Growing in Christ
(Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind)

God wants to empower you through the Holy Spirit to live a Christ-directed life. As you continue to breathe spiritually, you will experience fellowship with God in a new and more meaningful way.
   

Part 1: The Lie & The Fall Part 2: Consequences Of The Fall Part 3: The Born-Again Christian Part 4: The Spirit-Filled Life! Part 5: When We Fall! Part 6: Christ’s Suffering and Atoning Death Part 7: From Condemnation to Forgiveness Part 8: The Love of God Part 9: Overcoming the Lie! Part 10: Faith Is the Victory Appendix 1: Understanding the Trinity!

Many Christians today long for a transformation in their characters. We see the state of our spiritual lives as being less than we thought or hoped they would be. It’s easy to look at ourselves and become critical of our progress! We don’t think we are the person that Christ would have us be. We see our shortcomings - but see no solutions. Some fear for their very salvation because they still have sin in their lives. We look inside ourselves - to see what we can do differently.

The Christian Church today faces a sad and difficult situation. Many Christians are living under the disillusionment of a false Gospel. Many churches today teach what is really a distortion of the Gospel. It is a half Gospel. It is a Gospel that is meaningless and powerless to change people’s lives!

Often the Gospel that Christians accept is still rooted in what the “world system” has trained us up to believe. It may be a “Social Gospel”, or a “Positive Thinkers Gospel”, or a “Prosperity Gospel”. But most often - it is a “Legalistic Gospel”.

The World System Has It’s Effects On Us!

We are raised in our society to think of ourselves in terms of what we do. Our value as people is often described in terms of our profession, or it’s based on how much money we make.

When we come into the church we still relate to other people and ourselves the same way we always have. That’s the way the world relates to us.

We See Ourselves In Light Of Our Achievements.

If we have had financial success in life, we tend to think highly about ourselves. If our job choices have been less than what we had hoped for it can be easy to think down on ourselves.

Or - We See Ourselves In Light Of Our Past Experiences

If we have been abused in our past, it is easy to have a victim’s mentality. If we have led sinful lives we can be overcome by the guilt and shame from our past.

We see ourselves in terms of those things that we have done. Our self-worth or significance is tied to our actions. Or, we see ourselves in terms of those things that have been done to us! We see ourselves as a victim of circumstance. What we believe will eventually determine how we live our lives!

There is a misconception in the church today that when we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts then everything in our lives will be made perfect - right away. When it doesn’t happen to us like that, we think that there is something wrong with us. We think that we are the odd man out. We think it happened to everyone else so we begin to doubt what God has done for us. We begin to doubt God’s transformational work in our lives.

We think that it just didn’t take with us. In many churches, the same people go forward every week to recommit themselves to God and in most cases, they continue to fail miserably because they are still living under the pretenses of a false Gospel.

When we came to Christ something did happen to us! We were changed. We were transformed and made new again! But nowhere in the Bible does it say that - immediately - everything in our lives would be made right. When we come to Christ, we have a whole lifetime of wrong thinking to overcome. We have bad habits that have to be dealt with. We have a whole lifetime of people we need to forgive! Everything about us was rooted in what the Bible calls, “The Lie”.

We used to be creatures of the night. The Bible says we used to live in the darkness. Now, as Christians, we are called to come into the light! Once we come to Christ - we begin - the process - of taking the ways of darkness out of our lives and replacing them with the light and truth of Jesus Christ. (John 8:12; 12:46; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:8-11; Matthew 4:16-17; 6:22-24; John 3:19-21; See more: Acts 26:17-18; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:8-11)

In order for that to happen we have to understand who we are in Christ Jesus. We have to understand the true and life changing nature of the Gospel. And once we grasp it, we have to begin to experience it for ourselves in practical ways!

First and foremost, we have to understand that Salvation is a free gift! God accepts us just as we are. We are unconditionally loved. We are completely forgiven for our sins: past, present and future! When we come to faith in Christ, we have to learn what it means to be “Born Again”. We have to learn what it means to be empowered for change!

Many of us are overcome by guilt that should have been replaced by the peace of God. We still think that we have to do something to earn our salvation! We go from being unsaved to being religious. Religion has no solution for guilt!

