Titus 3: 4-7 power of grace

Titus 3:4–7 (ESV)

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Miraculous Power of God

Salvation

Titus 3:4–7

(POSB: Introduction)

Think for a moment. When do you most feel the need for a miracle in your life? Is it …

• when you are sick and no help seems available?

• when you are going through some personal crisis?

• when you are facing financial disaster?

• when you are out of work and in need of a job?

• when you have lost a loved one and can’t handle the grief?

• when you feel overwhelmed because of circumstances?

No matter who you are or where you live, the miracle-working power of God is at work in some way. Have you ever experienced His healing power? Have your material needs ever been met in a miraculous way? Have you ever seen His protection over your life? Through every generation, God has proven faithful in meeting the needs of His children. But God has done so much more than just work miracles in the physical realm. The greatest miracle of all was when He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins.

The salvation of your soul is the most miraculous thing that can ever happen. If God can do something this glorious, can you trust Him to do the less difficult things that come your way in life?

Mercy: Not Getting What We Deserve

Salvation

Titus 3:4–7

(POSB: Note 1, point 4)

It has been said that grace is getting what we do not deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Because we are sinners, we deserve to face the full force of the law—hell, separation from God, spiritual death for eternity. But God chose instead to be merciful to man, to give him the opportunity to be saved. Such is the case in the following account.

Quite a few years ago, Governor Neff of the State of Texas received an invitation to speak at one of the penitentiaries in that state. He spoke to the assembled prisoners, and afterward said that he would be around for a while to listen to anything any of the convicts might wish to tell him. He would take as much time as they wanted, and anything they would tell him would be kept in confidence.

The convicts began to come, one at a time. One after another told him a story of how they had been unjustly sentenced, were innocent, and wished to get out. Finally one man came through who said to him, “Governor Neff, I do not want to take much of your time. I only want to say that I really did what they convicted me of. But I have been here a number of years. I believe I have paid my debt to society, and that, if I were to be released, I would be able to live an upright life and show myself worthy of your mercy.”

This was the man whom Governor Neff pardoned.

This man was guilty; he deserved to be punished. But he acknowledged his crime, humbled himself, and asked forgiveness of the governor. That is exactly what sinful man must do with the Almighty God. He knows our sin. We deserve His wrath and punishment. But if we will confess our sin, humble ourselves, and ask for forgiveness, God will be merciful and offer us salvation!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The Worthless Currency of the World

Salvation

Titus 3:4–7

(POSB: Note 3, point 2)

Have you trusted Jesus Christ to forgive your sins? Imagine, if you will, that you are on location at “Heaven’s Savings & Loan.”

Several businessmen and women are at the bank to turn in their worthless “currency.” One by one, each person has come to realize that his trust in currency has been misplaced. And now each one, without exception, is bankrupt.

The Banker has scheduled an interview with each professional. Sitting in a chair across from his desk, the Banker asks Jim, “What did you place your trust in?” With his head bowed low, Jim replied, “In my family connections. My grandparents were active church-goers.” The Banker gave Jim an envelope and said, “This will take care of you.”

Mary was the next person to meet with the Banker. “Mary, what did you place your trust in?” “In my education. I spent a lot of money to get the best education money could buy.” Even as she spoke these words, a gnawing feeling came over her. It was a feeling of great emptiness. As he did with Jim, the Banker gave Mary an envelope and assured her, “This will take care of you.”

One by one they came—each without the means to live. When they opened their envelopes, each saw a blood-stained nail with these instructions included:

Take this nail and that which you trust

And exchange them both for life, you must

I have paid the price that you might live

Your trust in Me is what you must give

We are no different than these individuals. Every one of us was spiritually bankrupt. Thankfully, Jesus Christ saw our desperate condition and chose to help us. Our righteousness can never buy salvation. No, it takes something much more powerful and something lasting. It takes a loving God who gave His Son to die for us. And it takes our believing that God’s Son did die for us, that He justifies us, counts us righteous. Have you made your appointment with the Heavenly Banker to exchange your worthless currency?

POSB KJV 1Th-Phm): Life with God—Salvation, 3:4–7

(3:4–7) Introduction: this is one of the greatest summaries on salvation in all Scripture. It is a message that must be preached if people are going to be reached for Christ and if believers are going to be grounded in sound doctrine.

1. Salvation comes from God (vv. 4–5).

2. Salvation is a rebirth and a renewal by God’s Spirit (v. 5).

3. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ our Savior (vv. 6–7).

1 (3:4–5) Salvation—Kindness—Love: salvation comes from God. God is the Author of salvation. God is not as most people imagine Him.

