the believer

II. Ye IN Me: The Implications

1. Implications of our Death and Burial With Christ 
   1. Dead to sin and the old self life
      
      1. “How shall we that have died to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)
      2. “Knowing this that our old man was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6)
      3. “For ye died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3)
      4. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24)
      5. Thus, we are free from sin. “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7,14)
   2. Dead to the Law
      
      1. “I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live” (Gal. 2:19-20)
      2. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the lawby the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another.  (Rom.7:4,6)
      3. Thus, we are no longer under law but are under grace as a rule of life. Our relationship to God is based on LIFE, not Law. (Rom. 6:14)
   3. Dead to man’s philosophies, traditions, rules, and rituals
      
      1. “Ye died with Christ” (Col. 2:20-23)
      2. Something higher and nobler has captured our attention: heavenly things.
   4. Dead to the world system
      
      1. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Gal. 6:14)
      2. We are dead to the world and the world is dead to us.
      3. The relationship we once had to the world has been severed.
      4. That should have an effect on the way we live in the world. We are in it, but no longer of it.
2. Implications of our Resurrection With Christ
   1. We are ABLE to walk in newness of life.
      
      1. Rom.6:4-5 – 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. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
      2. Rom. 6:13 – As we yield our members to God “as those that are alive from the dead” God’s righteousness is manifested through our mortal bodies.
      3. II Cor. 5:17 – all things are made new
   2. We have access to the power of the resurrection in our daily lives.
      
      1. Eph. 1:18-20 – The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.
      2. Phil.3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
3. Implications of our Ascension With Christ 
   1. We have entered into a new spiritual realm. Our new position is in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus.
      
      1. Eph. 2:6 – And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
      2. Our present earthly life and walk is to be the outgrowth of our abiding relationship to Christ in glory.
      3. We have been raised up into heavenly places. That is our new position IN Christ.
      4. John 15:4 – God expects us to ABIDE (remain, rest, dwell) in that position by faith – BELIEVING and resting in what God has said and done.
      5. Resting in our heavenly position strengthens us for life down here on earth… as the branch that rests and abides in the vine is provided with all the nutrients and nourishment it needs to be strong, healthy, and to bear good fruit.
      6. As we ABIDE in our heavenly position, we are enabled to walk in newness of life on earth.
      7. The ability to walk in newness of life is NOT based upon our diligence, our efforts, our strength, or our self discipline.
      8. It is based upon our abiding above… FAITH and confidence in God… resting in our position.
   2. New privileges
      
      1. Col. 3:4 – Our new life is hiddenand thus protected with Christ above… in a realm where the crises of earth cannot touch us… a heavenly place where Satan cannot harm us… a place far beyond the law’s jurisdiction…
      2. II Cor. 4:10-11 – Manifesting the indwelling LIFE of Christthrough our mortal bodies.
      3. Eph. 2:6 – seated togetherin heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
      4. I Pet. 2:5 – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
      5. Heb.3:1 – Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus.
      6. Heb. 8:1-2 – Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  (A heavenly tabernacle for a heavenly priesthood)
      7. New responsibilities 
         
         1. Col. 3:1 – to seek things above
         2. Col. 3:2 – to set affections on things above
         3. Col. 3:5-9 – put off the dirty garments of the old man
         4. Col. 3:10-14 – to put on the garments fit for one who has been raised into heavenly places.
         5. Matt. 6:19-21 – to lay up treasures in heaven.