In Christ. Published By Buzzy Sutherlin Ministries, Inc. Copyright 2003

Transcription

1 1 In Christ Published By Buzzy Sutherlin Ministries, Inc. Copyright 2003

2 2

3 IN CHRIST 3 In Christ, when understood, is the most important part of our redemption. It makes the born-again man everything that Christ is. When a person is born-again, Christ lives in his spirit, he becomes one with Christ. (John 15:5) He s the vine, we are the branch. The born-again believer becomes one spirit with the Lord. (I Corinthians 6:17) The reason why in Christ is so important is because this has always been God s plan for man. (Colossians 1:27). Every bit of God s dealing with man, was in Christ. Everything that God wants you to be is in Christ. All that God has made you is in Christ and he put you in Christ at the new birth. All your victories, all your blessings, healing, prosperity, freedom from fear, deliverance from satan is already yours in Christ Jesus. As you realize what God has already made you, you will begin to rise to the heights of victory that Christ has already won. This is the most important revelation to man in the bible. Over half of the new testament is taken up with this subject. Dive into this revelation and spend your life there. It Is God s Will! Philemon 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ. As you begin to affirm who you are in Christ with your mouth, out loud, and act like it; then and only then will it be come real to you. The New Testament, mainly in the Epistles to the church, uses phrases and prepositions like in Christ, in Him, with Christ, through Christ, in Whom, by

4 4 Christ, by Him, of Him, through Him, with Him, in His name, etc. It is through these expressions that God reveals to us exactly who we are and what we have already (past tense) become, because of the redemptive and substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament speaks of the believer being in Christ. This takes place at the new birth. Everything that the New Testament says we are in Christ is the bornagain believers, legally, at the very moment he is born-again. It becomes vital or real to the believer as he or she begins to affirm these truths with their mouth. Everything that God wants the believer to be, he put it in Christ, and then he brought the believer into union with Christ. (He is the vine and we are the branches.) Daily confessing these truths will build them into your spirit (heart) and cause you to rise up to the state of maturity that God is requiring! Mark 16:17,18 And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (17) they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. John 1:4 GSPD In him was life and the life was the light of men. It was by him that life came into existence and that life was the light of mankind.

5 20C RIGGS That which came into being in him was life. The life that was in him became light or truth 5 John 3:15,16,17 MON NEB YLT KNOX CP That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (16) Whoever trusts in him (16) Everyone who has faith in him (16) Everyone who is believing in him (17) So that the world might find salvation through him. (17) Through him the world might be rescued. John 6:56 20C1 WADE He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Those who take my flesh for their food, and drink my blood, are always in union with me, and I with them. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me and I in union

6 6 PHI WMS with him. The man who eats my body and drinks my blood shares my life and I share his. Whoever continues to eat my flesh and drink my blood continues to live in union with me and I in union with him. John 14:6 PHI Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I myself am the road, replied Jesus, and the truth and the life. No one approaches the Father except through me. John 14:13,14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. (14) If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:20 WMS At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. At that time you will know that I am in union with my Father and you are in union with me, and I am in union with you. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that

7 abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. 7 JERU NEB PHI WMS KNOX I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who dwells in me, as I dwell in him bears much fruit. It is the man who shares my life and whose life I share who proves fruitful Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him will bear abundant fruit separate from me, you have no power to do anything. John 15:7 NAB N.BERK WUEST If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. If you live in me and my words stay part of you If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you may ask what you want and it will take place for you. If you maintain a living communion with me, and my words are at home in you, I command you to ask, at once, something for yourself,

8 8 whatever your heart desires, and it will become yours. NL If you get your life form me and my words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. John 16:33 AMP These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. Romans 3:22 20C GEINKII HAYM Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. The divine righteousness which is bestowed through faith in Jesus Christ, upon all, without distinction who believe in him. Even the righteousness which is the gift of God, not the award of any law through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe in him. A righteousness God given, through faith in

