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Study #3: How
God Saved You in Christ
When Jesus came into this world, some two thousand years ago, He
came to be the Saviour of the world. It was however, the apostle
Paul that God set aside to explain this good news of salvation, the
gospel. When reading Paul’s writings you will find a key phrase that
runs through all his epistles. If you were to remove this phrase
there would be very little left of Paul’s explanation of the gospel.
That phrase is “in Christ” or “in Christ Jesus.” The truth expressed
by this phrase is also expressed by other similar phrases such as
“in Him” or “together with Him” or “in the beloved” or “in whom,”
etc. All these phrases express the same “in Christ” idea or motif
(theme).
This truth, stated in the phrase “in Christ,” was first introduced
by Christ Himself when He told His disciples to “abide in me.” These
are the undergirding words of the gospel. If we do not understand
what the New Testament means by this expression “in Christ,” we will
never be able to fully understand the good news of the gospel. There
is nothing we have as Christians except we have it in Christ.
Outside of Him we have nothing but sin, condemnation, and death.
The
concept of “in Christ” is however, difficult to understand. Just as
“you must be born again” was beyond Nicodemus, one of the top
religious leaders of the Jews, the phrase “in Christ” is likewise a
difficult idea for us to comprehend. This is especially true of the
Western mind. How can I, as an individual, be in someone else? Worse
still, how can I, born in the Twentieth Century, be in Christ who
lived almost 2,000 years ago? This makes absolutely no sense to our
Western way of thinking. Because we cannot fathom this truth, we
tend to ignore or skim over it. Yet appreciating the good news of
the gospel hinges on our understanding these vital two words, “in
Christ.”
The
“in Christ” concept is based on Biblical solidarity, the idea that
all men constitute or share a common life. This is what we touched
on in our first lesson, the sin problem. Therefore, if we are to
come to grips with this phrase “in Christ,” we must first understand
what the Bible has to say about solidarity or corporate oneness. In
Hebrews 7:7-10, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek “in Abraham” since
he was in the loins of his great grandfather Abraham when he paid
tithe to Melchizedek. This is based on Biblical solidarity.
According to Scripture, three fundamental facts are revealed:
1.
God created all men in one man – Adam
2.
Satan ruined all men in one man – Adam
3.
God redeemed all men in one man – Christ
It
is this last fact that constitutes the good news of the gospel and
gives us everlasting hope. As you study God’s Word regarding the “in
Christ” motif or idea may your eyes be opened to the matchless
charms of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
1. There are three
people involved in this text: “Him” (i.e., God), “you” (i.e., us),
and Christ. What has God made Christ to be for us?
1
Corinthians 1:30
______________________________________________________
Note: Out of
His unconditional love, God united the divine life of His Son to our
corporate human life in the womb of Mary. Thus Christ, the God-man,
qualified to be our substitute and representative. By His perfect
life and sacrificial death He satisfied all the demands of the law
on our behalf. In Christ, humanity has a new history which fully
qualifies every believer for heaven. This is the incredible good
news of the gospel.
2. In our first
study we found that all men were created in one man, Adam, and when
he sinned, all sinned in him, and therefore the death sentence was
passed upon all men. In the same way what will happen to all who are
in Christ?
1
Corinthians 15:21,22
______________________________________________________
Note: The man
who brought death to humanity is Adam and the man who brought life
to humanity is Christ. Today, science is trying to find a solution
to the death problem but they cannot because the only solution is
Christ.
3. What were the
first Adam and the last Adam made to be?
1
Corinthians 15:45
First Adam ______________________________________________________
Last Adam ______________________________________________________
Note: Because
the first Adam (mankind) sinned and brought death to all mankind,
God sent His Son as the last or second Adam (mankind) to redeem men
from that death sentence. Christ is our only hope of eternal life
(see 1 John 5:11,12).
4. Through one
man’s sinful act, what came to all men and with what result?
Romans 5:18 (first part)
______________________________________________________
Note: Because
we were in Adam, his one sin made us all sinners (verse 19). While
God does not blame us, or hold us responsible or guilty for Adam’s
sin, nevertheless, because we were in Adam when he sinned, we share
his condemnation to death.
5. Through one
Man’s righteous act what came to all men and with what result?
