"Christ is our Life"

[Robert Pate]

"For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory" Colossians 3:3-4.

When we first come to Christ as repentant sinners to be saved by him, many spiritual things take place that we are not aware of. We know that we are born again by the Gospel and are given the Holy Spirit that changes our lives, but we don't really know what has happened to us spiritually as far as God is concerned.

How does God see us after we have been born again?

God no longer sees us in Adam, God now sees us "In Christ". We become new creations in Jesus Christ. "Therefore, if any man be "In Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold all things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17. Our old Adamic life of sin and failure is dead and forever gone, spiritually speaking. Physically we still have to struggle with it until we die. There is spiritual strength in believing that our old Adamic nature was crucified with Christ, Romans 6:6. We no longer have to be influenced by the old Adam, who is dead and was crucified with Christ.

Spiritually speaking, the life of Christ is our life. When Jesus lived, we lived in him. Our humanity was constituted in him. When Jesus died, we died with him, Romans 6:3. When Jesus walked out of Joseph's new tomb, we walked out with him as new creations in Jesus Christ. When Jesus ascended back into heaven, we ascended with him. Paul wrote, "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6. God already sees us "In Christ" in heaven.

"Christ is our life". Christ is our life not because we took the sacraments. Christ is our life because of the Gospel. In the Gospel Jesus comes into the world as our substitute and representative. His mission is to perfect our humanity and take it back to heaven. Our salvation is in a very safe place at the right hand of God. In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30. We now stand before God as perfect and complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10.

"Christ is our life". Yes, that life that God accepted back into heaven is our real life, it is our inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled that cannot fade away, reserved for us in heaven, 1 Peter 1:4. It is the only life that God will accept. We are accepted only in him and because of him. It is a life without spot or blemish.

 

[Robert Pate]

Paul said, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" 2 Corinthians 4:7. The treasure is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is "The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes" Romans 1:16. The fact that we can know and believe this Gospel is a miracle.

 

[donadams]

Are we in union with Christ after we are born again?
Thanks

 

[Robert Pate]

Are we in union with Christ after we are born again?
Thanks

Of course. When we hear and believe the Gospel we receive the Holy Spirit, Galatians 3:2.

 

[donadams]

Of course. When we hear and believe the Gospel we receive the Holy Spirit, Galatians 3:2.

So we are not in union when we hear and believe?
Then how are the acts of hearing and believing meritorious acts producing justification? Since Christ says apart from me you can do nothing? Jn 15:5
Thanks

 

[donadams]

Scripture says: He brought us to life.
Eph 2:1

You say: I bring myself to life by “faith alone”.


Scripture says: even all faith without charity avails nothing. 1 cor 13:2

You say: “Faith alone” avails justification and righteousness.


Scripture says: three things are eternal, faith, hope, and charity.

You say: “Faith alone”.


Scripture says: apart from me you can do nothing.

You say: apart from Christ your act of faith gives justification.

Scripture says: not called to faith alone, but also to suffer, (practice virtue)

You say: “Faith alone”

 

[Robert Pate]

So we are not in union when we hear and believe?
Then how are the acts of hearing and believing meritorious acts producing justification? Since Christ says apart from me you can do nothing? Jn 15:5
Thanks

Jesus and the Father are present in the Holy Spirit. They are all present in each other, however their works are different. Apart from the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing.

 

[Robert Pate]

Scripture says: He brought us to life.
Eph 2:1

You say: I bring myself to life by “faith alone”.


Scripture says: even all faith without charity avails nothing. 1 cor 13:2

You say: “Faith alone” avails justification and righteousness.


Scripture says: three things are eternal, faith, hope, and charity.

You say: “Faith alone”.


Scripture says: apart from me you can do nothing.

You say: apart from Christ your act of faith gives justification.

Scripture says: not called to faith alone, but also to suffer, (practice virtue)

You say: “Faith alone”

We are saved and justified by faith alone because we are saved and justified by Christ alone. The only thing that God recognizes under the New Covenant is faith. Works and obedience are not recognized because we are still sinners waiting for the redemption of our bodies, Romans 8:23.

 

[Mungo]

We are saved and justified by faith alone because we are saved and justified by Christ alone.

A personal opinion

The only thing that God recognizes under the New Covenant is faith

Another personal opinion

Works and obedience are not recognized because we are still sinners waiting for the redemption of our bodies, Romans 8:23.

Yet another personal opinion.

Do you have any evidence to back up these personal opinions?

 

[Robert Pate]

A personal opinion


Another personal opinion


Yet another personal opinion.

Do you have any evidence to back up these personal opinions?

Just scripture, that you don't recognize, Romans 1:17. The just (justified) live by faith in Christ and his Gospel and not by laws, rules or religion.

 

[Mungo]

Just scripture, that you don't recognize, Romans 1:17.

Rom 1:17 says how we are to live once we have been saved.
It does not say how we are saved.
Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.

The just (justified) live by faith in Christ and his Gospel and not by laws, rules or religion.

In your personal opinion.

 

[Robert Pate]

Rom 1:17 says how we are to live once we have been saved.
It does not say how we are saved.
Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.





In your personal opinion.

It is by faith alone because it is by Christ alone. I suspect that you will be in the Lord, Lord, didn't we group? Matthew 7:22-23.

 

[Mungo]

It is by faith alone because it is by Christ alone.

