Jesus is the head of his chosen people. Just as everyone is connected to Adam through the law of works, every redeemed soul is united with Jesus under the law of grace. He stands as the Second Adam, our Substitute and Representative in the new covenant of love. Paul tells us Levi was in Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

Similarly, believers were in Jesus, our Mediator, when the covenant of grace was established in eternity. Everything Christ has accomplished, he did for the entire Church. We were crucified, buried, risen, and even ascended with him. Through this union, we've fulfilled the law and are "accepted in the beloved." God sees us in Jesus, not apart from him. Just as Adam's actions were ours, Jesus' actions and righteousness are counted as ours.

This is the foundation of the covenant of grace. The glorious truth of representation and substitution, which Justin Martyr celebrated, is the very heart of the gospel. We should embrace it with strong faith and great joy.