Religion is rooted in the shame and guilt of “The Lie”. Satan wants us to doubt God! Legalism keeps us trapped in guilt because we are not perfect! Guilt binds us, cripples us and makes us ineffective as Christians. Religion and legalism are man’s attempts to be good enough, in God’s eyes. The Pharisees thought they were God’s chosen people because of who they were and what they did but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27)

There Is Only One Solution For Guilt And Legalism. We Have To Understand The Truth And Put It In To Action!

In order for us to understand where we are now, and where Christ would have us be, we have to look at what has happened to the entire human race as a result of what the Bible calls, “The Fall”.

The Fall of Man

When God created Adam and Eve, they were created to live inside the perfect love of God. God intended that they should get their self-worth and significance from Him! He was their creator and he knew what was best for them. In a sense, man was created with their “Batteries not included”! We were created to get our value from something or someone outside of ourselves. From God!

God alone had the blue print for who we are! If Adam wanted to know who he was he could go to God to find the answers. God made us that way. There is a place inside of each and every one of us that only God can fill. (See Eccl. 3:11)

Adam and Eve chose to believe “The Lie” and sent the human race in a downward spiral that has caused billions of people to live lives separated and detached from God’s love and without hope!

“The Lie” Finds Its Roots In Genesis 3

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5 NASB)

“The great deceiver clothed himself as a serpent, one of God’s good creatures. He insinuated a falsehood and portrayed rebellion as clever, but essentially innocent, self-interest. Therefore “the devil, or Satan,” is later referred to as “that ancient serpent” (Rev 12:9; 20:2). Crafty. The Hebrew words for “crafty” and “naked” are almost identical. Though naked, the man and his wife felt no shame (Genesis 2:25). The craftiness of the serpent led them to sin, and they then became ashamed of their nakedness (see Genesis 2:7). Did God really say …? The question and the response changed the course of human history. By causing the woman to doubt God’s word, Satan brought evil into the world. Here the deceiver undertook to alienate people from God. Elsewhere he acts as an accuser, to alienate God from people” (see Job 1-2; Zec 3:1). (NIV Study Bible Note)

This is known throughout the Bible as “The Lie”. (Romans 1:25; John 8:44)

Satan led a cosmic rebellion against God who deceived Eve and she began to doubt God’s love for them. Satan told Eve that she could be like God, knowing both good and evil. Adam and Eve fell when they believed “The Lie” and ever since the fall - every human has tried to make “The Satanic Lie” work.

Satan came with an alternative life style or an alternative reality (A life separated from God’s love! “The Lie” is the driving force behind the entire “World System” we live in today. “The Lie” can only produce hopelessness, misery and self-centeredness for everyone who believes it.

Because we have all believed “The Lie” that says, “We are as God”: We now get our value and identity from those around us. We are co-dependent. We either deny our guilt, placing it on others, or we take everyone else’s guilt upon ourselves - hoping we won’t be rejected. The Lie produces: fear of failure, perfectionism, avoidance of risk, addictions, anger, resentment, hopelessness, pride and all kinds of negative attitudes that have to be dealt with. We are all, by our vary nature, dysfunctional.

For thousands of years, billions of people have been trying to make “The Satanic Lie” work for themselves. Mankind strives to lead independent lives. It is our human nature to try to govern our own destiny and to make the lie work for us!

The First Chapter Of The Book Of Romans Is Paul’s Commentary On The Fall And It’s Results!

Most churches today still major in “The Lie”. Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for {literally, "the lie"}, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen." (NIV)

Jesus confronted the religious leaders and legalists of his day. Notice what he had to say to the Pharisees in John 8:44. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks {literally, "the lie"}, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. (NASB)

The Devil (slanderer) Our Enemy!

The name describes Satan as slandering God to man and man to God. The former work is, of course, a part of his great work of temptation to evil and is not only exemplified, but illustrated as to its general nature and tendency by the narrative of Genesis 3. The other work, the slandering or accusing men before God is the imputation of selfish motives. Job 1:9-10, and its refutation is placed in the self-sacrifice of those "who loved not their own lives unto death." (Smith's Bible Dictionary)

How do we overcome “The Satanic Lie”? Our only hope of finding the peace, joy and rest that Jesus spoke about is through the Good News of the Gospel. God himself overcame “The Lie” for us through his son, Jesus Christ. Because of that, we have to come to terms with what that all means for us.

