I’m A Believer (Part Three)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;
            “I’m a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Are you still humming this song?  Let’s look at this week’s lesson.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the second reality.

Romans 6:4-5 NASB  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Reality two:  Believers have been raised with Christ.  We are raised to walk in a newness of life.  We enjoy freedom from the penalty of sin. There is nothing we could ever do within ourselves that justifies our forgiveness and salvation.  It is good to know that through Christ we have justification.

We enjoy freedom from the power sin has to rule our lives. We are no longer under the bondage of sin.  When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, His Holy Spirit comes in our lives and becomes our Comforter, Mentor and Guide.  We begin a journey at that moment.  As we mature as Christians we gain a better understanding of our Relationship with God.  This growing process of the Christian is the process of sanctification.  It is the continual growing process of the Christian.

Paul is basically saying if we have been justified we shall be sanctified. You cannot have sanctification without first having justification.  It is justification that opens the way for God’s sanctifying grace

Next week we will look at the First of Two Necessities.