Romans 5:1
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
POSITION
Life Without Christ
Prior to submitting your life to Christ, you are guilty in your position before God and therefore subject to His wrath.
- Ephesians 2:1-3
- John 3:36, 8:34-35
- Romans 1:18-32, 2:5-10, 6:23
Saved by Christ
When you accept Jesus Christ as lord and savior, something miraculous occurs in the spiritual realm: you go from being spiritually dead (separated from God and subject to His wrath) to spiritually alive (free from condemnation, reconciled to God and welcomed into His family). Your position before God changes from guilty to innocent. Your standing before Him is forever perfect. The trajectory of your life has been altered for eternity and you are deemed a new creation in Christ.
- Romans 6:22
- 2 Corinthians 5:16-19
- Colossians 2:13-15, 3:1-3
- Ephesians 2:4-22
- Galatians 4:7
- John 8:36
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
CONDITION
Life With Christ
We have seen that after submitting our lives to Christ, our position before God changes. He gives us the Holy Spirit and the process of sanctification begins. We already have salvation; now we must work out our salvation, being regenerated by the Holy Spirit and having our hearts and minds continually transformed as we live for God. Think of it this way: our position is secure but our condition is progressive.
- Ephesians 1-2, 5:1-20
- 1 Timothy 6:12
- 2 Timothy 4:6-8
- James 1
- 1 Peter 2
Called to Live in Holiness
God calls us to a life of holiness because He is holy and He desires us to reflect His image well so that others might see His goodness and submit to Him (this is essentially the story of God. He called Israel to be His people so that they would be a light to the nations).
Remember, this is a process. We have spent years living for ourselves and worshipping idols. We must now renew our minds continually submit to the Lord, and operate in a way that is pleasing to God.
- Leviticus 19:2
- Ephesians 5:3
- Romans 6:11-14
- 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
- 1 Peter 1:16
Spiritual Breathing2
While we are always in good relationship with the Lord, our fellowship with Him can be hindered (as demonstrated by the small spikes on the chart, which represents sin) if we do not practice “spiritual breathing.” Its process is twofold:
Exhale – confess sin (early and often) and repent
- 1 John 1:9
Inhale – yield to the Spirit, trust in Christ, experience His grace and forgiveness
- Ephesians 5:18
- Galatians 5:16
Application Questions
- When you sin, does it change or affect your position before God? Do you live in light of this reality?
- How much of your life is a result of who you are in Christ compared to what you do for Christ?
- What does dealing with sin in a healthy manner look like in light of this study? Do you regularly find yourself going through the process of sin, confession, repentance, and forgiveness? Do you tend to wallow in your sin, or is true repentance instantaneous when you are made aware of your sin?
- How does this study help you believe the gospel and live in response to the reality of the gospel?
- Are you living in the reality that your are righteous before the Lord because of His grace, or are you constantly trying to “earn” salvation and often feel defeated when you sin and fall short?
How does this study reinforce your belief in the gospel?
References
- Rom. 12:1-2
- Refer to the Spirit-Filled Life document
