What could be more glorious than to know that we are forgiven of our sin, redeemed from slavery to sin and saved from eternal condemnation by God’s amazing grace.. through faith in the redemptive work of Christ – and yet some would argue that this superabundant grace not only permits the believer to keep on sinning, but encourages a life of sin. God forbid, is Paul’s emphatic response, how shall we, that are dead to sin, still live in sin?
At salvation we were given a new position in Christ. When we were born again we were made a new person in Christ.When we were saved, we received a new Christ-like nature and were given a new standing in Him, for we had become a new creation in Christ.. having been forgiven of our sin, imputed with His righteousness and received the indwelling life of Christ within our hearts.
Because of Christ’s substitutionary death.. our old life is dead to sin and our new life is alive to Him. We are no longer ‘positioned’ in Satan but ‘positioned’ in Christ. We have been given a secure, permanent and eternal position, which is a free gift of God’s super-abounding grace to all who trust in Christ as Saviour.
Our position in Christ is perfect for He is perfect and our life should be a reflection of His perfection, beauty and grace. Our practice in life should increasingly harmonize with all that Christ is, for we are in union with Him, one with Him, positioned in Him – indwelt by His Spirit and in fellowship with God.
Having died to sin we are called to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, for we are no longer dead in our sin but alive to Christ – for we have died to sin. We are no longer estranged from God but re united with Him, in love – for we have died to sin.
When Jesus died on the cross, He became our sin-substitute. Christ died to pay the price for our sin. He paid the penalty of sin, so that the punishment that we justly deserve was poured out on Him in our stead. For only the perfect, sinless Son of Man could qualify to die for our sins.
But Jesus also died as our representative. He died in our place and identified with you and me so intimately that His death became our death – and when He died, we died also – so how can we who died to sin continue to live a sinful life?
Because of our new POSITION in Christ, by grace through faith in Him we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Our position in Him is perfect – and our PRACTICE should naturally reflect our position. There are likely to be times when we will fail and our practice will not reflect our position – but our earnest desire should be to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nothing is more glorious that to know that we are forgiven of our sin, redeemed from slavery to sin and saved from eternal condemnation by God’s amazing and super-abounding grace.. through faith in the redemptive work of Christ – God forbid that we who are dead to sin, should continue to live thereby.
And we pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You that Christ was not only my substitute for sin by taking the punishment that I justly deserve, but that He also died as my representative. Identifying so intimately with me that His death became my death and His glorious resurrection-life became my new-life in Christ. Thank You that I am a new creation in Christ and positioned in Him through time and into eternity. I pray that the life I now live may be lived by faith in Your Son, Who Loves me and gave Himself for me – so that His life may be lived through me to Your praise and glory, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
