Christian Foundations (9) - Understanding and Overcoming Sin

The Foundation for our being, character and life is the PERSON of CHRIST Himself (1Cor 3:11, Isa 28:16, Col 2:6-7). Christ is not just the Foundation for our eternal salvation, but for our very being and everyday living (Ro 1:16-17). "The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is revealed from (saving) FAITH to (living) FAITH; as it is written: “(1) The JUST (by FAITH) shall (2) LIVE by FAITH” (v17). (1) First we are JUSTIFIED (made righteous) by FAITH. When we trust in Christ, His perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS is IMPUTED to us (put to our account) - a legal transaction based on the Great Exchange accomplished on the Cross. We stand before God on the basis of His perfect righteousness, so God accepts us, just as He accepts Jesus. Christ and His imputed righteousness is our forever, firm foundation for our eternal salvation, and our life today, and it ensures our eternal life. On this legal basis God instantly gave us the New Birth. The imparted righteousness of Christ was applied to our spirit. Now we are justified by faith, we are now to LIVE by FAITH in Christ, our living Foundation, looking to Him and leaning on Him as our Source of life, rather than trusting in our own soul. As we trust in His Life in us, He sanctifies us by His Spirit, and we receive His imparted righteousness (grace) into our souls, inspiring and empowering us to do His will (Phil 2:13). The more we submit to Him and trust in Him as our Foundation, the more He fills us with His love and empowers us with His grace. Thus He is our Foundation for our everyday life. Living by faith starts by submitting to the Lordship of Christ and opening our hearts to receive His love-gift of His Spirit and His Word to us. Then by depending on the Spirit of grace, we must put His Word into practice (Matthew 7:24-25). The first 2 Foundational Doctrines of Christ are (1) REPENTANCE from dead works and (2) FAITH toward God (Heb 6:1-2). They describe the necessary attitude of our hearts, to live our lives on Christ, living from the supply of His grace, trusting in Him as our base of o