“If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”
Romans 6:5
Juan stared hard and asked, “Are you telling me the truth?”
Juan was an inmate and a Seminary-in-Prison student. I had been using Romans 6 to teach him and others of the believer’s union with Christ. In Christ, believers have died with Him, have been raised with Him, and are now seated with Him in the heavenlies. Because of our union with Christ, then, everything true about Jesus is true about us.
One application, I told the class, is that just as the Father said of Jesus at His baptism, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), so the Father says to you today, “You are my son whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”
“Are you a believer, Juan?”
“Yes.”
“Then God says to you today, ‘You are my son whom I love, with you I am well pleased.’”
With tears in his eyes, Juan replied, “That’s the first time in my life anyone has ever said he was pleased with me.”
No matter what you’ve done, if you are a believer in Jesus, God says to you, “You are my son or daughter whom I love, and I am well pleased with you.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry M. Smith
After serving in ministry for some 30 years, Barry Smith fell headlong into a life of alcoholism, probation sentences, and regret. In 2014 the Lord got ahold of him and led him to prison ministry. He developed and now is the national coordinator for MINTS Seminary-in-Prison, an outreach implementing programs in more than 20 prisons in four states. He also is a regional director for Metanoia Prison Ministries. Barry has a BA in Theology from Somerset University, an MA in Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an MA in Theological Studies from MINTS International Seminary. He and his wife Gail have eight children and seven grandchildren. They live just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they are active in their church. If you run into Barry on the street, you’ll see the joy of a redeemed life radiating from him!
Juan was an inmate and a Seminary-in-Prison student. I had been using Romans 6 to teach him and others of the believer’s union with Christ. In Christ, believers have died with Him, have been raised with Him, and are now seated with Him in the heavenlies. Because of our union with Christ, then, everything true about Jesus is true about us.
One application, I told the class, is that just as the Father said of Jesus at His baptism, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), so the Father says to you today, “You are my son whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”
“Are you a believer, Juan?”
“Yes.”
“Then God says to you today, ‘You are my son whom I love, with you I am well pleased.’”
With tears in his eyes, Juan replied, “That’s the first time in my life anyone has ever said he was pleased with me.”
No matter what you’ve done, if you are a believer in Jesus, God says to you, “You are my son or daughter whom I love, and I am well pleased with you.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry M. Smith
After serving in ministry for some 30 years, Barry Smith fell headlong into a life of alcoholism, probation sentences, and regret. In 2014 the Lord got ahold of him and led him to prison ministry. He developed and now is the national coordinator for MINTS Seminary-in-Prison, an outreach implementing programs in more than 20 prisons in four states. He also is a regional director for Metanoia Prison Ministries. Barry has a BA in Theology from Somerset University, an MA in Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an MA in Theological Studies from MINTS International Seminary. He and his wife Gail have eight children and seven grandchildren. They live just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they are active in their church. If you run into Barry on the street, you’ll see the joy of a redeemed life radiating from him!
Scripture Focus
Romans 6:1-14
Insight
What a comfort to know that the Lord looks beyond our faults. He sees us through the lens of Jesus’ perfect life given for us!
Bible In A Year
- Exodus 13-14
- Psalm 32
- Mark 12