Romans 5:18 (last part)
______________________________________________________
Note: Just as
all die because all have sinned in Adam, so also, all have obeyed in
Christ and stand justified to life in Him. Please notice that what
God has brought to the whole human race by Christ’s obedience is a
“free gift” and like any other gift, we cannot enjoy it until we
receive it (verse 17). What is ours in Adam is ours by inheritance;
what is ours in Christ is a gift from God, for “God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in
him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
6. When did God
plan our redemption in Christ?
Ephesians 1:4 ______________________________________________________
Note: Before
we were even created in Adam, God, who knew beforehand that Adam
would sin, had already planned our salvation in Christ. According to
verse 5, God predestined our adoption to be His sons and daughters
by uniting us to Christ. He did this, not because we were good or
deserved it, but because of His unconditional love for us. The
moment you accept Christ as your Saviour, God looks at you as if you
are His son or daughter, “accepted in the Beloved” (Christ ,verse
6).
7. What three
things has God done for us in Christ, while we were still sinners?
Ephesians 2:5,6
1.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
_____________________________________________________________
3.
_____________________________________________________________
Note: These
three facts are what God has accomplished in Christ for all men and
women. Together, they constitute the good news of the gospel:
salvation full and complete for sinful humankind. However, for these
facts to become ours individually, there must be a human response.
8. How do we
experience this salvation obtained for all people in Christ?
Ephesians 2:8,9
______________________________________________________
Note:
Salvation comes as a result of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and is made effective through faith; this grace is the supreme gift
of God to mankind. The fruit of receiving this grace is good works
(see verse 10).
9. What is the
wages of sin?
Romans 6:23 (first part)
______________________________________________________
Note: By
nature, as well as by performance, we are sinners and deserve death
since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans
3:23).
10. What is the
gift of God in Christ?
Romans 6:23 (last part)
______________________________________________________
Note: Please
note that while death is wages we earn, eternal life is entirely a
free gift that comes through the holy history of Christ and which we
have not earned or deserved. That’s why the Bible tells us that we
are saved by grace alone.
11. What has God
given us in His Son?
1
John 5:11 ______________________________________________________
Note: The
whole world is trying to escape from the “grim reaper.” No one wants
to die, but there is only one Source of the life that never ends —
Jesus Christ.
12. What are the
two options we have regarding this gift of life from God?
1
John 5:12
1.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
_____________________________________________________________
Note: Please
do not refuse this incredible gift. If you refuse it you will not
have this eternal life, no matter how many good works you have
performed. If you accept Jesus as your only source of salvation and
life, the eternal life God offers you in Christ is guaranteed.
13. What assurance
does John give to those who believe in the Son of God?
1
John 5:13 ______________________________________________________
14. If we believe
in Jesus, what do we become?
John 1:11-13 ______________________________________________________
Note: God
looks at every one who believes in Jesus Christ as His child. If you
believe in His name you have already received life, even though you
may not feel it or think you deserve it.
15. If we hear and
believe God’s Word, what will be the result?
John 5:24 ______________________________________________________
Note: We pass
from death to life by accepting the gift of God, Jesus Christ, and
not by the works of the law. However, to those who are justified by
faith in Christ, the law becomes the standard of Christian living
(see Galatians 5:13,14).
16. What is Christ
to those who believe?
Romans 10:4 ______________________________________________________
Note: The word
“end” means something completed or terminated. Paul tells us in this
verse that, by faith, Christ’s perfect obedience to the law becomes
ours. In His earthly mission, Christ met both the positive demands
of the law as well as its justice. Thus, He terminated legalism
(salvation by our own attempts to keep the law).
17. What happens
when you accept the gift of Christ’s righteousness?
2
Corinthians 5:17
______________________________________________________
Note: Read
also verses 18-21. On the cross, God heaped all the sins of the
world on His Son Jesus Christ. Thus, by His death humanity has been
redeemed from sin. Then, in exchange, God gave humanity the life of
His Son in the resurrection. When you accept Jesus by faith as your
personal Saviour, you pass from death to life.
18. What two
things did Christ accomplish by His death and resurrection?
2
Timothy 1:8-10
1.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
_____________________________________________________________
19. What two
things must we do for the good news of salvation in Christ to become
ours?
Mark 16:15,16
1.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
_____________________________________________________________
Do you believe that
Christ has redeemed you? If yes, check here:
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