Foundation Series — Episode 21  – Salvation

[00:00:00] Hello, welcome to your Daily Grace by Timothy Wilder foundation series episode 21 salvation salvation is union with Christ. [00:00:12] One of the deepest truths in the New Testament is that salvation is not merely about God changing our status. It is about God joining us to Christ Himself. The Bible repeatedly uses the phrase in Christ to describe the believer's new identity. Salvation is not simply God forgiving people from a distance. It is union with Jesus sharing in his life, his righteousness and his relationship with the Father. [00:00:38] Paul wrote, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Notice the language carefully. The transformation comes from being in him. This changes the way we understand grace. Many people think of salvation primarily as a transaction. Humanity sinned, Jesus paid the penalty and now believers are legally forgiven. [00:01:04] That is certainly part of the Gospel. But the New Testament goes much further. Salvation is relational before it is transactional. Scripture says believers were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, raised with Christ, and now live through Christ. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ liveth in Me. [00:01:27] The Christian life is not merely imitation of Jesus from the outside, it is participation in his life from the inside. This is why grace cannot simply be reduced to rule keeping or moral effort. The believer's hope is not self improvement through determination. It is the living presence of Christ within. [00:01:45] Jesus said, I am the vine, ye are the branches. John 15:5 branches do not struggle to manufacture life on their own. They receive life from the vine they are connected to. That is the picture of salvation, union, shared life abiding relationship. Grace is not merely God giving something to us. It is it is God giving Christ Himself. [00:02:10] Thanks for listening. If you are being fed and or uplifted by these messages, we encourage you to like, comment, share and subscribe. These things help us spread the message of grace.