Week Six: What is man in Christ?

This week we will study what it means to be in Christ Jesus, to be baptized in him, to have the ability through him to walk free of sin, and to have the authority over principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness because he has given us this authority. Man in Christ Jesus can do all things through him which strengthens him. No weapon formed against man when he is in Christ Jesus shall prevail. To be in Christ Jesus is to have received the keys to the kingdom of heaven whereby those who are in Christ can bind and loose here on earth whatever is bound or loosed in heaven.  Many Christians today are weak because they don't understand who they are in Christ, King David stated: "What is man that thou art mindful of him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and all things are under his feet! This position of authority can only be had when we live in Christ Jesus! Below are several passages of scripture that we will read to help us develope an understanding of our position of authority in Christ Jesus.

Read Romans 6:1-11 What questions did you have after reading this?

What does it mean to be baptized? _____________________________________

How can we be free from sin? _________________________________________

The symbolic measures that we take by getting baptized is important. It is important to understand what happens when we are submerged into the water and the meaning of it and what happens when we are raised up out of the water and what this means because it gives us an understanding of our old life being put to death and with that we are raised unto new life through Christ Jesus. Often people are baptized for the sake of show well before they have an understanding of what this means. They are in some religions sprinkled at birth with water and in others they are simply baptized before they understand what it is about. We must undertand that our old nature is put to death with Jesus, our sins are buried with Him, and we are then raised to walk with Jesus in the spirit with a renewed mind. Let's read more,

Read Romans 7:14-25   What questions did you have after reading this?

Is the law good? ____________________________________________________

Why? _____________________________________________________________

Does sin continue? __________________________________________________

Are there two laws? _________________________________________________

Some have asked the question: "What was Pauls' problem?" I am going to suggest to you, it doesn't matter what was his specific problem, but more that he, like us, had a struggle that he was searching out how to overcome. We all have struggles, we all fall short, and we all have two laws that are at work in our life. Only with Jesus can we overcome the struggle of our inner desires and sins. Only by walking with Him in the spirit daily can this happen.

Read Romans 8:1-10 What questions did you have after reading this?

Those who are in Jesus Christ walk after what? __________________________

What does verse 6 say? _______________________________________________

Jesus wants us to overcome. He has never desired any to be left in bondage, His whole purpose was to set the captive free!

Read Romans 8:28-39 What questions did you have after reading this?

How can things in life work good for us? ________________________________

Can anything separate us from the love of God? _________________________

How to demonstrate this to the unbeliever:

Tony Evans best demonstrated this in a sermon that I heard from him and this is how:

You will need three envelopes and two 5x8 index cards for this.

Relate to the class the trinity 1John 5:7 and Jesus’ position and what it means to be in Christ.

Instructions:

1.       Write your name on the first 5x8 index card and your name plus Jesus on the second card.

2.       Write “Holy spirit” on the smallest envelope

3.       Write Jesus’ name on the second smallest envelope

4.       Write “GOD” on the last and largest envelope

Begin:

1.       Put the index card in the holy spirit envelope

2.       Put the holy spirit envelope in the Jesus envelope

3.       Put the Jesus envelope in the God envelope

Now: Explain all that the devil (thief) must do to get to Gods child when they are in the spirit, and in Christ Jesus. Then explain that Jesus is in you even if the devil ever got through God through the spirit and to you.

The devil can’t get to the one that is in Christ but the one who stands alone is easy prey!

Everyday we have an enemy, but everday we have a mighty God. We often search for an easy way out by saying: "Why doesn't God just take this away from me?" Think about this: If Jesus did take away all of your problems or if God did create us to be perfect, never falling short, would we ever call on Him? Would we need Jesus at all? There is a day called the Day of the Lord in which Jesus will return and on this day he will end all struggle once and for all. Until then He gives us assurance that He loves us and will always be there for us. Jesus is not willing that any should perish, but that all should be saved. The easy way out is to recognize that this struggle will always be and prepare yourself to endure and press through unto the coming of the Lord. Prepare yourself and draw close to Jesus!

Memory verses:

Romans 8:1 “What shall we say to these things? If God…”

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…?”

Romans 8:37 “Nay, in these things we are…”

Romans 8:38 “For I am persuaded, that neither death nor…”

Next week:

Week Seven: Prayer and Confession:    Week 7