The Christian life requires the believer to comprehend the scope of what has happened by being united to Christ. Having died with Christ, we've been released from the bondage of our old relationship. But we've also entered into a new relationship of endless joy and delight since the Holy Spirit empowers the way we now live.

To be a Christian is to be united to Christ, and to be united to Christ is to be victorious over the devastating power of sin. Consequently, the Christian is encouraged to fight sin with the superior power of God's grace. As we see the benefits we have from the freedom Christ has given us, the allure of sin will diminish, and we will grow in the holiness that ends in eternal life.

The prevailing power of grace over sin is good news not only for justification but also for sanctification. As benefits found in union with Christ, these two things belong together. Christian baptism reminds us that we are united to Christ in both his death and resurrection, so that the reign of sin has ended and the Christian can enjoy the freedom of life in the kingdom of God.

There is no foe more powerful than sin and death. Where sin prevails, death triumphs, and there is no opportunity even for a re-match. But the grace of God found in Jesus Christ is a much greater power than sin and death. Those who receive the abundance of grace will reign in life through the victory Christ has won for us.

If we are justified by faith in Christ, then there are many other benefits that are ours to enjoy. These benefits are also guaranteed; nothing can take them away from us. These benefits are gifts of God's astounding love, demonstrated at the cross of Christ and realized in the resurrected life of Christ in which we now share.

The promise of God to save all of creation is under jeopardy because of the repeated failure of Israel to uphold his righteous law. But in the faithfulness of Israel's Messiah, the righteousness of God to both punish sin and to deliver his people from it has been upheld. Now all of God's people can promote the peace of God's kingdom that has already been established on earth.

God is a righteous judge who shows no partiality to anyone. But what does this mean for Israel, God's chosen people? Has their faithlessness nullified God promise to them? Because God's faithfulness is not dependent on any one else's, his saving purposes can never depend on the frail hope of human ability. Salvation must come from somewhere else, for Jew and Gentile alike.

God shows no favoritism. Because he has promised to redeem his creation, God will not tolerate sin in anyone. Those whom God redeems must not depend on any visible symbol for their identity. The only genuine marker for the people of God is found within.