Meditations On Faith - 7

Faith submerges our life into the life of Jesus

`You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.'
(Galatians 3:26-27)

None of us has any doubt that we are sons or daughters of our earthly parents, but how convinced are we that we possess that manner of faith that gives us the right to consider that we are sons and daughters of God?

In order to accept that we are sons and daughters of God, we have to understand, by faith, what it means to be "in Christ." The following statement is a fitting introduction to this almost mysterious concept.

`We must know that when Christ died on the cross He didn't die alone; potentially we died with Him. How did this work? First, God put us in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). Then Romans 6 says that God dealt with us in Christ. He crucified us in Christ; He buried us in Christ; He resurrected us in Christ. Now we are seated in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6).' (Pastor David Van Den Burgh, Collegiate Quarterly, Oct-Dec 1990)

In other words, God put humanity in Jesus, and He dealt with humanity in Jesus. (Think carefully about this). Hence the words of Paul . . .

`You too have undergone death, as far as the law is concerned, in the person of Christ crucified.' (Romans 7:4, Knox)

In reality, therefore, we never really died on the cross but, because Jesus stood as the representative of humanity, we received our full and just penalty at the cross in the person of Jesus - at least as far "as the law is concerned."

What this means is that though we are sinners, and though we realise that as sinners we are worthy of death, we can rejoice in the knowledge that `as far as the law is concerned,' Jesus died on our behalf - He died the death that we deserve to die. Hence the words of Paul . . .

`You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.' (Colossians 3:3)

As amazing and unbelievable as it all may sound, the truth is that . . .

"Our sins were laid on Christ, punished in Christ, put away by Christ, in order that His righteousness might be imputed to us." (7ABC468)

[Imputed = put to our account]

We can appreciate, therefore, that `in assuming humanity Christ took the part of every human being and now God does not see in us the vileness of the sinner. He recognizes in us the likeness of His Son, in whom we believe.' (1SM252; DA667)

All of which confirms that simple faith submerges our life - past, present and future - into the life of Jesus. He stood as our faithful representative. We were rejected in Him, we were punished in Him, we were resurrected in Him, we presently stand in heavenly places in Him and, marvel of marvels, we are accepted today, not because we are acceptable, but because He is acceptable and because we have faith in Him as our Substitute and Surety. Hence the words of Paul . . .

`I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.' (Galatians 2:20)

What a close relationship this is. Can anything be closer than Jesus living out His life in us - and we being in Him? The amazing fact about this spiritual union is that . . .

`In Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen.' (DA25)

When Scripture tells us, therefore, that we "are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus," our adoption is not on the basis of what we are in ourselves, but on the basis of what we are in Him, and what we are through faith in Him. Because we are in Jesus, and because He is the son of God, we are accepted - adopted if you like - into the family of God as sons and daughters of God.

If we can accept this incredible fact by faith, then we can appreciate that . . .

`The word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless for "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." ' (DA 113)

It is on this basis, therefore, that . . .

``Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are received by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying, "This is my child. I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy - eternal life - because I have taken his place and suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son." Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God.' [WOW] (6BC1070)

The marvelous conclusion that we draw from all this is that the faithful do not merely stand before the throne as redeemed sinners, but as faultless Sons and Daughters of the Almighty.

What more can we say but, `Thank you Jesus - a HUGE thank you to you most gracious Master.'

Now, once we understand this almost mysterious facet of faith, baptism takes on a whole new meaning . . .

`The repentant believer, who takes the steps required in conversion, commemorates in his baptism the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He goes down into the water in the likeness of Christ's death and burial, and he is raised out of the water in the likeness of His resurrection . . . to live a new life in Christ Jesus.' (FLB303)

This is why Paul tells us . . .

`All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.' (Galatians 3:26-27)

It is in this sense, therefore, that we can appreciate that . . .

`Genuine faith is life.' (AG 140)

By faith we receive His life in us and His life for us. By faith we see Him enduring on the cross that which we deserve to endure. By faith we accept that His sacrifice satisfied fully the demands of the law and, as such, we are accepted in Him. 

In this light, shall we not join Paul in praising God for His overwhelming kindness?

`Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession IN CHRIST.' (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, because "the nature of man is in opposition to the divine will, depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God expressed in His law," we cannot have hope without Him and we cannot triumph without Him. In Him, however, we have absolute hope, for His victory is ours, His character is considered to be our character, and God accepts us, not only as His sons and daughters, but as He accepts His Son - as though we are sinless and as though we always have been sinless. (ST 06-09-90)

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The following Scripture references are included for further meditation . . .

¤  `In Him you were chosen.' (Ephesians 1:4)

¤  `In Him you were circumcised.' (Colossians 2:11)

¤  `In Him we were crucified.' (Romans 6:6)

¤  `In Him you were buried.' (Colossians 2:12)

¤  `You also died to the law through the body of Christ.' (Romans 7:4)

¤  `In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.' (Ephesians 1:7)

¤  `In Him you become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.' (Ephesians 2:22)

¤  `If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.' (2 Corinthians 5:16)

¤  `God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.' (Ephesians 2:6)

¤  `You have been given fullness (perfection) in Christ.' (Colossians 2:10)

¤  `There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' (Romans 8:1)

¤  `But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.' (Ephesians 2:13)

¤  `In [Him] you may have peace.' (John 16:33)

Further to the above, the reader should also consider Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:14 and Romans 6:2-8

`You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.'
(Galatians 3:26-27)