Juli Camarin

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We Are Seated in Heaven with Christ—Romans 6:4

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4)

As Christians we look forward to a time when Jesus will come back for us and we are united with him. We frequently sing songs to that end... "when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!" While it is okay to look forward to this time, the reality is, that we have already been united with Christ and we are currently living a new life in Him. The Bible teaches that these things concerning a new glorious life are past tense. Meaning that they have already happened and we are living a present tense version of this truth. Born again believers currently have a new life in Christ Jesus, it is not something we are waiting for.

Paul teaches us in Romans, that when we died with Christ, we were also raised with him. This took place the moment that you accepted Christ as your Savior. He said the same thing in Ephesians 2, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus..." ( Ephesians 2:4-6 ). Ephesians concurring that this event happened in the past and is not something we are waiting for when we all get to heaven.

I remember the first time I read this and took notice of it. It caused me to stop and meditate on these verses until I understood what Paul was saying. Understanding came when I looked at these passages with spiritual eyes because that is the only way for this to make sense. Understand that there is more to life than just what you can see, touch and experience in the natural world. We are made up of one-third spirit, one-third soul and one-third body. ( I Thessalonians 5:23 ) Now your body is just the physical shell of who you are. It will go along with whatever you let rule you. Your soul, for simplicities sake is your consciousness. Your attitude, your thoughts, your personality, it is everything that makes you unique. Your spirit is what gives you life. It is the part of you that is sealed and redeemed and raised with Christ and seated in the heavenly realm. When you are born again, you currently possess this new spirit of Christ and if you currently possess it, then you have it. If your spirit was raised with Christ to newness of life, then so are you. It is one-third of your make -up.

Therefore, since this is accomplished in your spirit, you cannot look at what you can see. You have to go along with what you know to be true. For instance, do you feel saved or do you know? If I look at the physical realm then I look like a filthy sinner. That is why I cannot look there to know that I am born again. I have to look into the my spirit and see the righteousness that God has bestowed upon me. Then, I can look in to the word and confirm what I know in my spirit. I know it is who I am because the Bible tells me so. If I rely on feelings and letting them dictate what I know, then I am in trouble. I will doubt my salvation, I will question whether or not I'm worthy of it, I will focus in the areas that I fail constantly. But if I am settled and assured in the truth of what God has said, then physical circumstances do not matter... you can't talk me out of the fact that I am saved. Overall, the church has done a good job of teaching this, so that we understand when we ask Christ into our lives, we are saved and our circumstances and unworthiness do not matter.

However, this same process is true for this truth. The fact is, you have been raised with Christ Jesus and are seated with him in the heavenly realm. You have a new life through association with him. If I look around and decide this isn't true because of what you see, then you will get into unbelief and doubt and that will keep you from experiencing this new life that Paul is talking about. In your spirit, you are raised with Christ and have new life. To the degree that you think, believe, and act like who you are in your spirit, to that degree you will experience the life of Christ in your flesh as well.

There is no need to sing a song celebrating a future event that has already taken place. We can look forward to heaven, but God wants us to experience eternal life right now on this earth. Jesus said in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." ( John 17:3 ) and since we can experience Jesus, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in this world, then we can rejoice in where we are right now, seated with Christ and made alive through his death on the cross. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to experience this.

So how do we practice this? Paul said in Colossians, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3) We can experience this resurrection life that Paul describes by adjusting our minds and setting our hearts on kingdom things, where Christ is the center. And then you will see the result of this truth in the natural realm. See how important this is? Today, I pray that you are so blessed by this revelation. May it change your entire life. God bless you!

Previous: Romans 6:3  Next: Romans 6:5-7

Original article published October 15, 2009.

The Believers Baptism Took Place By The Spirit—Romans 6:3

"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3)

In order to be separated from the default nature of this world, the nature we were born with, the sin nature inside of us has to die. Paul made an amazing statement that the born again believer has in fact died to this nature and consequentially sin. His argument supports that Christians should not continue in sin merely to show the extent of God's grace, because our old nature, or sin nature has been crucified with Christ. If we have died to sin, like the Bible teaches, then the question becomes, when did this death occur?

