1. What makes the death of Christ different than the death of any other human being on this earth?
“Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:24.
As Christ was the only one who had done no sin, it was not possible for death to have any claim upon him. For this reason, it lost its hold on him and was not permanent. He was raised again.
2. What is the result of our fellowship in his death?
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection…” Rom. 6:5.
Just as death could not hold Christ, because of the merits of his righteousness, we would not be held by it but be resurrected when he comes a second time, to be together with him.
3. Then in what kind of life do we walk?
“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.” Rom. 6:4.
We walk in a new life. There must be a complete transformation of the old character into the likeness of Jesus, so much as to be “a new creature”.
4. Then whom do we live with?
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him…” Rom. 6:8.
We become heirs with him of the eternal inheritance which will be the renewed earth, as it is said: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:16-17.
5. What is our salvation from sin dependent on?
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 1 Cor. 15:17.
The resurrection of Jesus is what we are to base our hopes on. As Paul says a few verses earlier, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (verse 14).
6. For what purpose was he resurrected?
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Rom. 4:25.
He was resurrected to give us justification, not to continue living in sin but to be saved from our sins.
7. Through which means are we delivered?
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19.
By Christ’s sinless life, by his blameless sacrifice, we are given a second chance, through life of obedience and faith, to become joint heirs with him of the dominion lost by Adam, and restored by Christ – the earth made new.
8. How is our justification manifested?
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Rom. 3:25, 26.
We might find evidence for the provision of our justification in the blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of our sins.
9. What qualities does Christ (that is offered to us) have?
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Rev. 1:17, 18.
He is a living Savior who holds the keys of the grave to open it on the day of his Second Coming and delivers from it every one of his faithful followers. He is a mighty Redeemer and Conqueror over the grave because he lived a perfect life of obedience.
10. Then what will be revealed in our mortal flesh?
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Cor. 4:10-11.
The life of Jesus is to be made manifest in our lives while we are still here, in our mortal state.
11. What can we learn about the living Christ today?
“And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee…” Luke 24:5, 6.
Christ is now in heaven, interceding on our behalf before the mercy seat, as a faithful high priest in things pertaining to God.
12. Whom is he living in today?
“I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.
Christ desires to live in every one of his faithful followers so that he can redeem and cleanse them from all fleshly lusts and sins and present them blameless before the throne of God.
13. What is the actual essence of the gospel?
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Col. 1:27.
The gospel is fulfilled when we have the indwelling of Christ – when we are so conformed to his will that his will becomes our will, his desires become our desires, his thoughts become our thoughts and we begin to live his life. By beholding, we become “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).
14. What power can we receive in our battle with sin?
“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, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places…” Eph. 1:18-20.
The power of God to overcome sin is promised to every believer who puts his trust in Jesus and surrenders his life completely to him.
15. What experience do we need, to be able to receive this power?
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…” Phil. 3:10.
We need to know Jesus, spend much time in prayer and the study of the Scriptures, get acquainted with his works, and his wonderful miracles, and spend time studying especially the final days of his life, and his last words of instruction to his disciples in John 14-16, and also his high-priestly prayer in John 17, and dwell on his dying agony at the Garden of Gethsemane and Calvary to purchase our redemption. The more we dwell on these things, the more we will conform to his perfect image.
16. Through what power did Christ become a high priest for us?
“Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” Heb. 7:16.
The eternal life that was in the Father was given to Christ and now he is able to give this life to all who believe in him, that they may be redeemed from their past lives of slavery to sin and be made new creatures in Christ Jesus, to live for his glory and exalt his name with their blameless conduct.
17. What power gives us courage and firmness to overcome sin?
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2.
Christ’s Spirit is promised to all who would seek him by faith and desire to fulfill his will.
18. What kind of life do we live if this power is not working in us?
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…” Eph. 4:17-18.
By contrasting the sad condition of the heathen, Paul upholds the joy of Christian life in having our understanding enlightened, being made to live close to God, and discerning that which is spiritual with the eye of faith. Because spiritual things “are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
19. What did Christ bring to this earth?
“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” Matt. 12:28.
He came to take away the dominion of Satan and give his Spirit to all who accept him as their Savior so that he can institute the new kingdom “wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
20. What kind of experience do we have when we are connected to him?
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” Eph. 2:4-6.
We are raised to live the new life in Christ and made co-heirs with him of the glorious inheritance of the new earth. When the righteous will be resurrected and the ones living will be transformed from mortality to immortality, they will be taken together to meet Jesus in the air and to dwell with him in heavenly places. Then, after the thousand years of desolation are finished, and sin and sinners will be consumed, the renewed earth will be their heritage and eternal country for the eternal ages.
21. What are we to strive for, if we have been crucified together with him?
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:1-2.
We are to lift our thoughts above the earthly things of life and focus our eyes on the heavenly things. Thus, our lives are molded by what we look at, we will carry the heavenly atmosphere with us when we do our daily duties and interact with our fellowmen.
22. What is the condition essential for us to have a successful Christian life?
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7, 5.
We are to abide with Christ, by communing with him, by spending time in prayer and examination of his words. We are to ever keep close to him, and he will be our guard from temptation. He will be our instructor and teacher, our friend and closest companion.
23. What will Christ do when we remain connected with him?
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.
He will strengthen us to do the will of God and be obedient to all his commandments, so that we would in all fear and awe be made doers of the Word and not hearers only.
24. What experience will then become ours, and through whose power?
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Heb. 13:20, 21.
Christ’s sinless life will become ours, as we follow his example, and we will be made perfect, in fulfillment of his will for us, for our eternal salvation.
Notes:
1. The power of the resurrection is the same power that revives and invigorates the man who was dead in trespasses. The power of God which accomplished the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, is the same power that also sets men free from sin. He who opens his heart to the Spirit of God will be partaker of that great power which will then raise his body from the grave, at the Second Coming.
2. Meaning of the abiding relationship with Christ. The believers in Christ who are such in the truest sense of the word, are partakers with him in everything that takes place in his life. They have died with him, they have been resurrected with him, they live with him and they are elevated to a knowledge of the heavenly things. When the eye of God rests upon them, he finds them hidden in Christ. To those who are found in him, there is no condemnation, and they are also loved with the love with which the Father loved his Son. They are children of God, and together with Christ they are inheritors of his inheritance and will soon be transformed into glory.
3. Heaven starts here
When we enter with Christ in his rest, heaven starts from here. We are following his invitation: “Come and learn of Me.” And when we come, then eternal life starts for us. The joy of heaven consists in a constant approaching closer and closer to God through Christ. In this life, we can walk with Christ and be filled with his love. And through his presence, we may be filled with gladness. All that our nature is able to stand, we can receive here. But what is this happiness in comparison with the future?