9 Jesus Christ. 9 Romans 3:24 NEB Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. All are the persons of Christ Jesus. Romans 5:1,2 BAR Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (2) Through him we possess the entrance into that grace in which we stand. Romans 5:11,15 K&L JOHNS And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (11) We exult also in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. (11) God has made us one with himself through Jesus Christ. (15) The single act of Adam and the single act

10 10 of Christ are similar in that they affect everyone, but the effect is quite different. Through Adam many have died, but through the unconditional love of God and the communication of that love through Christ, many have come alive. Romans 5:17 FD BERK GRE WAND TRANS For if by one man s offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Then we come under the new life as produced by our agent Jesus. reign as kings in the life they enjoy through the one, Jesus Christ. How much more will those who enjoy God s abundant mercy and friendship build a kingdom in the realm of spiritual life. If then, by one man s transgression all became the subjects of death, much more shall those who receive the bounty of God Become Lords of life. (Note: For one man s sin established the reign of death through that one man. How much more then will God s grace give a right relationship with himself and enable those who receive it in all its abundance to reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.)

11 HUDS Romans 5:21 WAY PHI RICH CP justification inaugurates a reign of life, whereas Adam s transgression inaugurated a reign of death. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. The consequence is, that, just as sin once wielded kingly power in inflicting death, so grace shall henceforth wield kingly power in bestowing that righteousness which issues in eternal life for humanity life attained through Jesus, through the Messiah, through our Lord ours!! The whole out look changes-sin used to be the master of men and in the end handed them over to death: now grace is the ruling factor, with righteousness as its purpose and its end the bringing of men to the eternal life of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In direct response to our response to our offenses which forced us to submit to the tyranny of death, Jesus our heavenly director provided transcending life by personally assuming our death sentence. Now, wonder of wonders, we are free to come under the gracious rule of the Almighty. In order that, as sin was king in the death realm, so might grace, through restoration to favor, be king in the spiritual life realm provided by Jesus Christ our Lord. 11

12 12 BAR HUDS WEY LOV S&H BAS JOHNS Romans 6:3 to counteract sin s deadly reign, grace might hold sway in that right relationship with God, which leads to eternal life, and which was made possible through the work of Jesus Christ our Lord. that the reign of sin in death may be replaced by a reign of grace issuing in life. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed; in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the life of the ages through Jesus Christ our Lord. As sin once ruled through death, it is no longer in power Hitherto sin has set enthroned in a kingdom of the dead, its subjects have been sunk in moral and spiritual death. so grace might have power through righteousness. Where sin and death have obsessed human awareness and ruled existence, now the unconditional love of God will rule through right relationships to the ultimate fulfillment of life through Jesus Christ. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

13 JOHNS 20C NEV HAYM Please realize that when we were initiated into our relationship with Jesus Christ, we were initiated into his death. that all of us who were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, in our baptism shared with death. As many of us were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, were baptized in union with his death. All we who were taken into Christ by baptism, were taken into his death thereby. 13 Romans 6:4 KNOX 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. In our baptism, we have been buried with him, died like him, that so, just as Christ was raised up by his father s power from the dead, we too might live and move in a new kind of existence. Romans 6:8 CONY LB Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; Now, if we have shared the death of Christ, we believe that we shall also share his life. And since your old sin loving nature died with Christ

14 14 Romans 6:11 GSPD WAY WADE Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. through union with Christ Jesus. In the same manner you are also to account yourselves to be, in relation to sin, dead men; but in relation to God, living men, whose life is absorbed in the life of the Messiah, Jesus. So you, too must count yourselves dead men who have finished with sin, yet fully alive to serve God in union with Christ Jesus. Romans 6:23 PHI For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin pays its servants; the wages is death. But God gives those who serve him; his free gift, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ Romans 8:2 TNT For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For the principal of spiritual life in Christ Jesus has liberated me from the principal of sin and death.

