Introduction

As believers in the gospel of the grace of God, we are fully persuaded that having trusted in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins, and that he was buried and rose again the third day for our justification, we have eternal life and will be caught up to be forever with the Lord.   This is the wonderful, good news of the gospel, the one and only means of salvation today.  But being a Christian is more than Christ in us, the hope of glory and simply waiting for our heavenly bodies. Christ died for a purpose that, whether alive in this mortal flesh on earth, or when we physically die, we should live together with him.

• 1Th 5:10 KJV  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

God has provided all of what we need to live together with Christ.  We do have his holy Spirit, but we don’t immediately have a full knowledge of life in Christ, the moment we get saved.  He wants us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, to put off the old man and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  

• Rom 12:2 KJV  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• Eph 4:22 KJV  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
• Rom 13:14 KJV  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

God would have us grow in knowledge about what it means to be saved, to have been made a member of the church, the body of Christ.   Putting on the new man is about being renewed in the knowledge of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  He would have all men, not just to be saved, but to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

• Col 3:10 KJV  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
• Col 2:3 KJV  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 
• 1Ti 2:4 KJV  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In addition to being saved and having gained eternal life, Christ sanctifies, cleanses, cherishes and nourishes us by what scripture calls the washing of water by the word.  By growing in knowledge of God’s word, our faith is increased.  As we learn about our position in Christ we are established in the truth and strengthened in our inner man, able to discern false teaching that undermines the gospel as well as learning how we should live, in newness of life, while still here on this earth.

Our position in Christ and acceptance by God

A correct understanding of our position in Christ is fundamental to our faith and spiritual growth.  We learn from scripture that while we cannot please God in our flesh, we are all baptised by the holy Spirit into the body of Christ at the moment we believe the gospel of our salvation.  

• Rom 8:8 KJV  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

At the point of trusting the gospel of Christ, all believers are baptised by the holy Spirit into the body of Christ.  

• 1Co 12:12-14 KJV  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  (14)  For the body is not one member, but many.

This mystery was uniquely revealed to the Apostle Paul, and it concerns the church, the body of Christ, of which he is the head.

• Col 1:18 KJV  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.

It is an awesome fact, that our position means we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.   

• Eph 5:30 KJV  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Not only are we members of Christ’s body, but Christ is in us.  This is yet another mystery which was hid from ages and from generations until revealed by Christ to the apostle Paul.  Christ in us is our hope of glory.

• Col 1:26-27 KJV  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  (27)  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

At that same moment when we first believed the gospel of Christ and were baptised into his body, we also were immediately baptised into his death.

• Rom 6:3 KJV  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

That work of the holy Spirit at the point of belief in the gospel of Christ is vital to understand, because being in Christ means we are sealed unto the day of redemption and will be resurrected to be forever with the Lord in heaven. 

• Eph 1:13-14 KJV  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  (14)  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

What is the purchased possession that Christ will redeem (which means to gain possession of in exchange for payment)?  Our earthly body, in fact all of creation, is subject to corruption and decay because of Adam’s sin, but through Christ’s shed blood we have certain hope of the redemption of our bodies. We are sealed and have the Spirit of Christ within us, as the earnest or down-payment assurance that we are his purchased possession, while we groan within ourselves, longing and waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 

• Rom 8:19-23 KJV  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  (20)  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  (21)  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  (22)  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  (23)  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body

At that very moment of believing the gospel and trusting in Christ, His own righteousness is imputed to us by faith, just like it was to Abraham.

• Rom 4:22-24 KJV  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  (23)  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  (24)  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

With God’s own righteousness imputed to us, we can rest fully assured that our position in Christ, the beloved, is the entire and only basis for our acceptance before God.  We are accepted by God because we are placed into the body of Christ and it is in him that we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.  None of this is our work; it is all according to the riches of his grace.  Because it is of Christ and Christ alone, we have perfect assurance and absolute certainty of our salvation.  It is all to the praise of the glory of his grace.

• Eph 1:6-7 KJV  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Having this understanding protects us from wicked religious teaching that our final acceptance before God depends, not just on trusting in Christ’s death and resurrection, but subsequently upon us maintaining a right standing with God by how we live; turning from what we know to be wrong, doing good works, getting water baptised, examining ourselves (and confessing / asking for forgiveness) before taking communion; not sinning, etc. etc., until Christ’s return.  

Religious pride and man’s natural rebellion toward God, insists that a man’s works can in some way contribute to his acceptance before God.  For example, judging someone’s salvation by their “walk” after being saved, reveals a rejection of the gospel of Christ in which a man’s works play absolutely no part whatsoever.  (Remember, our position in Christ is to the praise of the glory of his grace – not our performance).  Salvation is by grace through faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast.