⇒ Some people imagine God to be far off in outer space someplace with little if any concern and interest in the affairs and lives of men. They feel God is almost untouchable, and they see little evidence to contradict this. They and others sometimes worship and pray and nothing seems to happen. Their prayers are just not answered. They still suffer and the affairs of the world just keep on as they always have. There is little if any indication that God is really active in their lives and in the world, so if He exists, He must be far off and not too interested in the world. This is the view of many people about God.

⇒ Others imagine God to be some Supreme Being who hovers over people watching their every move. They see God as the Supreme Judge who is always on the lookout for those who do wrong and who is ready to jump on them and condemn them unless they keep the laws and rules of God.

⇒ Some people imagine God to be somewhat like a loving and indulgent grandfather type of being. They see God as the Supreme Being of the universe whose basic nature is love. In fact, they feel He is so loving that He understands a little sin here and there. Therefore, He will indulge and forgive a life of worldliness and some indiscretion here and there and accept all. He will accept a person who does some good. (Note: few people—very, very few—ever think that God will reject them, not in the final analysis.)

Note what this verse says. God is not far off in outer space, disinterested in man; He is not the loving, indulgent grandfather of the human race; He is not some Supreme Judge hovering over men to punish them when they do wrong. God is our Savior. He is vitally concerned with us, so concerned that His very name is God our Savior. He has saved us from the sin and evil and the suffering and death of this world and from the condemnation of the next world. Imagine! We are saved from sin and evil, suffering and death, and from ever having to face condemnation. God our Savior has saved us and given us life eternal; we will live forever and ever, never dying and never being separated from God—not at all—not even for one minute. Note two significant points.

1. Salvation comes from God’s kindness (chrestotes). This word is often translated goodness. It means good, gracious, and kind. But it is a goodness and kindness that is so deep that it always gives whatever is necessary to meet the needs of a person. Kindness is so deep within God that it is of His very nature. God is so good and kind that He could do nothing else but save us. He had to meet our need; He had to save us from sin, death, and condemnation. Why? Because He is kind; He had to extend His kindness out toward man by saving him.

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness [kindness] and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Ro. 2:4).

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Je. 31:3).

“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies” (Ho. 2:19).

2. Salvation comes from God’s love (philanthropia). This means that God’s love reached out toward man; that God has a deep-seated affection for man and that He has showered His affection upon man by saving him. The word has the idea of compassion in it. God loves man so much that His affection and compassion are stirred to save men. God loves us so much that He must act to handle the sin and death problems for man and provide an escape from condemnation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro. 5:8).

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” (Ep. 2:4–5).

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 Jn. 3:1).

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 Jn. 4:9).

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 Jn. 4:16).

3. Salvation does not come by good works. Men cannot earn righteousness by good works. No person can be good enough or do enough good to make God accept him. This is the great fallacy of most people and most religions. They think that they can secure God’s approval by being good and doing good. But this is the great fallacy:

⇒ Man cannot do enough good to make himself perfect.

⇒ Man is already imperfect, so he can never be perfect. Imperfection can never become perfection.

What man fails to see is that God is perfect, and as perfect, He cannot accept anything imperfect. Therefore, no matter how many works of righteousness man does—no matter how much good he does—man is not saved by his own efforts. He cannot earn, win, or merit salvation, not by any self-righteousness or personal goodness which he might attain.

Thought 1. Common sense tells us this, for everything about man passes away and dies. No matter what it is, everything man knows and possesses—even himself—ages, decays, and passes away. Therefore, righteousness or goodness based within man dies and passes away with him. If man is to be saved, then Someone outside of himself and of his world—Someone with the power to penetrate and save this world—has to come to earth and snatch man out of its corruption and save him. The point is this: if man is to ever be saved, he will not be saved by self-righteousness nor by anything else that concerns self. Self and all that concerns self only die. Man can only be saved by some Force much greater than himself, some Force that is living and personal and kind and loving enough to save him. That Force, of course, is God Himself.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mt. 7:22–23).

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Ro. 3:20).

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Ga. 2:16).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ep. 2:8–9).

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:4–5).

4. Salvation comes from God’s mercy (eleon). The word means feelings of pity, compassion, and kindness. It is a desire to succor, to tenderly draw unto oneself and to care for. Two things are essential in order to have mercy: seeing a need and being able to meet that need. God sees our need for salvation; He sees that we need to be saved from sin, death, and condemnation. Therefore, God acts; He has mercy upon us and provides the way for us to be saved.