15 AMP GRE Romans 8:32 NEB LOV CP BLKWLD RICH For the law of the spirit of life (which is in Christ Jesus, the law of our new being) has freed me from the law of sin and of death. For the laws governing the spirit world that lives in communion with Christ Jesus have freed me from the laws governing the realm of the spiritually dead who are separated from God. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? He did not spare his own son, but surrendered him up for us all If God the Father be for us, who can be against us? If he didn t hold back his own son, but put him in the game for us all, won t he even more gladly, in addition to his son, equip us with all we need to win the game? He who went so far as not to spare his own son Observe that he willingly required his son to pay our death penalty in full. And Jesus returned to life so that he could personally guarantee to us every benefit of his gracious act. 15 Romans 8:37,38,39 Nay, in all these things are more than con-

16 16 querors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. BLKWLD HUDS NW FD (37) But in all these things we are winning an overwhelming victory (37) But in all these (crises) we are triumphantly victorious thru him. (37) In all these things we are coming off completely victorious (37) In all these things Jesus our great leader has established us as invincible champions. Romans 12:5 WAY GSPD So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. compose collectively one body in our union with the Messiah, and as individual members are mutually dependent. we from one body through union with Christ, and we are individually parts of one another. I Corinthians 1;5,6 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge. (6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you;

17 KENT BAR NEB SMI (5) With all power of speech and knowledge. (5) You are equipped with every kind of knowledge and with complete ability to communicate it. (5) You possess full knowledge and you can give full expression to it. (6) The testimony of Christ was made firm in you. 17 I Corinthians 1:30 WAY B&P But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. And so, not form man, but from God do you draw your life in Messiah Jesus, in Jesus who became for us, God-given wisdom, our righteousness, our consecration, our ransom! By his creation are ye in Christ Jesus. I Corinthians 4:15 LAU For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you thru the gospel. I became your father in Christ Jesus when I brought you the good news of the gospel. I Corinthians 6:11,17 And such were some of you; but ye are

18 18 washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God. GRE LB NAS SCHONF CP through the power of the name of the Lord Jesus. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (17) But if you give yourself to the Lord, you and Christ are joined together as one person. But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one with him in spirit. But he who unites himself with the master forms a single spirit. whoever joins up with the Lord has one and the same spirit with him. I Corinthians 7:22 BECK GSPD For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord s freeman; likewise also he that is called being free, is Christ s servant. if you are free when you are called, your are Christ s slave a slave who has been called to union with the Lord is a freed man I Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him: and one

19 Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 19 AMP only one God, the Father the source of all things for whom we have live one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by whom are all things and through and by whom we (ourselves exist). Malachi 2:20 I Corinthians 15:22 BLKWLD FN For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. in connection with Adam, all men die, so also in connection with Christ all shall be made alive. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ. I Corinthians 15:57,58 HUDS But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (58) So, then, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always immersed in the Lord s business knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

20 20 I Corinthians 1:5,10 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (10) Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; II Corinthians 1:20 KNOX NAB SWAN BRUCE NOR LAU For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him, amen, unto the glory of God by us. In him all the promises God become certain. Whatever promises God has made through his son are a strong yes For all the promises of God have become yes in him. in him the sure yes has taken effect. In him all the promises of God are yes and in him they are amen and for all thins we give glory of God. We told you that every promise God even made finds its yes in Christ, in him every promise comes true. II Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, in God:

21 JOHNS WADE WEY And it is the God who has securely united us together in Christ both you and us and has given us his gifts. And he who brings us, together with you, into steadfast union with Christ, and has anointed us to reign with him. making us steadfast through our union with the anointed one. 21 II Corinthians 2:14 NOR WAND TWCT HENRY Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Who in Christ always leads us to victory But thanks be to God my journey turned out to be a triumphal procession every where. (God made it so through Christ.) All thanks to God who, through our union with Christ, leads us in one continual triumph. But thanks be to God, who always associates us with his triumph. DoddRIDGE Carrying us on from one spiritual victory to another. II Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

22 22 II Corinthians 2;17 KNOX HAYM WADE For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. We do not, like so many others, adulterate the word of God, we preach it in all its purity, as God gave it to us, standing before God s presence in Christ. For we are not like so many who water down the word of God, but in its mature purity, as God gives it, before him in Christ we declare it. as men belonging to God, and conscious of God s immediate presence, in union with Christ, we tell the message. II Corinthians 3:4 WADE And such trust have we through Christ to God -ward: Such profound confidence in the success of our word among you we base on God through Christ. II Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ.

