Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 11 - Functional Salvation (Christ in you))
The primary topic of Romans 1 to 5 is justification, or as I also describe it by saying, “Just as if I never sinned”. Justification is a positional salvation, meaning that we do not experience this salvation in this natural realm or at this time. We are justified, imputed with the righteousness of Christ, and fully and permanently saved by God’s decree and by the cross work of Christ from a heavenly perspective, but justification does nothing to our flesh! Though our souls are eternally saved when we believe in Christ, our flesh and our lives here on earth do not change or get affected one iota. Another way we can understand this salvation is that we are placed in Christ, as confirmed by a myriad of verses, with the following being a sample of the many,
1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God —and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
Col 2:10 ...and you are complete in Him [Christ], who is the head of all principality and power.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
In contrast to positional (heavenly) salvation and being in Christ, Romans 6 to 8 deals with sanctification which is a conditional, or functional salvation. This means that after justification, our salvation continues to develop or grow and eventually starts to affect or influence our natural condition, functioning within us towards the outside and manifesting outwardly into the world. Through justification we are placed IN CHRIST, but sanctification is more appropriately understood as CHRIST IN US; His life being formed within us through the power of the written Word of God, influencing our thoughts, reasoning, speech, actions, and behaviours, to the degree that we give ourselves over in obedience to it. Here are a few confirming verses,
Rom 8:9 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. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 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.
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Now, with all this said, let us get into Romans chapter 6 and into a deeper level of spiritual understanding and maturity.
Abounding grace
In Romans 6, Paul's starts with a very forthright question that hits hard at the carnal mindset. Paul says, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Where does this question come from? What causes Paul to ask it? Well, he deals with justification which is utterly saturated in God’s grace all through the first five chapters, but we only have to go back a few verses to get a good idea of why Paul asked this question. Have a look at Rom 5:20-21,
Rom 5:0 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Corrupt thinking
With grace being so prominent in Paul’s message, it should not surprise us that Paul starts chapter 6, which contains deeper spiritual truths, with a question to counteract and neutralize the reasoning mind of the believers at Rome. It’s as if Paul, through the Spirit, anticipates the way that a carnal mind would think, and he effectively interrupts this line of thinking with the following,
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
In the context of the many mentions of grace in chapter 5, this is not an unreasonable question, but it is a question that reveals ignorance and carnal influences of the person who might ask it. This is not the right stance to hold. This is not a godly view or attitude, but rather projects selfishness and spiritual ignorance. Paul cuts this thinking off quickly with a firm, “God forbid!”
What does God forbid mean?
Let me interpret it with a modern twist,
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Are you kidding me!!! Do not even consider going down that path of corrupt thinking!! Thinking that way is forbidden and absolutely unacceptable.
Paul then answers his question with some spiritual insights that we will dig into in the next post. However, to end this post, let me draw your attention to a very important observation concerning sanctification. If we are to progress in this next step of the full understanding of salvation, we must be prepared to learn some things, so that we can have a foundation of faith to stand upon, not only to understand these deeper spiritual truths, but also to be able to commit to them, start to apply them, and be able to face the consequences of obedience to them.
Knowledge and application
It is clear that for sanctification, there is an emphasis on learning. We are encouraged to know some things, and through that knowing we are expected to apply them. “Know this”, “know ye not”, “reckon ye”, all speak of learning and being renewed according to doctrine. Similarly, “we should”, “let not”, “neither yield”, “but yield”, are all phrases that encourage us to apply that learning. These are the crucial ingredients of sanctification; involving the commitment of obedience to the doctrine of grace, so that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
To confirm what I’m saying here, read the rest of the passage concerning what Paul wants us to learn and apply, and then we will take this further in the next post.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (3) KNOW YE NOT, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so WE ALSO SHOULD walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) KNOWING THIS, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth WE SHOULD not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) KNOWING THAT Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (12) LET NOT sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) NEITHER YIELD ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: BUT YIELD yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
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