Another of your personal opinions given without evidence.

You provide a lot of them.

 

[Robert Pate]

Another of your personal opinions given without evidence.

You provide a lot of them.

It must be by "Christ alone" because "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. God does not accept the works or the obedience of sinners. I am afraid that you are going to be in the "Lord, Lord, didn't we group" Matthew 7:21-23.

 

[Mungo]

It must be by "Christ alone" because "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. God does not accept the works or the obedience of sinners. I am afraid that you are going to be in the "Lord, Lord, didn't we group" Matthew 7:21-23.

1. It's not Christ alone because Jesus said that the Father sent him (John 5:23, 36, 37, 6:44 and more). SO the Father is involved in our salvation

2. It's not Christ alone because the Holy Spirit is also involved in our salvation (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:35, John 3:5, Titus 3:5)

3. Even if it were Christ alone it does not follow that we are saved by faith alone as you claim. Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.

 

[Tenchi]

Our old Adamic life of sin and failure is dead and forever gone, spiritually speaking. Physically we still have to struggle with it until we die. There is spiritual strength in believing that our old Adamic nature was crucified with Christ, Romans 6:6. We no longer have to be influenced by the old Adam, who is dead and was crucified with Christ.

Is power over the Adamic nature located in our belief, in its strength? Or is our faith in what was accomplished for us by Christ at Calvary, freeing us from our "old man," merely the means by which we come to experience what is already true of us in our practical living? I absolutely agree that no Spirit-indwelt believer has to yield to the "old man" ever again, but this is so, not by dint of the believer's capacity for faith, but by the work of Christ on the cross.

Spiritually speaking, the life of Christ is our life.

Yes, but he is also the Ultimate Source of our physical existence, too.

Colossians 1:13-17 (NASB)
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
John 1:2-4 (NASB)
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Acts 17:27-28 (NASB)
27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

"Christ is our life". Christ is our life not because we took the sacraments. Christ is our life because of the Gospel.

He is our Life, spiritually, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), who makes of the born-again believer his "temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). It is only by "baptism" into Christ by the Spirit (Titus 3:5-8; Romans 8:9-14; 1 John 4:13) that Christ becomes a person's spiritual life.

Our salvation is in a very safe place at the right hand of God. In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30. We now stand before God as perfect and complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10.

Amen!

We are accepted only in him and because of him.

Again, Amen!

 

[Robert Pate]

1. It's not Christ alone because Jesus said that the Father sent him (John 5:23, 36, 37, 6:44 and more). SO the Father is involved in our salvation

2. It's not Christ alone because the Holy Spirit is also involved in our salvation (Mt 1:18, Lk 1:35, John 3:5, Titus 3:5)

3. Even if it were Christ alone it does not follow that we are saved by faith alone as you claim. Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.

It is heresy to attribute to the Father or to the Holy Spirit that which was accomplished by the Son. The Bible does not do it neither should we do it.

 

[Robert Pate]

Is power over the Adamic nature located in our belief, in its strength? Or is our faith in what was accomplished for us by Christ at Calvary, freeing us from our "old man," merely the means by which we come to experience what is already true of us in our practical living? I absolutely agree that no Spirit-indwelt believer has to yield to the "old man" ever again, but this is so, not by dint of the believer's capacity for faith, but by the work of Christ on the cross.



Yes, but he is also the Ultimate Source of our physical existence, too.

Colossians 1:13-17 (NASB)
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
John 1:2-4 (NASB)
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Acts 17:27-28 (NASB)
27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'


He is our Life, spiritually, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), who makes of the born-again believer his "temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). It is only by "baptism" into Christ by the Spirit (Titus 3:5-8; Romans 8:9-14; 1 John 4:13) that Christ becomes a person's spiritual life.



Amen!



Again, Amen!

Good post.

Faith and the Holy Spirit cannot be separated. Where there is faith, there is the Holy Spirit. Everyone is born with the ability to have faith, it is a natural human attribute. But everyone is not born with the Holy Spirit, this is why we need to born again, by the Gospel, 1 Peter 1:23.

 

[Mungo]

It is heresy to attribute to the Father or to the Holy Spirit that which was accomplished by the Son. The Bible does not do it neither should we do it.

I didn't attribute anything to the Father or the Holy Spirit that was accomplished by the Son.
I said - and provided evidence - that the Father and the Holy Spirit were involved in our salvation.
So you just tried to dodge the points I made

And you did not reply to point 3
3. Even if it were Christ alone it does not follow that we are saved by faith alone as you claim. Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.

 

[Robert Pate]

I didn't attribute anything to the Father or the Holy Spirit that was accomplished by the Son.
I said - and provided evidence - that the Father and the Holy Spirit were involved in our salvation.
So you just tried to dodge the points I made

And you did not reply to point 3
3. Even if it were Christ alone it does not follow that we are saved by faith alone as you claim. Nowhere does scripture say we are saved by faith alone.

It appears to me that you want to save yourself by doing something, this is why you don't like faith alone. The reason that salvation is by faith alone is because God does not recognize or accept the works or the obedience of sinners, which we are all one of. If God accepted the works and obedience of sinners that would make him a sinner.

In the trinity. The Father stays in heaven. The Son comes into the world as the savior. The Holy Spirit glorifies the work of the Son and works in the life of the believer.