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To: Mrs. Don-o
We are joined to Him in the work of salvation.

Not only who do we save... but HOW do we save them? If we are joined to Christ in the work of salvation, when were we sinless before God and then crucified? Because THAT is the work of salvation. Christ completed that work on the cross. We can pray for others, we can seek to do good for others, bring others the Gospel, but we do not save anyone, nor do we participate in that work because Christ alone did the work and it is finished.

And all of who are in Christ are Advocates, Helpers, Benefactors, and Mediators.

Simply, no. Christ alone is our mediator. Christ alone completed the work of salvation.

Now... remember... context is your friend....

2 Peter 1:4... but in context:
2 Peter 1:3-11
"3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence,[d] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[e] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

This passage is to urge us to grow in our faith, knowledge, virtue and self-control so that we can rest assured in our calling and election. It's for us.

Colossians 1:24. Let's back up a bit prior to the verse that you quote and put all in context:
Colossians 1:15-23
"15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

Looks like this chapter is to reinforce the primacy Christ -- and that HE alone is responsible for reconciling all things to himself.

Matthew 16:24... let's go to the end of the chapter instead of just v. 26...
"24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[g] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

We are to deny ourselves and take up our crosses. Not his. Only HE can take up HIS cross. This is to teach us that we are to work diligently for the Kingdom for Christ. It doesn't mean that we in some way can take up Christ's Cross.

Romans 6... in context:
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."

We are dead to sin, alive in Christ. This describes our situation because of Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection. This wonderfully describes those called and saved... it doesn't speak to being a benefactor, mediator or advocate.

Philippians 3 in context:
"Finally, my brothers,[a] rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[b] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[c] blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"

Paul demonstrates that he although he could claim that he could claim confidence in the flesh, he knows that his salvation is through faith in Christ...nothing about advocacy, nothing about being a benefactor...nothing. This is about recognizing that our salvation is through faith.

There is no connection to address.... Christ alone saves. Christ alone mediates. Christ alone intercedes for us with the Father.

Hoss

75 posted on 06/18/2015 5:39:55 PM PDT by HossB86 (Christ, and Him alone.)
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To: HossB86
We are dead to sin, alive in Christ. This describes our situation because of Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection. This wonderfully describes those called and saved... it doesn't speak to being a benefactor, mediator or advocate.

And that is why sin has no power over the believer to condemn him again. That is why when we sin, as we ALL do, it does not result in spiritual death again.

Thanks for putting everything in context.

77 posted on 06/18/2015 5:55:10 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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