Roger Thrower

Three foundations for followers of Jesus:

1. Justification (just as if I’d never sinned).
* John 19:30 – When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
* Romans 8:1 There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
* Isaiah 61:7 – Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion, instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot
* Hebrews 9:14 – how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

2. The Spirit of Adoption. (Belonging displaces fear, loneliness, and rejection)
* John 19:26-27 – When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother! And from that hour the disciple took her to his home.
* Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

3. Communion with Christ.
* Philippians 3:7 – But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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 – that I may know him……