23 23 CP WADE GN why, even to this very day that same mask encrusts the reading of the bible, and it is torn only by Christ. Because only through union with Christ can it be removed. the veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 20C BAR GRE TNT CP Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. So it anyone is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away and a new life has begun. When a man becomes a Christian, a new act of creation happens to him. His old life is gone forever; a new life has come into being. If anyone lives in communion with Christ, he thereby becomes an entirely new creature; his old self is gone, and a new one has taken its place. If a man is in Christ, there is a new act of creation, the old has gone, the new has come. Therefore, if a man is a Christian, he is a brand new creation. The old guy is gone: look a new man has appeared.

24 24 LB WADE CONY NEB ISAACS When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun. So if anyone becomes united with Christ, his is a fresh creation, the original conditions have passed away; mark, they have been replaced by new conditions. Whoever, then, is in Christ, is a new creation; his old being has passed away, a new condition has come. When anyone is united to Christ, there is a new world, the old order has gone, a new order has already begun. to be Christ s man you see, is to be a creature of new order. DoddRIDGE There is a new creation in the heart of that man, old things are passed away, and with respect to him, behold all things are become new, he is bought as it were into another world. II Corinthians 5:18 JERU CP And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: It is all God s work. It was God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation. This is God s doing all the way through. It is

25 he who, through Christ, bridged the gap between himself and us an who has given us the job of also bridging the gap. 25 II Corinthians 5:21 WOR BLKWLD WADE GN For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, that we may become God s righteousness in him. In our behalf God identified him with everything in the whole realm of sin in order that by trusting him we might become (recipients) of God s kind of righteousness. Him who had no acquaintance with sin, God treated as an embodiment of him, in order that we, on our past, might become through union with him, an embodiment of the righteousness that God desires. God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God. II Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

26 26 JOHNS WKS BAS GRE WOOD CRESS You know the unconditional love of our Lord Jesus Christ, he had all the wealth of God and he became a pauper so that through his poverty we could be wealthy. For you know the generosity Though he has wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth became poor out of love for you we might gain riches through his poverty. because he became poor, you can become rich. II Corinthians 13:4 JOHNS WAND MOFF For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. It is true that his crucifixion evidences Christ s weakness, but his resurrection evidences the energy of God giving him life. I share his weakness and also experience the divine energy as I deal with you. In his new life he now reveals the power of God. I share his weakness, but I shall also share his life in the power of God toward you. you will find that I am alive as he is alive by the power of God.

27 27 WAY I shall also share in his life, through the manifestation of God s power Galatians 2:4,6 DEAF BLKWLD And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: (6) But those who seemed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man s person) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: (4) we needed to talk about these problems. false brothers who entered secretly to spy on the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus. Their objective was to bring us into bondage. (6) indeed the men of repute added nothing new to my message. Galatians 2:20 NOLI CRESS I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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. I have been crucified with Christ. It is not my old self, but Christ himself lives in me. I died when Christ died on the cross, I do not live now, but Christ lives in me.

28 28 BAR LAU WAY DIST My own life is dead; it is Christ who lives in me. True, my physical life goes on, but its mainspring is faith in the Son of God. Christ took me to the cross with him, and I died there with him. Yes, I have shared Messiah s crucifixion: I am living indeed, but it is not I that live, it is Messiah whose life is in me. I consider myself as having died and now enjoying a second existence, which is simply Jesus using my body. Galatians 3:13,14 STVNS SL Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: (14) that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith. So far from having hope of being saved by the law, man had fallen under its curse and was helpless, but Christ, by taking the curse upon himself, freed us form it. (14) That we might be justified and saved simply by trusting in him and his work for us. (13) Jesus Christ rescued us from that trap by taking the damning we deserved by law so you can take your pick; be damned yourself, or receive life form the damning Jesus got.