Growing in Christ
Part 2: Consequences Of The Fall

What happened to Adam and Eve because of the fall? “In Genesis 3:7 they realized they were naked. No longer innocent like children, they had a new awareness of themselves and of each other in their nakedness, which now produced in them a sense of shame. They … made coverings. Their own feeble and futile attempt to hide their shame, which only God could cover!” (NIV Study Bible Note)

• The Fall came by the disobedience of Adam (Gen 3:6, 11, 12; Rom 5:12, 15, 19)

• The Fall came through the temptation of the devil (Gen 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14)

• The Fall brought a consciousness of guilt, shame and fear (Gen 3:7-10)

The Results Of The Fall:

• Mankind is now made in the image of Adam (Gen 5:3; 1Co 15:45-49 c.f. Gen 1:26-27)

• We are all born dead in sin (Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Eph 2:1-3; Col 2:13 c.f. Gen 2:15-17)

• We are now children of wrath (Eph 2:3)

• We are all evil in heart and blind (Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Matt 15:19; Eph 4:17-19)

• We are all depraved in mind, defiled, corrupt and we are no longer able to receive the things of God (Eph 4:17; Tit 1:15; 1Cor 2:14 c.f. Rom 3:13-14; Rom 8:5-7)

• We are all in bondage to sin and constantly evil (Gal 5:17; Titus 3:3; 2Pe 2:14 c.f. Rom 6:19; Rom 7:5, Rom 7:15-18

• We are all in bondage to the devil (2Ti 2:26; Heb 2:14-15)

• We are all unrighteous and love the darkness (Eccl 7:20; John 3:19; Rom 3:10)

Mankind’s Punishment Is A Result Of The Fall:

• Mankind suffered banishment from Paradise (Gen 3:24)

• Mankind suffered condemnation to labor and sorrow (Gen 3:16-19; Job 5:6-7)

• Mankind was condemned to suffer temporal eternal death (Gen 3:19; Rom 5:12; 5:18-21; Rom 6:23; 1Co 15:22)

Remedy For The Fall Is Provided By God Through The Gospel! (Gen 3:15; John 3:16)

The gospel is good news! Salvation is offered freely to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16-17 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (NASB)

The Gospel (Accepting the Truth)

One gospel illustration often used is called the Roman Road. It goes as follows:

• Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned
• Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death
• Romans 5:8 - Jesus paid the penalty for our sins
• Romans 10:9-10 - We must confess Jesus as Lord and Savior
• Romans 10:13 - We must Ask God to Save us!

Most churches stop there! Coming to terms with the Gospel is a crisis! The word crisis means, “a crucial or decisive point or situation; it’s a turning point” Accepting the Gospel is a crisis - that initiates us - into the process of being changed.

The Bible Describes Salvation In Terms Of: Past - Present - Future

• Ephesians 2:5 - “You have been saved” (Past tense)
• 1 Corinthians 1:18 - “You are being saved” (Present tense)
• Romans 5:9 - “You shall be saved” (Future tense)

The Bible spends more time on the “process” then it does the “crisis” itself.

Growth Comes In Stages:

We need to grow in maturity or we will continue to live as children live, never experiencing the fullness of the Christian life. (1 Cor. 3:1-3) Perfection is unattainable in this life - But we serve a perfect Savior, who offered a perfect sacrifice, who wants us to experience perfect peace, joy and rest, in him! It’s not based on our works! It’s all about what he has already done for us!

Over the next few lessons, we will look at the process of being saved.

Growing in Christ
Part 3: The Born-Again Christian

The Bible tells us that there are three kinds of people in this world.

1. Natural Man (one who has not received Christ) 1 Corinthians 2:14
2. Carnal Man (One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he is trying to live the Christian life in his own strength) 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
3. Spiritual Man (One who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit) 1 Corinthians 2:15

When We Become Christians, We Are All Made Part Of God’s Family Through The Holy Spirit!

