Atonement, Co-Death, and Resurrection

1. Do you believe Jesus Christ the Son of God died to atone for you sins (substitution), was resurrected the third day, and you died (co-death) with Him (Gal. 2.20, Rom. 6.6)?

 John said, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life [Jesus]; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1.1,3,7-8,10).

Do you trust in and believe Jesus Christ the Son of God is the living Word, God in "likeness of flesh" (Rom. 8.3) and was raised from the dead on the third day? He died the perfect sacrifice to atone for your sins (substitution), the sins of the world, and you died with Him (co-death identification, Gal. 2.20, Rom. 6.6) on the eternal cross and were raised with Him in resurrection life for you to bear your cross daily, deny self and walk by the Spirit received in your spirit? Is there only this one way to be saved? "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2.9). We are "justified by faith in Christ, and not by works: for by works shall no flesh be justified" (Gal. 2.16). "He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 7.50, 18.42). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2.8). "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among people, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4.12). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14.16). "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matt. 5.17). "I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior" (Is. 43.11). "I alone am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake" (v.25). When Jesus saw their faith, he said "friend, your sins are forgiven" (Luke 5.20). "They began thinking, 'Who is this man who speaks blasphemy?' Only God can forgive sins" (Luke 5.21). "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5.22.24). Who do you think Jesus thinks He is if not God (2nd Person in the Godhead)? If all judgment at the end of history has been given to Jesus, then He must be God.

The high priest Caiaphas asked Jesus under oath: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am. You will see the Son of Man"--Daniel 7--"sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One"--Psalm 110--"and coming on the clouds of heaven"--back to Daniel 7. Caiaphas understood what he meant. He was outraged! "You're going to sit next to God on his chariot throne? Blasphemy," he said. "We have no need of further witness. You've heard it yourselves. What do you say? He's worthy of death." Jesus was not claiming to be anointed by God as some messenger of some sort. The call to execution had to do with him claiming to be God's Son. It was blasphemous to say, "I will sit on God's throne." (Matt. 26.57-68; Luke 14.53-65)