.
Because of Christ’s
resurrection, we know that our bodies will also be resurrected (1 Corinthians
15:2-23). We have also been given the power to live as Christians forever now.
Our eternal life with Christ is certain because of our union with him in his victory.
17.
We Are God’s Workmanship
Ephesians
2:10
For
we are God’s workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus to be good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
We
are God’s workmanship; that is piece of art. Our salvation is something only
God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in us. We should not and cannot
treat ourselves or others disrespectfully or as inferior work. We also treat
our bodies as a temple, a living temple.
18.
We Have Been Brought Near To God
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus
you, who once were far away, have been brought near through the blood of
Christ.
The Gentiles were once
separated from God’s promises, and therefore were “far away” from God himself.
They are now “brought near” to God through Christ’s blood. The terms far away
and brought near are used to describe our relationship with God. In truth, God
is not far from any of us. But, before we were born again, it was like God was
far away, out of reach. There was little, if any communication and no benefits
of his presence. After salvation, it seems God has come to be near us. We can
speak to him at any time and always know he is near listening. Sometimes he
even talks back to us.
19.
We Share In The Promise Of Blessing
Through Christ
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus
you, who once were far away, have been brought near through the blood of
Christ.God made it known in Old Testament times that the Gentiles would receive
salvation (Isaiah 49:6), but he never made it known that they would one day share
in equality the body of Christ with the Jewish believers. This equality was
accomplished when Jesus destroyed the dividing wall and created the one new man
(Ephesians 2:14-18).
20.
We Can Come With Freedom And Confidence
Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith
in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
We have an awesome and
wonderful privilege to be able to approach God with freedom and confidence.
Most of us would not feel that way about such a mighty and powerful ruler; but
thanks to Christ, by faith we can talk directly to God through prayer. We know
we will be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s children. We can talk
to God about everything, and he loves to hear what we have to say to him.
21.
We Are Members Of Christ’s Body, the
Church
Ephesians 5:29-30
29 After all, no one
ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the
church, 30 for we are members of his body.
We must take great care
of our bodies, showing respect that they make up Christ’s church. Disrespecting
our bodies is disrespecting Christ. It is disrespecting the church. We must
treat our bodies like a temple. We would never deface one and we shouldn’t do
so to ourselves. We must never eat in excess, drink alcohol in excess, pierce
or tattoo our bodies excessively, or even not at all is even better. We must
not partake in any kind of self-destructive behavior such as using drugs or
practicing promiscuous sex habits.
22.
We Are Made Complete in Christ
Colossians 2:10
And you have been given
the fullness in Christ, who is head over every power and authority.
Many people today feel
empty and that their life is meaningless. Christ gives us the fullness we seek.
As Jesus person is fully divine, so we united by faith to Jesus, fid personal
fulfillment in him. When you know Jesus, there is no longer a need to seek God
through other religious means. Christ fills us with the true answers and
meaning to life because he is life. Christ is the Christians source to living
the Christian life. He gives us all the knowledge and power we need. We need
nothing in addition to Christ, because he gives us everything we need.
23.
We Are Set Free From Our Sinful Nature
Colossians 2:11
In him you were also
circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with circumcision
done by the hand of men, but with the circumcision done by Christ.
Jewish males were
circumcised as a sign of the Jews’ Covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). Circumcision was
made unnecessary with Christ’s death. Our commitment is shown on our hearts
instead of our bodies. Christ sets us free from our evil desires through a
spiritual operation, not a bodily one. Our old nature is removed by God and
replaced with a new one.
24.
We Will Have Eternal Glory
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure
everything for the sake of the elect that they too may obtain the salvation
that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Salvation cannot be
earned.
It is freely given to
us for our faith in Christ. Paul is teaching us that we will have to endure
through many hardships as a Christian, and sometimes that means our old human
nature. This is about the faithfulness to continue with the Christian life no
matter what troubles we face, because the reward is far greater than anything:
eternal life in heaven with Christ.
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