THE VITAL GROUPS

MESSAGE TWO

THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE VITAL GROUPS

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Scripture Reading: John 3:15-16; Matt. 5:1; 28:19; Acts 1:8

OUTLINE

1. The believers in Christ—John 3:15-16:
   1. Transferred from Adam into Christ—1 Cor. 15:22.
   2. Regenerated to be a new creation in Christ and all the old things have been washed away—2 Cor. 5:17; Titus 3:5.
   3. United with Christ in His eternal life—a union in the divine life.
   4. Joined to Christ to be one spirit with Him—1 Cor. 6:17.
2. The disciples of Christ (Matt. 5:1; 28:19), discipled through:
   1. Christ's human living on the earth, as the model of a God-man—living God by denying Himself in humanity (John 5:19, 30), revolutionizing their concept concerning man (Phil. 3:10; 1:21a).
   2. Christ's crucifixion to annul their human life for them to live the divine life—Gal. 2:20.
   3. Christ's resurrection:
      1. To know Him as God's firstborn Son—Rom. 1:4; Acts 13:33; Rom. 8:29.
      2. To know Him as the life-giving Spirit—1 Cor. 15:45.
      3. For the producing of the many sons of God as His multiplication and increase—Heb. 2:10; John 12:24.
3. The witnesses of Christ—Acts 1:8:
   1. Witnessing that:
      1. Christ had resurrected—Acts 1:22; 3:15; 10:39-41; 13:31.
      2. The resurrected Christ was anointed by God to carry out His commission—Acts 10:38-39.
      3. The resurrected Christ was made by God:
         1. The Lord and Christ (Messiah)—Acts 2:32-36.
         2. The Leader and Savior—Acts 5:30-32.
         3. The Judge of the living and the dead—Acts 10:42.
   2. Living Christ—Acts 22:15; Phil. 1:21a; 2 Cor. 13:3:
      1. In His resurrection—Phil. 3:10a.
      2. Through His death—Phil. 3:10b.