29 29 DEAF WEY LAU WOOD (13) The law put a curse on us, but Christ took away that curse. He changed places with us. Christ put himself under that curse. (13) Christ has purchased our freedom (14) you know that when you put your faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon you. (14) He did this that in him we might inherit Abraham s blessing; Gentiles and all, that by faith in him we might receive the promised spirit. Galatians 3:26 NEB LAU WOOD BRUCE For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For through faith you are all sons of God in union with Christ Jesus. Because we put our faith in Christ Jesus, we are all sons of God. For God gives us real freedom as his sons through faith gives it us in our union with Christ Jesus. For through faith in Christ Jesus you are fullgrown sons of God. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

30 30 SL JOHNS SCHONF GRE WEISS BRUCE KNOX We become so totally identified with Jesus, that it s like we wear him like clothes. Given the same relation to the father that we had. Those who have been identified with Christ by immersion, have assumed his personality. become spiritually merged with Christ. For through baptism in Christ they have been transplanted into the living communion with Christ so that they henceforth walk clothed with his being as with a new garment. incorporated into Christ by baptism. put on the person of Christ. Galatians 3:28 LENSKI HUDS JOHNS There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. you are all as one person in union with Christ Jesus. you are all one being in Christ. And when you are in God s family you have an equal standing with everyone else because there is no distinction between races, sexes, and social classes.

31 31 WOOD For the living Christ is in all of you; therefore you are one in him, apart form any possible differences in your outward conditions. Galatians 3:29 BLKWLD JOHNS WOOD NL BAR And if ye be Christ s, then ye Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise you are heirs of everything included in the promise. you are the offspring of Abraham and participate in God s legacy to him. And as Christ is Abraham s seed, you are in him inheritors of the promise. If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours. If you are Christ s, then you are descendents of Abraham, with the right to possess all that God promised to him. Galatians 4:7 LB Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Now we are no longer slaves, but God s own sons. And since we are his sons, every thing he has belongs to us, for that is the way God planned it.

32 32 BAX WAY STVNS WAND 20C HOERB but you are sons under a fatherly government. And if you are his son you are also, through God s grace, heir to his riches. Hence we are no longer in the position of servants, but in that of the sons of full age in the family who have attained the clear consciousness of sonship and with it have entered upon their rightful, destined possession. and if sons, then also heirs so constituted by God himself. So you are each no longer a bond-servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir also, through God s adoption of you. you are also an heir, thanks to God. Galatians 5:6 FEN WOOD SL WUEST For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. faith energized by love. faith which is translated into action by love is everything in the family it isn t laws. It s just trusting the father and serving each other in love. but faith coming to effective expression through love.

33 33 WAND SCOTT WAY KNOX JERUS MACK NEB STVNS TNT HUDS If you are attached to Jesus Christ, it does not matter whether you are circumcised or not. The only thing of importance is the faith that works through love. but faith which is made operative through love. the faith which displays its efficacy through love, is all-availing. the faith that finds its expression in love is all that matters. What matters is faith that makes its power felt through love. but faith strongly working by love. If we are in union with Christ Jesus, circumcision makes no difference at all, nor does the want of it; the only thing that counts is faith active in love (or inspired by love). the only essential condition being a faith which gives evidence of its vital power by love. For it we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters; what does matter is faith empowered by love (literally, at work in love. Work implies supernatural activity. In most instances it is the power of God which is at work. ) For on the basis created by Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it is of any

34 34 avail (for justification), but only faith set in operation (or, called into being) by Christ s love for us. Or, the only relevant thing is faith set in operation by Christ s love. HAYM WKS but faith, which puts forth its energy through love. faith showing its activity through love. Galatians 6:14 CRESS WAY BRUCE LAU 20C LOCKE DEAN But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. the things of the world have become dead to me, and I have become dead to the world. by whose death the world has died on the cross to me, and I have become dead to the world. that cross forms a permanent barrier (erect a fence) between the world and me, and me and the world. On his cross the world died to me and I to the world. through whom the world died to me and I to the world. that I am wholly dead to the world, and the world dead to me and it has no more influence on me, that if it were not. I am dead to worldly fame.