The answer is found in today's passage of scripture. We died to the sin nature when we were baptized into Jesus' death. Now, many people assume that references to baptism in the Bible refers solely to water baptism. However we know that Hebrews 6:2 speaks of the plural form of baptism, meaning that their is more than one. However many people fail to recognize this and as a result assume that baptism is only accomplished through water. Consequently, that is why this passage is used to support the doctrine of water baptism as a means to obtain salvation. However we know, through our study of Romans so far, faith in Christ and what he did, is the only thing required of us. Our salvation is based on his grace and mercy and our faith in Him... period, nothing more, nothing less. So if water baptism is not what Paul is talking about in Romans 6:3, then we must look at what baptism we were baptized into when we died with Christ, so that we can understand how we died to sin.

John the Baptist referred to this same baptism that Paul is talking about in Matthew 3:11 when he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." ( Matthew 3:11 ). John's baptism, which was a water baptism signifies an outward sign of an inward change. He baptized for repentance. Repentance merely means to turn around and go in the opposite direction. A change of direction of this magnitude can only occur with a change of heart. This change of heart cannot occur with water, it has to occur by the Spirit of God. That happened the moment you accepted Christ Jesus as your personal savior. What happened took place in your spirit not in the natural realm. Everything that is, first started in the spiritual. We only see manifested in the flesh what already exists in the spiritual. Because the spiritual gives birth the natural. So, there is a benefit to being baptized with water, but again, it is only an outward show of an inward change that occurred first in the born again spirit by the Holy Spirit at Salvation. This is the baptism that Paul is referring to.

II Corinthians 12:13 says, "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ( II Corinthians 12:13 ) So to answer our question today, we died to sin when the Holy Spirit baptized us into the body of Christ. Our old nature was buried with him so our new nature could then arise with him in the same manner. In Summary, we cannot take advantage of God's grace by continuing to sin according to the nature that was put to death with Christ upon the cross. Our old nature is gone, it was buried with Christ and then we were given a new nature when we were baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and that is why we can't continue in sin. It is contrary to our new nature.

Today, I pray that you take the revelation of this verse to heart and then God will enlighten it to your mind. May your spiritual eyes be open to see how completely free you are in Christ Jesus at this very moment. May you use that freedom to bless Him and the world which He created. Amen!

Previous: Romans 6:1-2  Next: Romans 6:4

Original article published October 14, 2009.

Romans

God's Amazing Story of Relentless Grace!

The Book of Romans is a masterfully written exposition on God’s grace and the righteousness that comes by grace through faith. This book (a letter) is the foundation of the entire Christian faith and has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Get an in-depth verse by verse explanation of this book...

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Colossians

Christ In You, The Hope of Glory

Colossians is short book, written by the Apostle Paul to the Church in Colosse. Paul writes about the mystery of God hidden for ages but now revealed to the Church. This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory (vs. 1:27). Paul explains what this means and how this changes the way we live. Get an in-depth explanation of this book.

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Hebrews

Jesus Changed Everything!

The book of Hebrews is the bridge that connects the Old Testament & the New. This book is about Jesus and how He is the guarantee of a NEW & BETTER covenant. Get an in-depth verse by verse explanation of this book...

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Kingdom

The Teachings of Jesus

Jesus spent His entire earthly ministry talking about the Kingdom and explaining it to His disciples. The Gospels are full of Kingdom Principles for believers to operate in on a daily basis. Join me for this amazing journey through the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus.

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  • About Juli Camarin

    About Juli Camarin

    I’m passionate about Jesus, His Word, living in His grace,
    using technology and creating beautiful things.
    But mostly my passion is about spreading the
    gospel of Jesus to a world that needs Him.

       

    about Juli Camarin

  • About Juli Camarin 2

    About Juli Camarin

    I’m passionate about Jesus, His Word, living in His grace,
    using technology and creating beautiful things.
    But mostly my passion is about spreading the
    gospel of Jesus to a world that needs Him.

       

    about Juli Camarin

Books by Juli

Exploring God's Word, planting the seeds of life.