Key verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Biblical truth: We are new creatures in Christ. He has made us righteous in Him.

In order to become who you ought to be as a Christian you must realize who you already are in Christ Jesus. What you will learn in this lesson is not something we hope for but something already true from the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

The moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and gave your life to Him some wonderful things took place in your life. Things that changed in you and about you that you need to understand. As you find out what His work of Grace did in your life you will be astonished not only about what He has done for you but what He has done in you as well.

Your relationship to God!

The moment you got saved, were born again, became a part of His family, or really became a Christian the following truths became real for you in your life.

1. You became a child of God. All are the creation of God but you must be made a child of God by an act of the will of God
   1. To them gave he power to become the sons of God,(John 1:12-13)
   2. For ye are all the children of God. (Galatians 3:26)
2. You became a friend of Jesus.
   1. But I have called you friends; (John 15:15)
   2. Although you will "fear" or have reverential respect for God you realize that He desires an intimate personal relationship with you not as a slave but as a friend. One who will voluntarily surrender and give all to Him.
3. You were sealed and made eternally secure
   1. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
   2. You have a salvation that is secure. There is no fear that you will lose your salvation or that it can be taken from you. You have been sealed and the earnest (security) payment has been made. He has given you His Holy Spirit. You are not going to get eternal life–you already have it. There need be no insecurity or fear on your part. You are His and you will never ever be separated from Him.
4. You can now truly say that you belong to Him
   1. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
   2. He wants you to realize that you belong to Him because He paid a great price to get you; this is not a cheap relationship or salvation. You didn't go looking for Him–He came to find you and paid the price for all men.
5. You became a member of His body
   1. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
   2. In salvation you did not only get forgiveness but He made you a part of His body. "You are In Christ."
6. You are now His workmanship
   1. For we are his workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
   2. Do you realize that He is the one that made you what you are? He saved you. He gave you eternal life. He made you a new creature. You are His workmanship. You belong to him.

We were born to Adam's race and family but when we get saved, we are now "in Christ" and in the family of God. Look at hour your family lineage has changed when you got saved.

Adam (How I was born)

____________________ used to be in the family of Adam and destined for death. (Your name)

Christ (I am born anew)

Now ____________________ is in Christ. A new family with a new heritage and life. (Your name here and crossed off the old family lineage)

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

My Position in Christ Jesus!

1. I am justified: This is a word that signifies that my status before the judge has been changed and I am no longer a sinner but have been declared righteous.

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

   b. The word justified or justification is a forensic term that describes the judicial act of God, by which he forgives all the sins of those who believe in Christ and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, as if all the law's demands had been fulfilled. In addition to the forgiveness of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law.

   i. Justification is not the forgiveness of an unrighteous man through his own effort, but a declaration that he now possesses a righteousness (Christ's righteousness) which perfectly and forever satisfies the law. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 4:6-8) It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-9)

   ii. The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Romans 1:17, 3:25-26, 4:20,22, Philippians 3:8-11, Galatians 2:16)

   iii. The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification; and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Romans 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain result of justification in the life of the believer. (Romans 6:14, 7:6).

2. No longer condemned

   a. Before we were saved we were condemned already (John 3:18)

   b. Now that we are in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1)

3. A saint

   a. God call us saints. Called to be saints: Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

   b. He makes intercession (prayers on our behalf) for the saints (Romans 8:27)

4. A new creature or a new creation.

   a. We have been made and declared righteous by Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

   b. I am accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6)

   c. Made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)

Promises that I have in Christ

1. All things work together for good in my life (Romans 8:28)

2. I have direct access to God (Ephesians 2:18, 3:12)

3. I can have grace and mercy in my time of need (Hebrews 4:16)

4. I have been redeemed and my sins have been forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

5. All Spiritual blessings in Heaven are already mine (Ephesians 1:3)

6. He will do his work in me (Philippians 1:6)

7. Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)

Personal study time and application:

Reading: The verses throughout this lesson will be some of the most important verses to know well to understand who you are in Christ Jesus. For additional reading on this topic, read all of Romans chapters 4 through 8 and write out all the times you see verses that talk about your relationship to God.

Write out in your own words what it means to no longer be under condemnation.

From Romans chapters 4-8 identify some verses that talk specifically about the new and special relationship you have with Jesus.