35 35 PHI KNOX STVNS WAND HOER JOHNS SC LB GN and I am a dead man to the world. God forbid that I should make a display of anything, except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world stands crucified to me, and I to the world. But, as for me, I disclaim all grounds of glorying except the cross of Christ, by which I have broken off all relations to the sinful world by death. Jesus Christ, our master Through his crucifixion the world and I have no common basis. a style of life consistent with whom I really am. Because of the power of that cross we are dead to anything the world system has to offer As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago, and the world s interest in me is also long dead. As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world.

36 36 GRE Far be it from me to glory in anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world was crucified for me, and I for the world. Galatians 6:15 AMP CRESS GRE ADAMS WAY WADE BAR LAU WAND GN ME STVNS For in Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. a new creation (the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus the Messiah). must become a new person. only a spiritual rebirth that counts. what counts is a new creation. the creation within us of a new nature is everything. only a newly created nature what matters is creating the man all over again. it is the new birth that means everything. The one thing of importance is that we should be created afresh in a new order of existence. what does matter is, being a new creature. but a new being. make newness of life through Christ my

37 great concern C PHI JERUS KNOX BLKWLD LB TRUTH JOHNS HUDS GIEKIE For neither is circumcision nor the omission of it anything, but a new nature is everything. but the power of a new birth. If does not matter if a person is circumcised or not, what matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Circumcision means nothing, the want of it means nothing; when a man is in Christ Jesus, there has been a new creation. the only thing that counts is a transformation of character. It doesn t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not; what counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. I am dead to the works of outward religious ordinances and laws. What really matters now is that I live my life according to the manner of what happened on the inside of me at the time of my new creation in Christ. external rituals are worthless; all that matters is being the new person you really are. What is important is a new creation (which only comes by the cross). only the having become a new creature, and thus being free from the law of sin and death.

38 38 BE SC only a new order of existence. all that matters is that we have new life through our living connection with Jesus. Ephesians 1:3 AMP WAY JOHNS SCHONF GNB BAR 20C Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Blessing (praise, laudation and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm! the benediction of all blessings of his spirit that are found in the high heavens. I can only say, Praise God for his gifts to us through Christ, who revealed both our possibilities and the power to actualized them. every spiritual blessing in the heavenly spheres in Christ. for in our union with Christ, he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, because our life is bound up with the life of Christ. through our union with Christ, bestowed

39 upon us from on high every spiritual blessing. 39 CARP WAND STVNS NOR TNT LAU NW CP CRVR SWANN we have caught some beams of the glory of that central orb which reigns and shines for ever he has enfolded us with all the glory that our little spirits are competent to entertain who, in the heavenly regions, has blessed us in Christ with every blessing conveyed by the Holy Spirit. I praise God that in Christ he has bestowed upon us all spiritual and heavenly gifts. who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that heaven itself enjoys. who in Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing from the supernatural world. and Christ has blessed us with heaven s every blessing. in union with Christ. Three cheers for our Lord Jesus Christ s Father God!!! who himself beneficently blessed us in every kind of blessing that has to do with our spiritual welfare in the realm of our heavenly relationships, blessings which are all comprehend in God s dealing with us in Christ. in every spirit blessing in heavenly things by Christ.

