Good News Series # 7:

The Privileges

God declares sinful man perfect and eternally saves him

The Gospel is the most glorious news in the world because it is about God’s provision of salvation for sinful man. Though man deserves eternal condemnation in hell, God made a way for eternal deliverance, bringing man back to Him (2 Peter 3:18).

This lesson presents seven gracious and glorious privileges that are true from the moment of faith and onwards.

I. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Sinner Is Forgiven Because Of Christ's Death

A. What three things are true regarding the sins of a sinner who put his faith in Christ according to Romans 4:7-8?

Romans 4:7-8 - ' “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” '

✔ Forgiven, covered, and will not be imputed (counted against the offender) to the sinner

B. How many sins are forgiven according to Colossians 2:13?

Colossians 2:13 - 'And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, '

✔ all

Forgiveness is offered to all but granted only for those who believe. The “all” in Colossians 2:13 includes all the past, present and future sins of eve- ry believer (cf. Romans 4:8). What a good news!

C. What does God promise for all the forgiven (Romans 8:1)?

Romans 8:1 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. '

✔ There is no more condemnation

Forgiveness is a wonderful privilege and it is free as it is obtained only by faith. However, it should always be realized that forgiveness has been possible because Christ already paid the penalty for man’s sins at the cross.

II. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Sinner Is Declared Perfect Because Of Christ's Perfect Life

Only perfect people can go to heaven and live eternally with God because God is infinitely perfect (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10; Revelation 21:27; Matthew 5:48). This is bad news since no one is perfect. In fact, even the righteous works of a sinful man are like filthy rags in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6).

The good news is, God made a way where man can be perfect in His eyes. How?

First, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, in this world.

Second, Jesus lived a perfect life until death.

Third, Jesus paid the sins of man through His death.

Fourth, God resurrected Christ from the dead as approval for Christ’s saving work.

Fifth, God imputes Christ’s righteousness to every- one who repents and believes in Christ, or in other words Christ’s righteousness is counted as the righteousness of every believer.

Sixth, God declares every believer as righteous in His eyes because of Christ’s righteousness.

Biblically, the one word for the phrase “being declared righteous” is “justified.”

1. What is imputed (given) to a believer according to Romans 4:6?

Romans 4:6 - 'just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: '

✔ Righteousness

2. Whose righteousness is imputed (given) on a believer according to 1 Corinthians 1:30 (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9)?

1 Corinthians 1:30 - 'And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, '

✔ Righteousness of Christ

In the eyes of God, a justified person is someone who is as if never sinned and as if perfectly fulfilled the laws of God. And since Christ’s righteousness is eternal, it is strongly implied that a believer who has the righteousness of Christ is eternally righteous in the eyes of a holy God. Therefore, a believer is also eternally acceptable to God.

3. How is a person justified? Fill in the blanks: Justification is received not by faith plus good works for the Bible says, “knowing that a man is not justified by the ___ _ _but by ___ in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by _ in Christ and _ by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be ________” (Galatians 2:16).

Galatians 2:16 - 'yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. '

✔ works of the law, faith, faith, not, justified

Please note that “faith isn't something good that we do that makes us deserving of Christ's righteousness. It is simply the means through which we receive it. If I reach out my hand to obtain a gift from someone, I am not earning the gift, but simply receiving it” (Matt Perman, Justification: The Doctrine by Which the Church Stands or Falls).

III. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Believer Is Indwelt By Christ Through The Holy Spirit

A. Who lives in a believer according to Galatians 2:20?

Galatians 2:20 - 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. '

✔ Christ

B. Who indwells a believer according to Romans 8:9?

Romans 8:9 - 'You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. '

✔ Holy Spirit

C. What is the promise of Christ for everyone whom He indwelt (Hebrews 13:5)?

Hebrews 13:5 - 'Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” '

✔ I will never leave them nor forsake them

D. Why can God be trusted for His promises (Titus1:2)?

Titus 1:2 - 'in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began '

✔ He cannot lie

IV. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Believer Has Become A Child Of God

A. Fill in the blanks: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become ___ _ to those who believe in His name (John 1:12; cf. Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1).

John 1:12 - 'But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, '

✔ children of God

B. If you are a child of God what is your relationship with Christ according to Romans 8:17?

Romans 8:17 - 'and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. '

✔ Co-heir of Christ, and will be glorified with Christ

C. Does God cut the Father-child relationship when His children disobey?

✔ No

D. What does He do to disobedient children according to Hebrews 12:6-8?

Hebrews 12:6-8 - 'For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. '

✔ God chases and disciplines His children

V. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Believer Is Given An Eternal Life

A. What has God given to everyone who believes in Christ (1 John 5:11)?

1 John 5:11 '- And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. '

✔ Eternal life

B. Where is eternal life found (1 John 5:11)?

1 John 5:11 '- And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. '

✔ In His Son (Jesus Christ)

C. If you have Christ, what else do you have (1 John 5:12)?

1 John 5:12 - 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. '

✔ Life (eternal life)

D. Can a true believer lose his eternal life according to John 10:28-29? Why?

John 10:28-29 - 'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. '

✔ Because nobody can pluck away from His Father’s hand and from His hand

E. What and who can separate God from His children according to Romans 8:35-39?

Romans 8:35-39 - 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

✔ Nobody and nothing

Eternal life is a present reality to every believer of Christ. It is something given not after death but right at the very moment of genuine faith in Christ (John 5:24). Believers of Christ go directly to heaven when they die (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Cor 5:8). They will be given glorified bodies during the resurrection day which will happen at the second coming of Christ (1Cor 15:51-54) and they will live with God eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21-22). More importantly, eternal life is knowing God intimately (John 17:3).

VI. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Believer Has Become A New Creation

A. What happens at the moment a person established a relationship with Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:17?

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. '

✔ He becomes a new creation

B. What are two proofs of being a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)?

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. '

✔ Old things are passing away, and all things are becoming new. BOTH are progressive.

2 Corinthians 5:17 does not teach that all the bad behaviors of a believer are gone once and forever, but rather, Christian life is a process of passing away of old things and making things new.

VII. At The Moment Of Faith In Christ, A Believer Starts To Experience Real Satisfaction

A. What kind of life does Christ give (John 10:10)?

John 10:10 - 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. '

✔ Abundant life

Abundant life does not mean life without suffering “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil.1:29). Thus, abundant life refers more to the satisfying presence of Christ and of the privilege of loving and obeying Him (John 6:35; 7:37).

Gospel Reflection

1. Talk to God in prayer right now in response to what you have just learned.

2. Share in two or more sentences the content of your prayer

3. Have you established a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you have His presence and perfection in your life? If yes, please share how and when you got saved and the changes that happened in your life.

4. If you are a true believer of Christ, what seven privileges do you have right now and in eternity according to the truths presented in this lesson?

Personal Response

Congratulations for finishing the Good News Series. Hope God has impacted your life in a meaningful way by the truths you learned. Hope you will continue growing in your knowledge of Christ and also help others know and love Him. The next series of lessons is Basics of Christian Life. Would you like to also learn them?

Suggested Readings: Genesis, at least 1 chapter a day

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