“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Lu. 1:50).

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” (Ep. 2:4–5).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5).

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lam. 3:22).

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy” (Mi. 7:18).

2 (3:5) Regeneration—Renewal—New Birth—New Man—Salvation—Holy Spirit: salvation is a regeneration or rebirth and a daily renewal of life by God’s Holy Spirit.

1. The word regeneration (palingenesias) means to be regenerated or given new life; to be given a new birth; to be renewed or revived; to be spiritually reborn or converted. Salvation is a spiritual rebirth; it is a person being born again by the Spirit of God.

Note that the new birth is so radical a change in a person’s life that it is described as a washing (loutrou) which means a bath, a complete immersion. Salvation is so dramatic it is just like the washing away of the old life and the receiving of a new life. All that concerns a person’s old life is washed away, all the …

• sin and evil

• corruption and injustice

• selfishness and greed

• guilt and doubt

• dirt and immorality

• pollution and worldliness

• failure and shortcoming

The Spirit of God cleanses a person—immerses the person in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ep. 1:7).

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7).

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Re. 1:5).

“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Re. 7:14).

The Spirit of God through the blood of Christ washes away the old life and gives the believer a new life. The Spirit of God regenerates a person, saves him from his old life and gives him a new life—a rebirth—spiritually creating him into a new person.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn. 1:12–13).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.… Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3, 5).

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Co. 6:11).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Co. 5:17).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5).

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Pe. 1:23).

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1 Jn. 5:1).

2. The word renewing (anakainosis) means to make new again; to renew again; to revive again; to make new spiritually; to begin all over again; to adjust again. Salvation is the Holy Spirit adjusting a person and renewing him all over again. It is the Spirit of God taking a person, readjusting his life and reviving him spiritually. Note that the renewing is done by the Spirit of God just as regeneration is.

W.E. Vine says that the stress is “the continual operation of the indwelling Spirit of God.”

Kenneth Wuest says, “This is the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctification.”

The point is a most wonderful truth. The Holy Spirit not only regenerates a person and gives him a new birth and a new life, but He does much, much more. He renews and revives a person day by day. Every day of a person’s life is a renewal and a revival—by the Spirit of God. Life—a single day—does not need to be …

• dull

• routine

• drudgery

• without purpose or meaning

• aimless

• complacent

When a person is truly saved, the Holy Spirit renews and revives him day by day. He stirs and energizes the person to follow Jesus more and more closely and to serve Him more and more faithfully.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:1–2).

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Co. 4:16).

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ep. 4:22–23).

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col. 3:10).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5).

DEEPER STUDY # 1

(3:5) Regeneration—New Birth: the New Testament teaching on the new birth is rich and full.

1. The new birth is a necessity. A person will never see (Jn. 3:3) nor ever enter (Jn. 3:5) the Kingdom of God unless he is born again (Jn. 3:7).

2. The new birth is a spiritual birth, the birth of a new power and spirit in life. It is not reformation of the old nature (Ro. 6:6). It is the actual creation of a new birth within—spiritually (Jn. 3:5–6; see Jn. 1:12–13; 2 Co. 5:17; Ep. 2:10; 4:24). (See notes—Ep. 1:3; 4:17; Deeper Study # 3—4:24.) A person is spiritually born again:

a. By water, even the Spirit (see Deeper Study # 2—Jn. 3:5).

b. By the will of God (Js. 1:18).

c. By incorruptible seed, even by the Word of God (1 Pe. 1:23).

d. By God from above (1 Pe. 1:3). The word again (ana) in the phrase “born again” also means above. (See Jn. 1:12–13.)

e. By Christ, who gives both the power and right to be born again (Jn. 1:12–13).

3. The new birth is a definite experience, a real experience. A person experiences the new birth:

a. By believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (1 Jn. 5:1; see Jn. 3:14–15).

b. By the gospel as it is shared by believers (1 Co. 4:15; Phm. 10).

c. By the Word of God (1 Pe. 1:23) or by the Word of Truth (Js. 1:18).

4. The new birth is a changed life, a totally new life. A person proves that he is born again:

a. By doing righteous acts (1 Jn. 2:29; see Ep. 2:10; 4:24).

b. By not practicing sin (1 Jn. 3:9; 5:18).

c. By loving other believers (1 Jn. 4:7).

d. By overcoming the world (1 Jn. 5:4).

e. By keeping himself (1 Jn. 5:18).

f. By possessing the divine seed or nature (1 Jn. 3:9; 1 Pe. 1:23; 2 Pe. 1:4; see Col. 1:27).

illustration

Righteous for Being Green?

