REPRESENTATIVE: One who acts on anothers behalf as their agent.
SUBSTITUTE: One who takes the place of another.
Just as we were lost by a representative (Adam) so we are saved by a representative (Christ).
"Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" Romans 5:12.
Adam was humanities representative. He was our first father. We all have Adam's genes and blood coursing through our veins. As Adam goes, so go we. We are all sinners with out works. We cannot become sinners. We are MADE sinners. "For as by one man's disobedience, many were MADE sinners" Romans 5:19. "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" Psalm 51:5. There is nothing that we can do about our sinful condition. Man's sinful nature can be subdued but it cannot be eradicated. This is why Paul said, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. This is the plight of man , he is born a sinner and he dies a sinner.
Some believe that man's fallen nature can be rehabilitated through the works of the law or through religion. This has proven to be false and actually promotes more sin, Romans 7:8. Others believe that man's fallen nature can be rehabilitated by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This has also proven to be false. Christians only have the "first fruits" or the down payment of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:23. Just enough to make them a witness for Christ, but not enough to make them sinless. The Christian is a saint and a sinner at the same time. Romans chapter 7 is about Paul's struggle with sin.
If sinful man is to be saved salvation must come to him totally and completely outside of himself.
"For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus as our substitute, took our place on the cross and bore our sins in his body and not our sins only, but the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. When Jesus died on the cross all of the old sinful Adamic race died with him, Romans 6:6. God now sees Jesus as the victorious savior of the world, Colossians 2:15. In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and made to sit in heavenly places in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2:6.
Jesus is God's new humanity. We become part of God's new humanity by being "In Christ" "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold all things have become new and all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18.
What does it mean to be "In Christ"? To be "In Christ" means that you are trusting in his righteousness and in his atonement for your sins, plus nothing. To be "In Christ" means that you have ceased from your own works and you are resting in his work for your salvation, Hebrews 4:10.
There is no room for Calvinism, Catholicism or any other religion in the Gospel. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone.
SUBSTITUTE: One who takes the place of another.
Just as we were lost by a representative (Adam) so we are saved by a representative (Christ).
"Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" Romans 5:12.
Adam was humanities representative. He was our first father. We all have Adam's genes and blood coursing through our veins. As Adam goes, so go we. We are all sinners with out works. We cannot become sinners. We are MADE sinners. "For as by one man's disobedience, many were MADE sinners" Romans 5:19. "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" Psalm 51:5. There is nothing that we can do about our sinful condition. Man's sinful nature can be subdued but it cannot be eradicated. This is why Paul said, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. This is the plight of man , he is born a sinner and he dies a sinner.
Some believe that man's fallen nature can be rehabilitated through the works of the law or through religion. This has proven to be false and actually promotes more sin, Romans 7:8. Others believe that man's fallen nature can be rehabilitated by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This has also proven to be false. Christians only have the "first fruits" or the down payment of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:23. Just enough to make them a witness for Christ, but not enough to make them sinless. The Christian is a saint and a sinner at the same time. Romans chapter 7 is about Paul's struggle with sin.
If sinful man is to be saved salvation must come to him totally and completely outside of himself.
"For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus as our substitute, took our place on the cross and bore our sins in his body and not our sins only, but the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. When Jesus died on the cross all of the old sinful Adamic race died with him, Romans 6:6. God now sees Jesus as the victorious savior of the world, Colossians 2:15. In Jesus Christ we have been justified, sanctified and redeemed, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and made to sit in heavenly places in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2:6.
Jesus is God's new humanity. We become part of God's new humanity by being "In Christ" "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold all things have become new and all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18.
What does it mean to be "In Christ"? To be "In Christ" means that you are trusting in his righteousness and in his atonement for your sins, plus nothing. To be "In Christ" means that you have ceased from your own works and you are resting in his work for your salvation, Hebrews 4:10.
There is no room for Calvinism, Catholicism or any other religion in the Gospel. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone.
