This podcast covers Lesson 6 of The God-Dependent Woman Bible Study.
The Gifts of the New Creation, Part 2
As a direct result of Christ’s finished work on the cross, our relationship with God is changed because of our faith in Jesus Christ. This change is described by six terms that are sometimes called the “words of the cross.” They are gifts we receive as new creations in Christ.
Word of the Cross #4 is Forgiveness. It means that “Your guilt has been taken away.”
- God stepped in and did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He transferred our sin to a substitute, Jesus, and it was taken away.
“When you were dead in your sins…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)
- Once you trust in Jesus Christ, what you’ve done wrong in God’s eyes from the time you were born through the time of your death has been canceled. Past, present and future.
- As long as you live in your earthly body, you will sometimes sin. As an already forgiven Christian, the biblical process for dealing with recognized sin is to remember first that your identity is child of God, agree with God that you’ve sinned against Him, mourn your sin and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you obey God in the future. Then, trust in Him to help you overcome the consequences of any sinful choices you’ve made in a way that brings glory to Him. That’s living a life that pleases the Lord in every way.
- Because you’ve trusted Christ and are now found in Christ, you can know and live with confidence that you’ve been forgiven…no longer burdened by your sin and guilt.
Word of the Cross #5 is Justification. It means that “you are declared righteous in God’s eyes.”
- There are two aspects to justification. The first aspect is the removal of guilt from the offender. That’s forgiveness. The second aspect is the addition of righteousness to the one who believes. That’s justification. The two aspects together are called the “Great Exchange.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
- The amazing thing is that God does this while we are still capable of sinning! When God looks on you, He sees His Son’s righteousness taking the place of your sin—even your sin after you’ve been a believer for a long time.
- When you are tempted to think that God could not possibly accept you because of your weaknesses and guilty past, declare this to yourself: “Because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I am declared righteous…no longer guilty in God’s eyes.” That’s a fact.
Word of the Cross #6 is Sanctification. It means to be “set apart as God's possession for His exclusive use.”
- God determines what He considers good. None of our little checklists measure up. The only human who was ever good enough for God was Jesus.
- To be sanctified means to be made holy—to be “set apart from anything evil.” By faith in Jesus Christ, God declares us holy in His sight. We are clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). When God looks on you and me, He sees Jesus and His righteousness, not all of our faults. His love chooses to do that for us.
- You have been set apart as God's special, beloved possession for His exclusive use.
- You are also “being made holy” in your thoughts, words, and actions by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing from the moment of salvation until the Lord comes or you die, when your “being made holy” is complete. We make choices that reflect our desire to set ourselves apart from sin and to God’s purposes for us. 2 Corinthians 7:1
- Because you’ve trusted in Christ and are now found in Him, you can know and live with confidence that you are set apart by God, for God. In His sight, you are perfected…no longer flawed.
Does God give the hardest battles to His strongest soldiers?
True or False? “When you are having a rough time, just remember that God gives the hardest battles to His strongest soldiers.” FALSE
Going back to what we’ve learned in 2 Corinthians so far, we are all jars of clay. Weak. Frail. God puts His treasure, Himself, in all of us because we are all weak, and He wants us to know that any power to fight a battle is from God and not from us. Our strength comes from being clothed in Christ not as wonder woman.
Reasons why God wants us to depend on Him more than on ourselves
- We are His children. (6:16-18)
- To purify ourselves to perfect holiness. (7:1)
- He comforts us when we are downcast. (7:6)
- So we rightly respond to sin in our lives. (7:9)
- To see truth in ourselves, in our hearts. (7:12)
Let Jesus satisfy your heart with confidence that you can depend on Him. Then, live each day as a God-dependent woman!
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