Life in Christ
As we have before seen when we are born we are born "in Adam" (meaning with the Adamic inheritance of sin) we are spiritually destitute of all that God requires for righteousness, we are spiritually dead. "For as by one man, sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned." Romans 5: 12 In Adam all die. Even so, when we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection we are made alive toward God as we were dead before and thus by the power of His Holy Spirit we are "born again", "born of the Spirit". If you are born again you are no longer "in Adam", you are now "in Christ". And being "in Christ" you have now become something new. As it is written "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5: 17

Eternal Life?
Because we are identified with Christ in His death, we are also identified with Him in His life.And being identified with Him in life, we ourselves have eternal life. As it is written "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5: 11 and "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5: 13
Now that you are a Christian (meaning a follower of Christ) it is important to recognize that Jesus Christ has purchased you from the wrath of God with His blood. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" 1 Corinthians 6: 20. We are not free to live in sin "What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein" Romans 6: 1, 2 and "...Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2: 19. But how are you to live this new life that you have recieved from God? The answer is in Colossians 2: 6 "As ye have therefore recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." So as we have recieved Him we are to walk in Him. Now, how did we recieve Him? By rolling up our sleeves and getting to work for God? No! We recieved Him by God's grace and through faith. When we come to Christ it is only done though a humble recognition of His work done for us by God's grace, we can no more live a life that is pleasing to God by religious efforts and traditions than we we can earn our salvation by them. The Christian life must be a life of reliance on God's grace given through His promises and this reliance is done in faith.

How do I aquire wisdom?
By faith! As it is written "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." James 1: 5, 6

How do I escape from sin?
By faith! As it is written "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6: 11 And "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6: 14

How do I live a godly life?
By faith! As it is written "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlyness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1: 3, 4

By Faith!
The Christian life must be a life of constantly leaning on God for every need. As it is written "the just shall live by faith." "For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that commeth to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11: 6

Now if we are going to live a life of faith then it is vitaly important that our faith rests only in what God has declared. This is why we need His Word, the Bible. The Bible is God's Word to man, it tells us what He wants us to do. And what He wants us to do is follow Jesus Christ. Christ lived His life here on earth continually yeilded to the Father, constantly drawing on God for everything. So we are to live our lives constantly drawing on Christ. As Christ came yeilded unto death even so we are to yeild ourselves to God, dead to sin and yet made alive toward Him."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." 1 John 1: 7



When we come to God, and in simplicity trust what He says, He that searches the hearts looks deeply, He sees that we believe, and our faith is counted for righteousness.
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