Imputation – Co-Death and Co-Resurrection with Christ
Introduction
The speaker is continuing a study on imputation, begun previously.
The focus has shifted from being co-crucified with Christ to now exploring being co-raised with Christ.
The foundational idea is that believers are not just considered dead with Christ but also alive with Him through spiritual baptism.
Immersion into Christ (Spiritual Baptism)
Key Texts:
1 Corinthians 12:12–13 – All believers, regardless of background, are immersed by the Spirit into the body of Christ.
Galatians 3:27–28 – Being immersed into Christ results in a new identity: no Jew, Greek, male, or female, but unity in Christ.
Romans 6:1–4 – Spiritual baptism identifies believers with Christ’s death and resurrection. They are buried and raised to walk in newness of life.
Key Point:
Spiritual baptism brings a positional change: from being in Adam to being in Christ. This includes both death to the sin nature and life with Christ.
Co-Raised with Christ
Key Texts:
Colossians 2:10–13 – Believers are co-buried and co-raised through spiritual baptism. This is more than symbolic; it's a spiritual reality.
Ephesians 2:4–7 – God has made believers alive, raised, and seated them with Christ in the heavenlies to display His grace in the ages to come.
2 Timothy 2:11 – “If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.” Death with Christ logically implies co-living with Him.
Romans 6:8–10 – If we died with Christ, we believe we also live with Him. This is not theoretical but practical truth.
Key Point:
The believer’s identification with Christ in resurrection changes how we live now. It is the foundation for present-tense salvation and victorious living.
Practical Application – Thinking and Living Differently
Romans 6:1–14 Summary:
Paul argues that believers should not continue in the sin nature because they are considered dead to it.
The use of the feminine, articular form of hamartia (sin) refers not to individual acts, but to the sin nature.
The believer is to know, reckon, and yield:
Know they are co-crucified and co-raised.
Reckon (logically consider) themselves dead to the sin nature and alive to God.
Yield their members to righteousness, not sin.
Romans 7 Connection:
Paul’s personal struggle (Romans 7) is an example of not reckoning oneself dead to sin.
Trying to keep law revives the sin nature; thus, grace—not law—is the means of victorious living.
Renewed Mindset and Frame of Thought
Colossians 3:1–5 –
Since believers are co-raised with Christ, they are to seek the things above and set their frame of mind on heavenly things.
This is not an occasional reflection but a sustained mindset anchored in spiritual truth.
Philippians 3:7–10 –
Paul counts all things as loss compared to knowing Christ.
He rejects a righteousness that comes from the law, desiring instead to be found in Christ.
Paul seeks to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and share in His sufferings.
Conclusion and Preview of Things to Come
The identification with Christ in death and resurrection is foundational for living the Christian life in victory over the sin nature.
This truth is not abstract but practical, affecting our present mindset, behavior, and spiritual walk.
More will be explored in future messages, particularly aspects of present-tense salvation and additional truths imputed to the believer.
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