Lesson   57  October 20, 2002

Newness of our Position in Christ and its impact on the Individual Christian

The Provision that makes it all a reality

 

Intro:

 

Of primary importance are three areas of the Christian life we need to examine that are pertinent to our overall study, but even more important, they will  help us to come to grips with the awesome provision we have: (1) freedom in Christ, (2) life in the Spirit, and (3) warfare against the flesh.

 

1.  Freedom in Christ

 

Christian freedom flows out of our "newness" in Christ.

 

 

Christian freedom is based on three things.

First, Christian freedom is based on the work of Christ on the cross.

 

Two texts are particularly relevant to this facet of freedom: John 8:36 and Galatians 5:1.

 

 

 

 

In Romans 6 Paul teaches that Christ has freed us from bondage to sin through being identified with His death.

By believing  the gospel, the Roman Christians had been freed from sin and were now to be  en­slaved to righteousness (6:18).

 

 

 

In Galatians 5 as we have noted is another plea Paul makes  to the Galatians that they not return to the bondage that characterized their pre-Christian lives by getting entan­gled in a new yoke of Jewish bondage.

 

 

The line of bondage was represented by Hagar, Ishmael, Sinai, the old covenant, the present earthly Jerusalem, and Jews.

The line of free­dom was represented by Sarah, Isaac, the new covenant, the future heav­enly Jerusalem, and Christians.

 

 

 

What we learned in Rom. 6 points out, here is the positional aspect, you've died to the sin nature, you've been separated from its power, that provision has been made  and in Rom 8 and Gal 5:16-26  we have the mechanics for maintaining the reality of this separation in  our life each day, moment by moment.

 

 

Second, Christian freedom is based on the truth (John 8:32).

The John's  emphasis on truth is astounding (see John 1:14, 17; 3:21; 4:23-24; 5:33; 8:32, 40, 44, 45, 46; 14:6, 17; 15:26; 16:13; 17:17, 19; 18:37; 1 John 1:6, 8; 2:4, 21; 3:18, 19; 4:6; 5:6; 2 John 1, 2, 3, 4; 3 John 1, 3, 4, 8, 12). 

 

These two (Jesus , Holy Spirit) reveal the truth to believers so that we might live in truth.

 

 

For Paul, Christians are not to live according to the old pattern of malice and wickedness but according to the new pattern of integrity and truth (1 Cor. 5:8), and Christian love rejoices in truth (1 Cor. 13:6).

 

Paul's minis­try as an apostle, as a servant,  is a presentation of the truth (2 Cor. 4:2).

 

His concern for the Galatians is that they may exchange truth for error (Gal. 2:5;  5:7).

 

The new man has been created by God in righteousness and holiness [produced by] the truth (Eph. 4:24).

 

The truth frees one from a bondage to asceticism (1 Tim. 4:3) and results in godliness (Tit. 1:1).