Luke 18:9–14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 3:5

Preaching Themes: Righteousness, Legalism

A 2010 study by Canadian psychologists found that people who purchase environmentally friendly items feel a “moral glow” that makes them more likely to cheat and act selfishly elsewhere in their lives. In the study, which was a computer game, subjects rewarded themselves with money based on certain results. “Green” consumers were more likely to lie about test results so that they could take more money. The explanation for this is that acting virtuously in one area seems to make people feel they have earned “credit,” and now they have a license to act unethically and selfishly in other parts of their lives.

Our lives are to be an open book before the Lord. Because we are righteous in one area doesn’t give us license to fail to live for God’s glory in every other area.

3 (3:6–7) Salvation—Justification—Inheritance: salvation comes through Jesus Christ our Savior. Jesus Christ has done three wonderful things for us.

1. Jesus Christ is the One who pours out the Holy Spirit so richly upon us. As stated in verse five, it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us and who revives us day by day. But we would not have the Holy Spirit apart from Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the One who gives us the Holy Spirit. Note this:

⇒ It is a man’s head that stirs and arouses his spirit to flow through his body and get to the work at hand. So it is with Christ the Head of the church. Christ arouses His Spirit to flow through His body of believers which is His church.

When a person believes in Jesus Christ, Christ puts His Spirit into the new believer. Yea, Christ pours out His Spirit richly and abundantly upon the person. The result is both regeneration (a new birth) and a daily renewing or revival (stirred to follow Christ and to serve Him more and more).

Thought 1. The essential power in the life of a believer is the power of the Holy Spirit. It is He and He alone who imparts life to the believer (regeneration) and who arouses the believer to serve Christ day by day (renewal). All the behavior of a believer and all the words of a believer and all the worship of a believer are powerless without the power of the Holy Spirit. It does not matter how high his position, how appealing his profession, how attractive his appearance, how consistent his worship—his life is powerless without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. He is totally unacceptable to God, both he and his religious work.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6:63).

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (Jn. 14:16–18).

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Ro. 8:9).

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Ro. 8:11).

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Co. 3:16).

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Co. 6:19).

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Ga. 4:4–6).

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 Jn. 2:27).

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 Jn. 4:13).

Thought 2. Barclay makes an excellent point that needs to be heeded by every church and believer:

All the work of the Church, all the words of the Church, all the sacraments of the Church are powerless and inoperative unless the power of the Holy Spirit is there. However highly a Church be organized, however splendid its ceremonies may be, however beautiful its buildings, and however elaborate its worship, all is ineffective without the power of the Spirit. The more we read the New Testament, the more we come to the conclusion that to the people of the early Church the Spirit and the Risen Christ were one and the same. The lesson is clear. Revival in the Church does not come from increased efficiency in organization; it comes from waiting upon God. It is not that efficiency is not necessary; it is. But no amount of efficiency can breathe life into a body from which the breath of the Spirit has departed.

2. Jesus Christ is the One who justifies us. In simple terms justification means that God takes the believer’s faith and counts it as righteousness (Ro. 4:3; see Ge. 15:6; see notes—Ro. 4:1–3; Deeper Study # 1—4:1–25; note—5:1. Also see Deeper Study # 4, Cross—Jn. 12:32 for more discussion.)

When a person really believes that Jesus Christ is his Savior, God takes that person’s faith and counts it for righteousness (Ro. 4:3, 5, 9, 11, 22, 24). The person is not righteous; he has no righteousness of his own. He is still imperfect, still sinful, still corruptible, still short of God’s glory as a sinful human being. But he does believe that Jesus Christ is his Savior. Such belief honors God’s Son (whom God loves very much), and because it honors God’s Son, God accepts that person’s faith for righteousness. God counts that person’s faith as righteousness. Therefore, that person becomes acceptable to God. (In a discussion of justification, a person’s belief—the right kind of belief—is critical. See Deeper Study # 2—Jn. 2:24; note—Ro. 10:16–17.)

Note why God justifies a person. God justifies a man because of His Son Jesus Christ. When a man believes in Jesus Christ, God takes that man’s faith and counts it as righteousness. The man is not righteous, but God considers and credits the man’s faith as righteousness. Why is God willing to do this?

a. God is willing to justify man because He loves man that much. God loves man so much that He sent His Son into the world and sacrificed Him in order to justify man (Jn. 3:16; Ro. 5:8).

b. God is willing to justify man because of what His Son Jesus Christ has done for man.

