Section Nine: The Christian's Position
Section Nine: Survey
The Christian's Position
In the right hand margin, write "true" or "false" after each of the following statements.
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1. |
Though the believer may feel unclean, he has been cleansed, purified and washed clean of sin. |
T |
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2. |
We can be assured of eternal life if we continue to behave righteously. |
F |
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3. |
There is a limit on God's forgiveness of our sins. |
F |
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4. |
The justified believer stands before God not just as a forgiven sinless man, but as a righteous man. |
T |
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5. |
God justifies us on the basis of our best efforts to live the Christian life. |
F |
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6. |
The unbeliever is enslaved to Satan. |
T |
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7. |
Spiritual blessings are bestowed only upon those Christians who are obedient to the word of God |
F |
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8. |
Redemption refers to the price Jesus Christ paid for our sins. |
T |
Section Nine: The Christian's Position
Key/Memory Verse: Ephesians 1:3
"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
Introduction
When we submit our lives to God and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Scripture describes our condition with words such as:
1. "Forgiven" (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9, 2:12; Colossians 1:14, 2:13)
2. "Righteous" (Romans 1:17; 3:21-25; 4:1-6; 5:17)
3. "Children Of God" (Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26) We've become "adopted" (Ephesians 1:5) by God!
4. "Saved" (Ephesians 2:8)
5. "Born-Again" a Peter 1:2) we are "new creations"! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
6. "Redeemed" a Peter 1:18; Ephesians 1:7)
7. "Justified" (Romans 5:1)
These words signify a standing before God. They indicate a spiritual position, a relationship which has been obtained for the believer by Jesus Christ through His death. The believer is seen as having received all the benefits of the work of Jesus Christ. The value of Christ's work has been imputed or credited to the believer. Because of Christ's work, the believer is "forgiven", "righteous", a "child of God", "saved", "born-again", "redeemed", and "justified," and brought into personal relationship with God.
Through this lesson and discussion, we hope to encourage you to see yourself as God sees you. In other words, to see your position before God as a believer.
I. Christians Are "Complete"
The Scripture describes all believers, therefore, as "complete."
To explain what he meant in calling the Christians "complete," the apostle Paul indicated that the believer in Jesus Christ "fully possessed" at least five things." (Matthews, p. 42)
A. Completely Cleansed
Read the following verses and note the reference to the Christian being cleansed.
1. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
2. Ephesians 5:25-27
3. Titus 2:14
The Christian has been cleansed. This means that the moral uncleanness which characterizes every non-believer (Isaiah. 64:6) has been washed away. The believer, even though he may feel unclean, has been cleansed, purified, and washed clean of sin.
B. Made Completely Alive
1. Looking up Ephesians 2:1, 4, 5, what was our condition, and what is our condition now
dead in sins
alive i with Christ , seated with Him in heaven
2. According to Colossians 2:13, what was our condition, and how is our present condition described?- made alive with Him (Christ)
3. What do we possess as Christians according to ...
1 John 5: 11, 12, 13. eternal / life in God's son
John 11:25: we will I I live even if we die
Though once dead to God, God has made us alive! God has given life for eternity to all who believe on His Son (John 3:16, 36). The Christian is alive to God even though he may not feel that he is in relationship to God.
C. Completely And Totally Forgiven
1. According to Colossians 2:13, how many of our sins have been forgiven? all of our transgressions
2. Having placed our faith and lives in Jesus Christ, we are completely and totally forgiven of ALL sin. According to the following verses, what is the Christian spared
John 3:18: judgment
John 5:24: we do not come into judgment but pass from death into life
The believer is fully forgiven; he is no longer guilty, no longer under the sentence of condemnation and death (John 5:24; Romans 8:1).
D. Justified Completely
Romans 5:1 states that the Christian has been justified by faith. As a result of Jesus Christ's death on our behalf, God has justified the believer.
1. Justification is, to many, an unfamiliar word which simply means
a. God has declared and pronounced that the believer is free from any fault, sin, or guilt, and is acceptable in His sight;
b. The believer thus stands before God just as if He had never (eyed sinned;
c. The believer stands before God just as if he had perfectly fulfilled all of God's Law. (2 Corinthians. 5:21)
2. The justified person, a believer, stands before God not just as a forgiven sinless man, but as a righteous man.
Based upon the definition of justification given above ...
a On what basis are we justified? by grace Of God through faith
b. Though the believer continues to stumble and sin, how does God view him?
1) justified
2) righteous
E. Complete Freedom From Satan
According to the following verses, what did Christ's death accomplish for the believer?
1. Hebrews 2:14, 15 made Satan powerless over us
2. I John 3:8 destroyed the works of the devil
Christ came into our nature to free us from the enemy. The value and power of His work has been imputed or credited to us. The believer has been set free (Ephesians. 1:19 - 2:6; Colossians 1:13). He no longer belongs to Satan - he belongs to God and irrevocably so.
These five benefits are only representative of the many spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3) the believers receives the moment he believers on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Conclusion
Whether the believer feels like it or not, he fully possess all of these benefits. Some of the qualities that characterize these blessings are:
A. They are all freely given to all who believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They cannot be purchased or earned.
B. They are without degrees. The remarkable factor here is that the believer possesses all of these spiritual blessings completely. He is not half forgiven or half justified. This is what Paul meant by "complete." The believer "fully possesses" all of these benefits.
C. They are all permanent! The believer cannot loose these benefits and gifts that are graciously given by God.
D. Based only on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Application
The believer has truly been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Realizing how God views you and how He has blessed you, write a brief praise and thank you note to God.
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