Sunday 03:13:11

Who we are in Christ is our identity, our direction, and our destiny. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “In Christ,” is our union or relationship with him through faith. In Christ, I have a new identity. I am a new creation. Before Christ I was sinful, far from God, hopelessly lost in my own sin and selfishness. Romans 3:10-12 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” We were all the fool in proverbs – morally deficient. Like people wondering around in the dark. If you are in Christ (in relationship with him) through faith, then your identity has changed. 1. In Christ, you are a new creation - It is hard to over-state the change Paul is taking about. - it is not just that we’ve had our sins wiped out like a white board’s been wiped clean. - Christ’s work has made us new creatures. “New” (kainos) (kī-no's) – in respect to form: recently made, fresh, recent - in respect to substance: new kind Usage: “Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins.” “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” “Creature” – (ktisis) (ktē'-sēs) is creation or created thing. Usage: -But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female. -Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation The old has gone – who you were – lost in sin, slave to sin, turning away from God – all gone. All that you were is gone – all your sin, all your shame, all your guilt is taken away in Christ, because He died for your sin. He took all the punishment for it and there is no more. You are free from your past. (from It is Well With My Soul) My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't, My sin, not in part, but the whole Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! When the enemy reminds you who you have been, you remember who you are in Christ – you are a new creations. The new has come – in Christ, who you are has changed. You are according to 1 Peter 2, • A royal priesthood, • a chosen people, • a holy nation • a people belonging to God • I Cor 5:17 you are a new creation v. 18-20 – This is from God – “Salvation is from the Lord” (Jonah) God reconciled us to himself. 2. In Christ , you are reconciled to God. “Reconcile” – to change or exchange (as in changing money). He exchanged our former lives of sin with a new life that is “in Christ.” We’ve gone from being lost and hopeless to being alive in Christ. Not only that, but after he reconciled us, He gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 3. In Christ, you are his ambassador. We who have received the privilege of being reconciled now have the responsibility of being instruments in God’s hands to minister the message of reconciliation throughout the world. Just like we talked last week, we are a royal priesthood - v. 21 – Summary of the Gospel: Christ is the only one who is entirely righteous. At Calvary he took our sin upon himself and the punishment we deserved, which was death. By marvelous exchange, he gave us his righteousness and to be reconciled to God. Our acceptance and our standing with God are completely based in Christ. It is all his doing. 4. In Christ, you have become the righteousness of God. In this marvelous exchange, Christ took our sin, we get his righteousness.