What does the Holy Spirit do for us? Everything of eternal value in this life and in eternity comes through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we want to follow Jesus and see that we need help to do so, God gives us His Holy Spirit. We need simply to ask for it, and be obedient. (Luke 11:9-13; Acts 5:32.) Once we become disciples and have received the Holy Spirit, He begins a work in us, to transform us into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29.)

Holy Spirit: Regenerates Us! (Titus 3:5-7; John 6:63; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 8:16)

Regeneration is only found in Matt 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a “new birth.” The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt 19:28 the word is equivalent to the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Rom 12:2); a resurrection from the dead (Eph 2:6); a being quickened (Eph 2:1, Eph 2:5)

Every person who receives Jesus Christ as savior is immediately regenerated and born again and his or her dead spirit becomes a new living spirit.

Holy Spirit: Seals Us! (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Romans 8:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:19)

An important work of the Spirit clearly is to protect God’s people. The metaphor of a seal meant that the contents of the document under it were protected by the power of the official who placed the seal and identified as belonging to the official. Christians are protected by the power of God and identified as His because He put His Spirit on them as a seal. This security is a great source of assurance for Christians. Those who live with such security and assurance, quite understandably, experience boldness, joy, and peace as a result. The Spirit is also a deposit or down payment. A deposit is simply the first payment. The remainder will come later. The gift of the Spirit is God’s first payment to His people. The remainder of His blessings will be given later, in the life to come. The Spirit’s presence with us is a foretaste of the life to come. See Rom 8:23 (Disciple's Study Bible Note)

Holy Spirit: Anoints Us! (1 John 2:20, 27; 2 Corinthians 1:21)

Anointing (Greek. chrisma) (1 John 2:20; 2 Corinthians 1:21) The Greek term chrisma is related to the title Christ, which means “Anointed One,” and is used in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) for the anointing of a high priest (see Ex 29:17). The anointing here depicts the impartation of the Holy Spirit to a person (see also Isa 61:1). As Christians, now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are joined to the Anointed One and share in His anointing (2 Cor 1:21, 22). Therefore we can know all things with respect to truth and falsehood. Because the Spirit lives within us, we know all that we need to know in order to resist the temptations of false teachers and to live godly lives in this world. (The Nelson Study Bible: Word Focus)

Every believer is anointed by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of assimilating the truth of God’s Word. God has given us human teachers that are important for our learning but it is the Holy Spirit that Actually teaches us spiritual truths that reach our inner person. The Holy Spirit infuses the truth into our lives.

Holy Spirit: Baptizes Us! (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3-4)

Christ pointed forward to the coming of the Spirit in power: Matt 3:11; John 1:33; The baptism was promised to saints: Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 2:38-39; 11:16; There is a necessity of receiving the Holy Spirit’s baptism: John 3:5; Acts 19:2-6; All true believers partake of the baptism: 1Cor 12:13; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-28; The Holy Spirit renews and cleanses our soul: Titus 3:5,6; (Note the past tense nature of the baptism with the Holy Spirit in the Epistles)

When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the body of Christ, his church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a onetime historical event that is not repeated over and over again. All true believers receive the baptism when they become Christians. Christ pointed forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit in power for the church universal. After the Spirit descended upon the church in Acts 2, the baptism is always spoken of in the past tense. The baptism of the Spirit is not a second act of grace or an experience that we feel but rather a position we gain through our faith in Jesus Christ. The sphere of the baptism grows numerically as more people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. (See: Rom 6:3-4; 1Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28; Eph 4:4-6; Col 2:12)

Holy Spirit: Indwells Us! (John 14:17; Romans 8:9-11)

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a permanent experience that all Christians have when they come to Christ.

The Indwelling Is The Means Of:

• Quickening (to revive or make alive) (Romans 8:11)
• Guiding (John 16:13; Galatians 5:18)
• Fruit bearing (Galatians 5:22)
• A proof of being in Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 John 4:13)
• A proof of adoption (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5)
• Is abiding (1 John 2:27)

Those Who Don’t Have The Indwelling:

• Are sensual (Jude 1:19)
• Are without Christ (Romans 8:9)
• Opposed by the carnal nature (Galatians 5:17)

Growing in Christ
Part 4: The Spirit-Filled Life!

