QUESTION: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
ANSWER: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.
ANSWER: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.
WARM-UP
When you meet someone, what is the first thing you notice or look for when trying to understand them? What helps them make an impression on you? Share a story about a time a spouse or friend made their first impression on you.
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
When you meet someone, what is the first thing you notice or look for when trying to understand them? What helps them make an impression on you? Share a story about a time a spouse or friend made their first impression on you.
WORD
BIG IDEA
- Our default nature is to regard ourselves and the people around us according to the flesh, which means our earthly achievements and status.
- In Christ, we become a new creation. We are no longer regarded according to our flesh, but instead, we are considered reconciled to God because of Christ’s work.
- The work of imputation means that our sin has been charged to Christ’s account, and we are regarded in the same manner as Christ is in relation to the Father.
- There are no previous traits, qualities, or characteristics that we must have before we meet Christ. Our previous lives are irrelevant in whether or not Christ’s work on the cross can forgive all of our sins.
READ
2 Corinthians 5: 16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
NEW SELF
When the work of Christ imputes his righteousness onto us, we are no longer able to regard each other according to the flesh.
WORLD
How does the distinction of being (1) regarded according to the flesh differ from (2) regarded as a new creation change the world around you? Are there any immediate areas in your life that would be beneficial to consider? Try to put these into practice this week!
PRAYER
Forgiving Father, when we are covered in the righteousness of Christ, you remember our sins no more. You have put them as far as the east is from the west. Help us not to doubt your forgiveness, your mercy, or your love, but come to you boldly as your beloved children. Amen.
- Consider how our culture views people. What makes people have a higher or lower regard for others? What creates status in our city?
- Does this always seem to work out with fairness, or does it sometimes become arbitrary?
- Where is this dangerous in the church? Have you ever seen or heard about issues this has caused within the body of Christ?
NEW SELF
When the work of Christ imputes his righteousness onto us, we are no longer able to regard each other according to the flesh.
- Does this change how you relate to people within the church with whom you culturally/politically/ideologically differ?
- How does this change the way that you view yourself?
WORLD
How does the distinction of being (1) regarded according to the flesh differ from (2) regarded as a new creation change the world around you? Are there any immediate areas in your life that would be beneficial to consider? Try to put these into practice this week!
PRAYER
Forgiving Father, when we are covered in the righteousness of Christ, you remember our sins no more. You have put them as far as the east is from the west. Help us not to doubt your forgiveness, your mercy, or your love, but come to you boldly as your beloved children. Amen.