40 40 PHI JERU every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of heaven! all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Ephesians 1:4 AMP KNOX BAR DEANE According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Even as in his love he chose us actually picked us out for himself as his own in Christ before the foundation of the world: that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for him) and blameless in his sight, even above reproach, before him in love. (Reproach- to charge with a fault: to rebuke; to censure; to upbraid; to bring disgrace to. Censure condemnation. Upbraid to criticize or scold for some fault or offense: Webster). He has chosen us out, in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be saints, to be blameless in his sight for love of him It was through this connection with Christ, that before the creation of the world, God chose us to be his own consecrated people, and to live lives faultless in his sight. Even before the creation he destined us to become his children through Jesus Christ, thereby showing the grace bestowed through him who redeemed us and won forgiveness of our

41 sins. 41 WOLC PHI STVNS LOV WAND CARP LB For, as a matter of fact, before the beginning of the universe he chose us to become, in union with Christ, his own recognized and guiltfree children living in his presence in love. For consider what he has done before the foundation of the world he chose us to become, his holy and blameless children living within his constant care. according to his eternal purpose of love to make us pure and sinless through the work of Christ. It was his intention to bring us to such holiness that he wouldn t be able to find a single blemish, though he studied us with the most penetrating gaze. It was love, of course, that moved him to do this. He actually pre-selected us in Christ before the foundation of the world in order that we should be holy and without blemish in his eyes. Our footsteps tread the earth, but we are of the company of heaven Christ has begotten us to be of his family. He has lifted us to the divine level where God is. Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us: he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault we who stand before him covered with his love.

42 42 JOHNS NEB PE WAY WMS WEY NL Before God even started to create the world, he picked us out through Christ because he wanted us to live a life of love in the world and become whole persons related to him. In Christ, he chose us before the world was founded to be dedicated to be without blemish in his sight, to be full of love: that we should be his people, faultless in his sight. thus did he make choice of us, in choosing him Through him he picked us out made holy and without blemish in his presence. holy and without blame as he sees us. GDBY/BERK holy and blameless in his presence. TOM/ESTES before the casting down of the world NAB CONC to be full of love before the disruption of the world. Ephesians 1:5 AMP Having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. For he fore-ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as his

43 own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of his will because it pleased him and was his kind intent: 43 KNOX WOLC WAY LB CRVR CARP Marking us out beforehand (so his will decreed) to be his adopted children though Jesus Christ. In love he had already designed for us the relationship with him of children through Jesus Christ. He claimed us for his own long ago, to give us the charter of sonship to himself, won through our Messiah, so fulfilling the good pleasure of his will. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to: with a view to our being set into sonship unto himself by means of the work and influence of Jesus Christ. before the mountains were brought forth, or even the earth and the world were made, the divine purpose lay secret in the mind of the creator it might even be said that the entire history of the human race is secondary. In so far as we can, in imagination, penetrate to the ultimate, central purpose of the almighty, it was simply to call man into fellowship with himself

44 44 LOV DEAF LAU GN 20C STVNS SMI GRE WUEST WMS For the pure pleasure it brought him, he determined ahead of time that we should be raised to adult sonship in Jesus Christ. Fully capable of mature fellowship with himself. that was what God wanted to. That pleased him. that was his loving will; that was his plan. Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his sons this was his pleasure and purpose. From the first he marked us out for the privileges of his sons through Jesus Christ For our salvation is grounded in God s gracious purpose of redemption, wherein he has accomplished his loving design and has saved us through his son. he foreordained us to be restored to the status of sonship through Jesus Christ. such was his purpose, and thus he accomplished to be placed as adult sons through the intermediate agency of Jesus Christ for himself according to that which seemed good in his heart s desire. to carry out the happy choice of his will.

45 45 Ephesians 1:6 CRVR BAR CP CARP To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. in whom we have in actual experience our ransom through his sacrificial blood in our behalf all this he did that men might praise that glorious grace of his which he gave to us in his beloved and through no merits of our own. In love he chose us to be his family through Jesus Christ. This was his gracious will, and it reflects his marvelous kindness which he has freely given us through his dear one. The incarnation seems to be of the absolute divine purpose, sin or no sin. Sin came, and the cross was then God s remedy for sin. Accordingly, it may be said that God s purpose in any case was Christ: and this sacred title Christ carries with it, as a sure corollary, the further concept of the body of Christ, the church. Christ cannot be thought of in Vacuo. He is the first-born among many brethren through him many sons to glory. Creation, redemption, adoption, that is the order of events, and it all comes from God. Of his will he ordained it, and fulfilled it. Why? That there might be human hearts to love him, and human lips to praise him. And so, when we praise God, we must never stay on the thought of our own act or merit as God-praisers. We