⇒ Jesus Christ has secured the Ideal righteousness for man. He came to earth to live a sinless and perfect life. As Man He never broke the law of God; He never went contrary to the will of God, not even once. Therefore, He stood before God and before the world as the Ideal Man, the Perfect Man, the Representative Man, the Perfect Righteousness that could stand for the righteousness of every man.

⇒ Jesus Christ came into the world to die for man. As the Ideal Man He could take all the sins of the world upon Himself and die for every man. His death could stand for every man. He exchanged places with man by becoming the sinner (2 Co. 5:19). He bore the wrath of God against sin, bearing the condemnation for every man. Again, He was able to do this because He was the Ideal Man, and as the Ideal Man His death could stand for the death of every man.

⇒ Jesus Christ came into the world to arise from the dead and thereby to conquer death for man. As the Ideal Man His resurrection and exaltation into the presence of God could stand for every man’s desperate need to conquer death and to be acceptable to God. His resurrected life could stand for the resurrected life of the believer.

Now, as stated above, when a man believes in Jesus Christ—really believes—God takes that man’s belief and …

• counts it as the righteousness (perfection) of Christ. The man is counted as righteous in Christ.

• counts it as the death of Christ. The man is counted as already having died in Christ.

• counts it as the resurrection of Christ. The man is counted as already having been resurrected in Christ.

Very simply, God loves His Son Jesus Christ so much that He honors any man who honors His Son by believing on Him. He honors the man by taking the man’s faith and counting (crediting) it as righteousness and by giving him the glorious privilege of living with Christ forever in the presence of God.

“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Ge. 15:6).

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro. 5:1).

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Ga. 3:6).

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Co. 6:11).

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Ph. 3:9).

3. Jesus Christ makes us heirs of eternal life. Scripture actually says that we are “joint heirs” with Christ. This is an astounding truth and promise. We will inherit all that Christ is and has. We will be given the glorious privilege of sharing in all things with the Son of God Himself.

However note this: to be a joint-heir with Christ does not mean that believers are equal heirs in the sense that they will receive an equal amount of the inheritance with Christ. Rather, it means that believers are fellow-heirs with Christ; that is, believers will share in the inheritance of Christ; they will share Christ’s inheritance with Him.

Being a fellow-heir with Christ means at least three glorious things: it means that we will share in the nature, position, and responsibility of Christ. The following chart shows this with a quick glance.

FELLOW HEIRS BY NATURE

Christ is the Son of God, the very being and energy of life and perfection. Therefore, we share in the inheritance of His nature. We receive …

• adoption as a son or daughter of God (Ga. 4:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:1).

• a sinless and blameless nature (Ph. 2:15).

• eternal life (Jn. 1:4; 3:16; 10:10; 17:2–3; 1 Ti. 6:19).

• lasting possessions (He. 10:34).

• a glorious body (1 Co. 15:42–44; Ph. 3:21).

• eternal glory and honor and peace (Ro. 2:10).

• eternal rest and peace (He. 4:9; Re. 14:13).

• a crown that will last forever, an incorruptible body (1 Co. 9:25; 1 Pe. 1:3–4; 15:42).

• a righteous being (2 Ti. 4:8).

FELLOW HEIRS BY POSITION

Christ is the exalted Lord, the Sovereign Majesty of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, we share in the inheritance of His position. We receive …

• the position of an exalted being (Re. 7:9–12).

• a citizenship in the Kingdom of God (Mt. 25:34; Js. 2:5).

• enormous treasures in heaven (Mt. 19:21; Lu. 12:33).

• unsearchable riches (Ep. 3:8).

• the right to surround the throne of God (Re. 7:9–13; 20:4).

• the position of a king (Re. 1:5; 5:10).

• the position of a priest (Re. 1:5; 5:10; 20:6).

• the position of glory (1 Pe. 5:4).

FELLOW HEIRS BY RESPONSIBILITY

Christ is the Sovereign Majesty of the Universe, the One who is ordained to rule and oversee all. Therefore, we share in the inheritance of His responsibility. We receive …

• the rulership over many things (Mt. 25:23).

• the right to rule and hold authority (Lu. 12:42–44; 22:28–29).

• eternal responsibility and joy (Mt. 25:21, 23).

• rule and authority over cities (Lu. 19:17, 19).

• thrones and the privilege of reigning forever (Re. 20:4; 22:5).

These passages will give some idea of what Scripture teaches when it speaks of the believer being a fellow-heir with Christ. There are an innumerable number of Scriptures that could be added to these. As Paul declares:

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Co. 2:9).

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Ro. 11:33–36).