God Has Provided For Us An Abundant And Fruitful Christian Life:
(John 10:10; John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-26)

The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.

Carnal Christians Cannot Experience The Abundant And Fruitful Christian Life

Carnal: This word occurs only in the NT, although “carnally” is found three times in the OT (KJV). “Carnal” appears in the NT 11 times, “carnally” once. “Carnal” means “pertaining to the flesh.” The noun sarx basically means the flesh of an animal or person, or the meat of an animal. However, in the NT, “carnal” has sometimes to do with literal flesh, and sometimes with the old Adamic fallen human nature to be found in all men alike. For the literal use, see Rom 15:27; 1 Cor 9:11; 2 Cor 10:4; Heb 7:16; 9:10; for the metaphorical, Rom 7:14; 8:7; 1 Cor 3:1, 3, 4 where reference is to the old nature, or “old man.”

The carnal man trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:

1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power (Romans 7:8-10; 7:18-23; 1 John 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Hebrews 10:26-39).
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:16-18; c.f. Romans 7:13-8:11)

Paul admits to being carnal, that is, still having a fallen nature. He says the carnal mind is enmity against God, and brands the Corinthian Christians as carnal, which he defines as behaving like natural, unregenerated men. When he says “to be carnally minded is death” (Rom 8:6), he is talking of those who have only a fallen nature and have not the new nature, those who are unsaved. (Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia)

The individual who professes to be a Christian but who continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all, according to 1 John 2:3; 3:6, 9; Eph 5:5 more: Matt 10:22-28; Matt 13:1-23

Jesus Promised The Abundant And Fruitful Life As The Result Of Being Filled (Directed And Empowered) By The Holy Spirit

The Spirit-filled life is the Christ-directed life by which Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15).

• One becomes a Christian through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, according to John 3:1-8. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at all times (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17).

Though all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.

• The Holy Spirit is the source of the overflowing life (John 7:37-39).
• The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ (John 16:1-15). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is a true disciple of Christ.
• In His last command before His ascension, Christ promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:1-9).

When We Are Filled By The Holy Spirit Through Faith, We Can Experience The Abundant And Fruitful Life Which Christ Promised To Each Christian.

You Can Experience The Filling Of The Holy Spirit Right Now If You:

• Sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
• Confess your sins. By faith thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins - past, present and future - because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15 more: 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).
• Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2). [1]

By faith, claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to:

1) His Command - Be filled with the Spirit (Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16-17; Ephesians 4:23-24  more: Galatians 5:24-25; 6:14; Romans 6:6; 8:1-11; Ephesians 1:13-17; 3:16; Ephesians 4:30-32; 5:18; Colossians 3:3-8).

2) His Promise - He will always answer when we pray according to His will. (1 John 5:14, 15).

3) His Power - We are given power to overcome all the powers of darkness (2 Cor 10:3-5)

The “Strongholds” or “Fortresses” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 are the ways of thinking from our past. Or, they are habits and lifestyles that are rooted in” The Lie” that we believed so much to be true from the past. They are the ways of dealing with hurt, anger, abuse and bitterness that we learned from a lifestyle separated and apart from the love of God. Or they are any thoughts that we let take control of us. When we overcome the lies of guilt and shame (Hebrews 10:22-23) we will find rest and peace for our souls and we will have a clear conscience before God. We will become the people that Christ created us to be - Spirit Filled! (See: Beth Moore: Breaking Free)

You Can Know That You Are Filled With The Holy Spirit Right Now!

Trust in God and His Word (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:22, 23) and do not depend upon your feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.

Growing in Christ
Part 5: When We Fall!

By Faith You Can Continue To Experience God's Love And Forgiveness.

If you become aware of an area of your life (an attitude or an action) that is displeasing to the Lord, even though you are walking with Him and sincerely desiring to serve Him, simply thank God that He has forgiven your sins - past, present and future - on the basis of Christ's death on the cross. Claim His love and forgiveness by faith and continue to have fellowship with Him.

If You Fall Back Into Sinful Behavior By Acts Of Disobedience:

1) Confess your sin! Agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:9-2:6 and Hebrews 10:21-25. Confession involves repentance - a change in attitude and action.