46 46 are to magnify the divine name. We are to say We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee and, when we have said all we can, and can think of no more, then lest praise be marred by any tincture of self- consciousness, we get back to God himself, and say we gives thanks to thee for thy great glory. So, in a sense that the author of Ecclesiastes did not and could not mean, Then spirit shall return to God who gave it. GRE LAU DIAG MOFF such was his purpose, and this he accomplished, so that praise and honor are due him for the loving mercy he has shown us in his beloved son. That was why he sent to us the son whom he loved. Praise God for his wonderful grace. he graciously favored us he was highly favored us in the beloved. Ephesians 1:7 GSPD BAR In whom we have redemption through is blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; through union with him and through his blood that we have been delivered and our offenses forgiven, in the abundance of his mercy which he lavished on us. It is in and through Christ and the sacrifice of his life that we have been liberated, a liberation which means the forgiveness of sins. It

47 all happened because of the wealth of his grace. 47 DODDR AMP PHI NEB LB JOHNS GSPD WADE LOV And in whom we have redemption from the power of sin, the tyranny of satan, and the final wrath and displeasure of God. In him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through his blood, the remission of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses) It is through him, at the cost of his own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that full and generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth. For in Christ our release is secured sins forgiven through the shedding of his blood. Therein lies the richness of God s free grace lavished upon us, imparting full wisdom and insight. and he has showered down upon us the richness of his grace-for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. delivered from meaninglessness set again on track in the abundance of his mercy which he lavished on us. in keeping with his inexhaustible favour shown to us. Our redemption, which includes total for-

48 48 giveness for our sins, was made possible by the son. And because he is as fully gracious and generous as the Father, he willingly redeemed us at the price of his own blood. And if that were not enough, he lavishes still more grace upon us by supplying the wisdom and insights which permit us to know and understand the inner workings of his plan. CARP CP K&L BRUCE PE BECK WMS DIAG NL glory to God. He has poured out upon us the ocean of his loving kindness. He withheld not from us his beloved son. We were in Egypt, and the Christ of God brought us out of the house of bondage. We were in Babylon, and the Christ of God released for us his precious life. We were in chains to sin. He struck the chains asunder, and we are free. For it was by this one s supreme sacrifice that we got our emancipation the forgiveness for the mess we made of things. the remission of our transgressions. the remission of our sins. In him we have deliverance through his blood, the forgiveness of our offences, according to the wealth of his grace. who bought us with his blood to forgive our sins and set us free. It is through union with him that we have redemption by his blood we possess the redemption we are bought and made free

49 49 SWANN 20C1 MOFF CENT JERUS the forgiveness of all fall-downs for by union with Christ we enjoy our redemption we have deliverance we gain our freedom Ephesians 1:10 AMP MOFF PHI NEB That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth: even in him: He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, both things in heaven and things on the earth. that all things in heaven and earth alike should be gathered up in Christ in the Christ that everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Christ might be brought into a unity in Christ. CARP then the scattered threads of progress were all drawn together into one pattern. All men, all nations, all cultures, all created things re-

50 50 ceived a new significance, a new unity, the many in the one. They were all drawn together under one head, even Christ and this is the hidden thing which we now know. CONY WAY BAR LAU KNOX LOV RHM WUEST CONFR (to unite all things under one head, in union with Christ.) For his purpose was to re-unite all thins under Messiah as their head - all, all made one in Him. This purpose is finally to bring to their conclusion all the events in history, and make of all things, one perfect whole in Christ. The plan is this: God plans, when the right time comes, to unite everything in heaven and on earth in Christ. by resuming everything in him, all that is in heaven, all that is on earth, summed up in him. all things will have been redeemed and restored to their original condition through Christ. to re-unite for himself (under one head) the all things in the Christ to bring back again to their original state all things in Christ to re-establish all things in Christ Ephesians 1:11 In whom we also have obtained an inher-