In Our Name and on Our Behalf

[Robert Pate]

My mentor Robert D. Brinsmead once said, "Jesus was not only God with us, Jesus was also God for us". I sincerely believe that all that Jesus was, and all that Jesus did was for our justification and our salvation. Jesus was God's new Adam and the new representative of the human race.

"Therefore, as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Christ) shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:18-19.

The key word in these scriptures is "Made". We are made righteous. We do not become righteous. Adam brings sin and death upon humanity, Romans 5:12. Jesus brings righteousness and eternal life. All that are "In Christ" are made righteous by the doing and the dying of Jesus. It is God's great free gift for everyone, Ephesians 2:8.

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 was resurrected, we were resurrected with him. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the Likness of his resurrection" Romans 6:5. In Jesus Christ we have lived, died and been resurrected. This is how we are justified and saved.

How does God see us now? All that have come to Christ as repentant sinners and have called upon Christ to save them, Romans 10:13, are "In Christ" and Christ is in heaven. We have been quickened together with Christ, ("For by grace we are saved") Ephesians 2:5. "And has raised us up together and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6. This is not something that we do, this is what God does. Our salvation is in a very safe and secure place at the right hand of God.

God sees us "In Christ". Jesus in our name and on our behalf, has victoriously secured our salvation. We can now say with all sincerity that we are "Complete in him" Colossians 2:10. The law has been fulfilled and abolished, Ephesians 2:15, Romans 10:4. Our sins and the sins of the whole world have been atoned for, 1 John 2:2. All that believe this Gospel have ceased from their own works, (religion) and have entered into his rest, Hebrews 4:10.

 

[Robert Pate]

Jesus is a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to those who are trying to be saved and justified by the works of the law, which is religion.

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which did not follow after the law of righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith" Romans 9:30.

"Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law (religion) For they stumbled at that stumbling stone" Romans 9:32.

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" Romans 10:2.

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" Romans 10:3.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes" Romans 10:4.

If Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, then what good is religion?

 

[Robert Pate]

All that come to Christ as repentant sinners to be saved by him are sealed with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13. There is no unsealing, once sealed always sealed. If you fall away after making a profession of faith in Christ it is because you never did believe in the first place, you were a counterfeit. A counterfeit appears to be the real thing, but it is not. There are many counterfeits that appear to be Christians, but they are not.

The condition for receiving the Holy Spirit is that God must see you as perfect and complete "In Christ", Colossians 2:10. This means that you must believe the Gospel, Galatians 3:2. In the Gospel we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30. God can find no sin in the man that confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead, Romans 10:9.

The Holy Spirit is a person. In John 16:13-14, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a "He" seven times. A he is not an it. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself. This is very important because the Holy Spirit magnifies the work and the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "He will glorify me" If it doesn't glorify Christ then it is probably not of the Holy Spirit and is of the spirit of man.

It is not the work of the church to teach us how to live as Christians, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us, not laws, rules or religion. If you feel uncomfortable about doing or saying something that is the Holy Spirit urging you not to do it. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to make us witnesses for Christ and his Gospel. All that are indwelt with the Holy Spirit do not need to be told how to live. If you need instructions on how to live it may be an indication that you are void of the Spirit.