2) Surrender the control of your life back to Christ, and again receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), to pray for the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2) and the promise that God will answer your prayers (1 John 5:14-15).

There are reasons that we often fall into the same sins and fail repeatedly. The lie of “The Fall” has corrupted our lives in ways we don’t often recognize and we carry many things with us into our Christian lives that Christ has already dealt with for us through the cross.

Some Of The Things That Can Still Affect Us In Our Lives (Past & Present) Include:

We can begin to deal with the problems we bring into our Christian lives from our past by understanding some of the key terms that the Bible uses to describe our relationship in Christ.

Christ Has Overcome All of Our Problems by:

The Gospel (Romans 1:16)

The Gospel is the good news that we have forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Specifically, the gospel is defined by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:1-4: "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (NASB)

The gospel comes from God (Gal. 1:10-12), is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16), is a mystery (Eph. 6:19), and is a source of hope (Col. 1:23), faith (Acts 15:7), life (1 Cor. 4:15), and peace (Eph. 6:15).

Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Grace is unmerited favor. It is God's free action for the benefit of His people. It is different than Justice and Mercy. Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. In grace we get eternal life, something that, quite obviously, we do not deserve. But because of God's love and kindness manifested in Jesus on the Cross, we receive the great blessing of redemption.

Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense.

Grace rules out all human merit. It is the product of God that is given by God, because of who He is, not because of who we are. It is the means of our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). We are no longer under the Law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14 and 2 Cor. 9:8). (See also: Rom. 5:2; 5:15-20; 2 Cor. 12:9).

Faith (Hebrews 11:1)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). It is synonymous with trust. It is a divine gift (Rom. 12:3) and comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). It is the means by which the grace of God is accounted to the believer who trusts in the work of Jesus on the cross (Eph. 2:8). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). It is by faith that we live our lives, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17). (See also: Matt 13:1-23)

Regeneration / New Birth (Titus 3:5; Romans 8:16)

Washing of regeneration, The Greek word for washing can signify the receptacle of washing (the basin) or the act of washing itself. In Eph. 5:26, the only other New Testament occurrence of this word, the natural meaning is washing. Here also the action of washing is presented. Quite simply, the text says that regeneration is characterized by or accompanied by the action of washing. The regenerative activity of the Holy Spirit is characterized elsewhere in Scripture as cleansing and purifying (see Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5). The Greek term for regeneration literally means “being born again”—indicating a new birth effected by the Holy Spirit (see John 3:6; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6). Thus God saved us through one process with two aspects: the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Greek. loutron palingenesias) (Titus 3:5) (The Nelson Study Bible: Word Focus)

Justification (Romans 5:9)

To be justified is to be made righteous. It is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is "declared" sinless. This justification is based on the shed blood of Jesus, "...having now been justified by His blood..." (Rom. 5:9). When God sees the Christian, He sees him through the sacrifice of Jesus and "sees" him without sin. This declaration of innocence is not without cost for it required the satisfaction of God's Law, "...without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). By the sacrifice of Jesus, in the "one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men" (Rom. 5:18, NASB). In justification, the justice of God fell upon Himself--Jesus. We receive mercy--we are not judged according to our sins. And grace is shed upon us--we receive eternal life. This justification is a gift of grace (Rom. 3:24), by faith (Rom. 3:28) because Jesus bore our guilt (Isaiah 53:12).

Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3,7)

To sanctify means to be set apart for a holy use. God has set us apart for the purpose of sanctification not impurity (1 Thess. 4:3, 7) and being such we are called to do good works (Eph. 2:10).

Christians are to sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts (1 Pet. 3:15). God sanctified Israel as His own special nation (Ezek. 27:28). People can be sanctified (Exodus 19:10,14) and so can a mountain (Exodus 19:23), as was the Sabbath day (Gen. 2:3), and every created thing is sanctified through the word of God and prayer (1 Tim. 4:4).

