What can we stand on if we have truly entered salvation by faith?
Scripture teaches that if a person has truly entered salvation by faith without any merit of their own, they can stand on the promise that they are dead to the old Adam and that Christ is now their whole life. Their life is hid with Christ in God, and nothing can touch them.
Les explains that Colossians 3:3 says believers are dead in their old Adamic state, and their life—both eternal life and this life—is hid with Christ in God. Because God and Christ are one, those in Christ are wrapped up in the Godhead, so nothing can touch them. He ties this to Romans 8, where there is now no condemnation to those in Christ, and to Jesus' words that no one can pluck them out of His hand. Les says this is almost an understatement compared with the full ramifications: if we have truly entered salvation by faith without any merit of our own, we can stand on the promise that we are dead to the old Adam and Christ is our whole life. Verse 4 adds that when He appears, we will appear with Him in glory.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Where is the joy of our salvation found?
The joy of our salvation is found in our position in Christ, specifically in Colossians 3:3. It rests on being risen with Christ, identifying with His death, burial, and resurrection, and setting affection on things above rather than on earthly things.
When can we stand on the promise that we are dead to the old Adam?
We can stand on that promise when we have truly entered into the salvation experience by faith, without any merit of our own. Then, being in Christ and hid in God, we are dead to the old Adam, and nothing can touch us.