• Eph 2:8-9 KJV  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There are those who use good words and fair speeches to preach doctrine that is contrary to what Paul preached.  They deceive and cause division in order to serve their own belly.

• Rom 16:17-18 KJV  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  (18)  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

By Paul’s example, when it comes to the gospel, it is necessary to be open and clear about the truth, even if it offends (as it certainly will).  In contrast to those who used good words and fair speeches, to deceive, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that at no time did he use flattering words in order to hide covetous greedy intentions to get their money:

• 1Th 2:4-5 KJV  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  (5)  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

It may seem harsh and likely to cause offense, but Paul’s approach was straight and to the point where salvation and defence of the gospel is concerned.  He told the Philippians often, about those who did not follow the doctrine that Christ delivered to Paul.  He called them enemies of the Cross of Christ.  It is the same today, we are called to follow Paul as our ensample or pattern, even as he followed Christ.  But many enemies of the cross, in our day, reject the unique message given to Paul.

• Php 3:17-20 KJV  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  (18)  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  (20)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Learning how to live

Being saved by God’s grace most certainly does not give us licence to continue in sin, God forbid.   

• Rom 6:15 KJV  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Also, when we are first saved, we are in Christ and his holy Spirit dwells in us; but we know almost nothing, apart from the fact that he died for our sins and that by believing in him, we are saved.  As we learn from God’s word about what Christ has done for us, and our position in him, we should naturally desire to serve him.  Because of the mercies he has shown to us, we should also desire not to be conformed to this world: but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, proving or showing what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

• Rom 12:1-2 KJV  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This transformation of our mind takes place by growing in the knowledge of the truth of God’s word.  It enables us to discern that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God and therefore choose to serve him in truth, according to his will, rather than according to our own ideas and imaginations.  

By God’s word, righty divided, we learn that a religious effort of the flesh, to change our lifestyles for better acceptance before God, is a vain pursuit and those works will be burnt up.  In fact it is foolishness to think that having begun in the Spirit we could be made perfect in the flesh.

• Gal 3:3-4 KJV  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  (4)  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

It frustrates the grace of God, even after we are saved, to seek righteousness by the law.  Paul wrote:

• Gal 2:21 KJV  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

To frustrate the grace of God is to disesteem, neutralize or violate: - cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought or reject his grace.  Yet the majority of so-called Christianity keeps its adherents in bondage, with ministers and pastors teaching that our walk influences our acceptance before God when we die.  Requirements for salvation, such as baptism and confession are (or at least should be) easy to identify as contrary to the gospel of Christ.  But, more subtil, are the teachings that God requires keeping of one or more laws to be fully accepted by him, or that our efforts and success in stopping sinning affect our ultimate standing before God.  

Satan’s motive is clear, to blind people to the truth of the gospel.  

• 2Co 4:3-4 KJV  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The hidden motive of many ministers and pastors is to get loyalty and money from their congregations.  The bible calls such ministers and pastors fools, that is mindless, stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specifically) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving: - fool (-ish), unwise.  Yet sadly, whole congregations suffer these fools gladly.   To make the point strongly, Paul sarcastically called the Corinthians wise when he admonished them for suffering these fools gladly, allowing them to exalt themselves over the church, bringing them into bondage and taking their money.

• 2Co 11:19-20 KJV  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  (20)  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

Dead to the law but alive unto God

Being dead to the law, basically means that the law can’t touch us.  This concerns what the Bible calls our old man, the Adamic nature that every human being is born with.  It is our old man, which is crucified with Christ and therefore, being dead, is no longer under the jurisdiction of the law of sin and death.

• Gal 2:19 KJV  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
• Rom 6:6 KJV  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.

It is important to know that being freed from the law has a purpose which is more than simply waiting to die and be resurrected.  It frees us to live a new life in the flesh yet, as Gal 2:20 tells us, it’s a life which is not I, but Christ who lives in us.

• Gal 2:20 KJV  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Washing of water by the word

In this new life, we are a part of Christ’s own body, which he nourishes through the washing of water by the word, that he might present his church without spot or blemish.

• Eph 5:25-29 KJV  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  (29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

A great mystery

Being a member of Christ’s body is described like marriage and the joining together of man and wife.  It is described as a great mystery, that we should be married to Christ, to bring forth fruit pleasing to God.

• Eph 5:30-32 KJV  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  (31)  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  (32)  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Marriage requires fidelity (faithfulness)

Paul explains to the Corinthian believers that, having espoused them (promised them in marriage) to Christ, he was jealous over them, fearing that their minds could become corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

• 2Co 11:2-3 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Fruit of our union with Christ

To the Romans, he explained the purpose of that marriage to Christ, which is to bring forth fruit.

• Rom 7:4 KJV  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

We see in Galatians chapter 5 that bearing the fruit of the Spirit is something that results from putting off the old man and choosing to walk in the Spirit.

