Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 11 - Functional Salvation (Christ in you))

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

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,

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 10 - Salvation doesn’t stop at the cross, but includes resurrection too)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 10 - Salvation doesn’t stop at the cross, but includes resurrection too)

Romans 6 to 8 is a keynote part of our Christian doctrine. Paul has fully transitioned from lessons in justification through Romans 1 to 5 and is now focused on sanctification. Justification is shelved and is settled. Those who believe in Jesus Christ: in his cross work through the gospel of grace, are saved from God's wrath and hell. Their heavenward salvation is final and sure, because it is not based on the life of the believer, but on the righteousness of Christ and God's heavenly decree to save those who believe in His Son. This is positional salvation because it is not up to the believer. It is God's decree and Christ's work. The believer is placed in Christ and sealed unto the day of salvation, Eph.1:13.

What we are going to get into now is in contrast to positional salvation. Sanctification is functional salvation because the believer has a responsibility, or as Paul puts it, a reasonable service to perform, Rom.12:1. Recall this verse,

Types of Death in the Bible

Types of Death in the Bible

When you read verses like the following, what does Paul mean when he says we must be dead to sin, or we have become dead to the law, or when sin revived, he died? This is obviously not physical death, otherwise Paul could not write the epistles in which we read these things. What death is he talking about, and what other types of death do we learn about in the Bible?

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 

Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 

There are many types of death depicted in the Bible, not just physical death.

• there's physical death (we all know what this is!!)
• there is the eternal (the second) death which an unsaved man dies and go to the hell 
• there is spiritual death in which an unsaved man (while he lives) is alienated from the life of God
• there is positional death: a saved man’s union to the death of Christ; the moment you believe the gospel (ie: baptized into his death) 
• there is functional death: concerning something that doesn't operate or function the way it's supposed to: