Who Am I? - Part 1 [Notes]

One of the most significant phrases found in the Bible is “in Christ.” This phrase appears in various forms over 150 times in the New Testament. For the Christian, because we are “in Christ,” we share many of the blessings and attributes of Christ himself.

Join us as we begin a new series titled, "Who Am I?" Together we will explore from the book of Romans what the Apostle Paul said was true about us because of our connection with Christ.

Today's Takeaway: In Christ, we are forgiven.

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin ^u for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.¹
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)
_{^u 5:21 Or be a sin offering
¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2 Co 5:21). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

“To be in Christ, first of all, means that we have a saving relationship with Christ and are brought into union and communion with Him in such a way that, as we are in Christ, what is true of Christ becomes true of us. His grace and His resources become our experience and possession.”
– Steven Lawson, Ligonier.org

‘To be 'in Christ'... [is] to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. It is this personal relationship with Christ that is the distinctive mark of his authentic followers. They go on to say, To use Biblical expressions, 'The peace of Christ rules in their hearts,' 'the power of Christ is made perfect in their weakness,' and 'the life of Christ is made manifest in their mortal flesh.'"
– C.S. Lewis Institute

In Christ, we are forgiven.
In Christ, we are victorious.
In Christ, we are free.
In Christ, we are secure.
In Christ, we are connected.

For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets—that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
– Romans 3:20-26 (HCSB)

Justified: To be declared to be righteous or right.

Justified: the act of God as judge that declares sinners (who were in the wrong) to be right or righteous in His sight. God is just in doing this because Jesus died on the cross to take away their sins and to give them His own righteousness. The sinner receives this justification by faith and by grace when he trusts Christ's work.
– HCSB notes

For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
– Romans 3:20 (HCSB)

For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets—that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the ^u glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
– Romans 3:20-24 (HCSB)
_{^u 3:23 Or and lack the}

They are justified freely by His grace through the•redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
– Romans 3:24 (HCSB)
_{• The deliverance from bondage by a payment or ransom (Mk 10:45; 1 Pt 1:18–19)}

“Finding its context in the social, legal, and religious customs of the ancient world, the metaphor of redemption includes the ideas of loosing from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, buying back something lost or sold, exchanging something in one’s possession for something possessed by another, and ransoming.”²
– R.D. Rightmire
_{² Rightmire, R. D. (1996). Redeem, Redemption. In Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed., p. 664). Baker Book House.}

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the•redemption that is in Christ Jesus.^w
– Romans 3:24 (HCSB)
_{• The deliverance from bondage by a payment or ransom (Mk 10:45; 1 Pt 1:18–19)
^w 3:24 1Co 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:15}

The deliverance from bondage by a payment or ransom.
– HCSB

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”
– Mark 10:45 (HCSB)

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
– 1 Peter 1:18-19 (HCSB)

God presented Him as a •propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness...
– Romans 3:25a (HCSB)
_{• The removal of divine wrath; Jesus’ death is the means that turns God’s wrath from the sinner.}

Propitiation: The removal of divine wrath; Jesus’ death is the means that turns God’s wrath from the sinner.

Jesus’ death is the final sacrifice which completely satisfied God’s demands against sinful people, thus averting His wrath from those who believe.³
– J.A. Witmer
_{³ Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 451). Victor Books.}

He made the One who did not know sin ^t to be sin ^u for us, ^v so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.⁴
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)
_{^t 5:21 1Jn 3:5
^u 5:21 Or be a sin offering
^v 5:21 Rm 8:3; Gl 3:13; 1Pt 2:24
⁴ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2 Co 5:21). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

1. How were Christmas and New Years for you? Did any encouraging or significant things happen during the break?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. Throughout the New Testament, we frequently come across the phrase, “in Christ.” What do you think it means to be “in Christ?” How can we make sure we are “in Christ?”
3. Read Romans 3:20-24 and Acts 13:37-39. Why do you think it’s not possible for a person to be justified (declared righteous by God) by following God’s commands or laws?
4. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Why do you think people are so inclined to want to work their way into “God’s favor” as opposed to just receiving salvation as a gift?
5. How is God’s justice against the sin of the world revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus? Why is it only through Christ we can find forgiveness of sin?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. How might accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross impact how we live our lives?

We Praise You // You Keep Hope Alive // How Great is Your Love //  On My Heart (Written)

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