• Gal 5:22-25 KJV  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Correct motivation to serve God

Walking in the spirit, walking worthy etc. is about putting off the old man and putting on the new, that we might serve Christ in newness of life, in newness of the spirit, in love as adopted sons of God rather than out of a sense of duty or fear (for this is the law, but we are under grace).  

• Rom 7:6 KJV  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
• Rom 8:14-15 KJV  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Our motivation to serve God should not be out of fear, believing service is necessary for acceptance.  It is because we appreciate the mercies God has shown to us that we should choose to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto him.

• Rom 12:1 KJV  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Awareness of internal conflict

Some have a belief that, once saved, they miraculously stop sinning.  They either don’t understand what sin is or, more likely, they live a life of denying the fact that there is an ongoing internal battle between the flesh and the spirit, even after a person is saved.  This internal battle is important to correctly understand for a number of reasons. Firstly, God would have us reckon the old man dead to the law, that we should not serve sin but rather, yield ourselves as instruments of righteousness unto God and walk in newness of life while here in these mortal bodies.

• Rom 6:11-14 KJV  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (12)  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  (13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  (14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
• 2Co 5:15 KJV  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
• Rom 6:4 KJV  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
  Rom 7:6 KJV  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Secondly, Satan causes confusion and blindness by promoting the subtle lie that the law still has power over us. Many people who profess to be Christian rightly say that they are not under the law.  However, most deceive even themselves, because their understanding and focus is on what they should or shouldn’t do according to the law, e.g. baptism with water or other ordinances such as tithing, believing these have some bearing upon their right standing before God.  This is heresy, because Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  Falling from grace is not a metaphor for committing sin after having been saved, but it is simply the rejection or denial of God's grace, forgiveness and justification, in favour of seeking to be justified by one's own performance.

• Gal 5:4 KJV  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

A vital truth, which most of professing Christianity cannot see is that, by fully trusting in the gospel of Christ, a believer is made dead to the law by the body of Christ.  Where there is fear of condemnation for sins (which comes from the law of sin and death), this means that an individual has not understood and therefore has not trusted in the one and only means of salvation in this age of grace, Christ’s all-sufficient payment for sin in his death, burial and resurrection.  They fail to understand that, whereas the law brings the knowledge of sin and while the sting of death is sin (and its strength is the law), the debt of the law has been fully paid and there is now, therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

• Rom 3:20 KJV  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• 1Co 15:56 KJV  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
• Rom 8:1 KJV  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
• Rom 8:9 KJV  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

It is a fundamental of the gospel of Christ, that we are saved entirely by grace through faith, and that our works or deeds play no part whatsoever.

• Eph 2:8-9 KJV  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• Rom 3:20 KJV  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• Rom 3:28 KJV  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Paul completely rejected all his previous reliance upon the law for (self) righteousness, when he realised the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which the Lord revealed directly to him. That revealed knowledge, we now have written down in the Bible, concerning the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25).

• Php 3:8-9 KJV  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

So we too should reject any doctrine that teaches works of the law for righteousness or the condemnation of the law for sin, as Christ condemned sin in the flesh and there is now, therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Our position as believers in the gospel of Christ means we are dead to the law of sin and death.  The law simply can’t touch us because Christ already paid the penalty or wages of sin, by his death.  By trusting in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, we are judicially crucified with Christ, have his righteousness imputed to us, and are instructed to reckon our old man dead.  We are, at the same time, made alive in Christ and we begin to learn what it means to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

Out of gratitude, and not out of legal obligation, we want to please God.  We want to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, for this is our reasonable service, to be in the will of God, who would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

By knowledge of God’s word we see that he suffered and died for our sins and the sins of the whole world.  We see the pattern he gave us through Paul, suffering for the sake of others, preaching the gospel salvation and edifying the saints. 

By growing in the knowledge of Christ, we are strengthened in the inner man, gaining peace, hope and joy as we choose in faith to be led by the Spirit, in response to God’s mercies to us.  

It is not willpower (the power of our own will) to avoid sin that brings satisfaction, or which God is pleased with, but that we simply trust in his provision on the cross.  It should be obvious to an honest person that man, in his flesh, does not have the power to stop sinning permanently.  If he did have such power, there would not have been the need for Christ to have died for our sins.

Just as a child trusts a loving parent to provide love, nourishment and care, God would have us rely on him alone. By faith in God, rather than in ourselves, we please him, trusting in him alone for our eternal salvation and for our new lives, here and now in Christ.  We have so much to thank God for.

• 2Co 9:15 KJV  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
• Rom 6:23 KJV  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Rom 8:32 KJV  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Finally, consider again what it means to be the recipients of God’s love, in Christ Jesus.

• Rom 8:38-39 KJV  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.