In our last lesson we learned that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. We learned that we of ourselves could never live up to the supreme standard needed to gain entrance into heaven. Because it was not our fault that we were born sinners, God did not leave us to destruction but devised a special plan where we could all be saved.

Note: Yes, because we all eventually die! Evidently this principle of sin leading to death was so firmly entrenched in God’s kingdom that He himself could not change it for us. If He could overlook the sin problem in us, how could He expect order and harmony in heaven? So He devised a rescue mission for us and He appointed the apostle Paul to communicate it to us. The word “gospel” means good news. And when you discover what this gospel is you will agree that the gospel truly is good news.

In reading Paul’s writings you will find a key phrase that runs all through his letters. That phrase is “in Christ” or “in Christ Jesus”. Other similar phrases such as “in Him” or “together with Him” or “in the Beloved” or “in Whom” etc., all express the same idea. If we do not understand what the Bible means by this expression, “in Christ,” we will never be able to fully understand the good news of the gospel.

Note: Since death spread to all mankind because we were all “in Adam,” so God initiated a plan where we could all be saved “in Christ.” The Father took the human race and corporately united it with His Son. But first Christ had to “qualify” to be our representative and savior by consenting to be made human. God the Father united the life of His Son to our humanity in the womb of Mary.

That is why Jesus is called the second or last Adam. It was the only way that He could represent us by consenting to be made like one of us. And as our new representative, when He died He took the entire human race with Him to meet the demands of our sins. His deeds of righteousness became our deeds of righteousness. We are legally redeemed!

Note: Just as all die because all have sinned “in Adam,” so also all have obeyed “in Christ” and stand justified to life in Him. By His perfect life and sacrificial death He satisfied all the demands of the law on our behalf. In Christ, humanity has a new history that qualifies every believer for heaven.

Many people believe salvation is just the forgiveness of sins. It’s as though our sins are written on a blackboard and that when Jesus died He was like an eraser that erases all our sins. But this is not what the Bible teaches! Yes, our history or sins are written on a blackboard and Jesus is like an eraser but our slate does not remain empty. All of the good and holy and righteous deeds that Christ ever did is now transferred to us and are now written on our blackboard. This is the incredible good news of the gospel! But please notice that what God has brought to the whole human race by Christ’s obedience is a free gift and it cannot be ours unless we receive it.

Note: The moment you accept Christ as your Savior, and you trust only in Him for your salvation, God looks at you as accepted in the Beloved. It’s as though once you’re born you received a special birthday present from God. It’s up to you as to when you open that gift and receive what He has given you.

Note: If you refuse this gift you will not have eternal life no matter how many good works you have performed. If you accept and trust in Jesus as your salvation then the eternal life God offers to you in Christ is guaranteed!

Note: Though you may be a sinner, in God’s eyes you are now considered perfect, blameless and without fault. This gives us peace with God and allows us to stop worrying about our salvation.

Note: God looks on every one who believes in Jesus Christ as His child. If you believe in His name you have already received eternal life even though you may not feel it or think you deserve it. When President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation it legally freed all slaves. Yet ten years later there were still some slaves working on plantations. Why? Because they did not believe the good news so to them they were not freed. When Jesus died on the cross He gave us ALL new life through Him. However if we do not believe this it will also not be true for us as well.

Note: God has given all of us a choice. We can either decide to be “in Adam” or "in Christ.” There is no middle ground. It was not our fault that we were born “in Adam” but it is our fault if we decide not to be “in Christ.”

Conclusion: There is nothing we can do of ourselves to merit salvation. This comes to us only as a gift from God. God paid too high a price for us to ignore His incredible sacrifice for us. Why not receive this gift today?