Sanctification follows justification. In justification our sins are completely forgiven in Christ. Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that we do, think, and desire. True sanctification is impossible apart from the atoning work of Christ on the cross because only after our sins are forgiven can we begin to lead a holy life. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “You are being saved” (present tense). Sanctification is a life-long process of growth through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (See also: Rom 6:19, 22; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 12:14)

Reconciliation (Romans 5:10)

Reconciliation is changing for the better a relationship between two or more persons. Theologically it refers to the change of relationship between God and man. We are naturally children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), and are at enmity with God (Eph. 2:11-15); but, "...we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son..." (Rom. 5:10). Because of the death of Jesus, the Christian's relationship with God is changed for the better. We are now able to have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3) whereas before we could not. So, we are reconciled to Him (Rom. 5:10-11). The problem of sin that separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) has been addressed and removed in the cross. It was accomplished by God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:18).

Adoption (Romans 8:15)

The Greek word for adoption is derived from the word huios, meaning “son,” and the word thesis, meaning “placement.” It is a legal term that in this context indicates that believers have been given the full privileges of sonship in God’s family. Concurrent with this placement into sonship, God places the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so that we become, in effect, His natural-born children. As such, we are not just “adopted” (in the sense the word now conveys) but genuinely “begotten” by God. God makes children of men into children of God, just the reverse of what happened to Christ when the Son of God became the Son of Man. (See: Rom 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5)

Propitiation (1 John 2:2)

This term is derived from the Greek verb hilaskomai, a word which has three meanings: (1) “to placate” or “to appease”; (2) “to be propitious and merciful”; or (3) “to make propitiation for someone.” The New Testament never describes people appeasing God. Instead, as Luke 18:13 and 1 John 2:2 make clear, the New Testament describes God as being merciful to, or making propitiation, for us. God provides a merciful expiation, or atonement, of the sins of believers through the death of Christ. But since Paul also speaks of God’s wrath, it must also speak of the conciliation of God’s anger by means of a sacrifice—namely, the sacrifice of His Son. John states that God demonstrated His love to us by sending His Son to become “the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Just as in the Old Testament God met His people when the blood of the sin offering was sprinkled on the altar, so Christ’s death brings us into fellowship with God. (Greek. hilasterion) (Romans 3:25; Heb. 9:5) (The Nelson Study Bible: Word Focus)

Atonement (1 John 2:2)

To atone means to make amends, to repair a wrong done. Biblically, it means to remove sin. The Old Testament atonements offered by the high priest were temporary and a foreshadow of the real and final atonement made by Jesus. Jesus atoned for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). This atonement is received by faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9).

Man is a sinner (Rom. 5:8) and cannot atone for himself. Therefore, it was the love of the Father that sent Jesus (1 John 4:10) to die in our place (1 Pet. 3:18) for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24). Because of the atonement, our fellowship with God is restored (Rom. 5:10).

Growing in Christ
Part 6: Christ’s Suffering and Atoning Death

In Christ’s death we see the ultimate love of God expressed in ways that can hardly be described. What Jesus suffered during his trial and crucifixion was for you and me and the entire human race. He came to die on a cross so that we could be transformed into the people God intended us to be before “The Fall”. Normal functioning human beings!

Notice How Isaiah Prophesied What Christ Would Endure For You And Me.

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand." (Isaiah 53:3-10 NIV)

Jesus was abused and suffered greatly at the hands of hateful people in order to redeem us from our present lives and ways of thinking brought about by “The Lie” and now delivers us from our bondage to sin and all its power over us.

1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (NIV)

1. The Blood of Jesus Was Shed For Us (Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:24-26 see also: Rom. 5:8-9 Eph. 1:5, 7; Eph. 2:13; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:12, 14, 22; Heb. 10:19-20; Heb. 12:24; Heb. 13:12; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 5:6; Rev.1:5; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 7:14; Rev. 12:11; Rev. 13:8)

2. Jesus Died for Our Sins (John 1:29; Rom. 6:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:3 see also: 2 Cor. 5:14, 21; Gal. 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:18)

3. Jesus Freely Gave His Life (John 3:16; John 6:51; Acts 2:23 see also: John 10:11, 15, 17, 18; Rom. 5:8; Rom. 8:32; Gal. 1:3; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:13-14; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; 1 John 5:11)

4. Jesus’ Death Delivers, Redeems, and Rescues Us (Rom. 3:23-24; Rom. 8:2; 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 1:3-4 see also: Ps. 111:9; Isa. 59:20; Luke 2:38; Luke 4:18; ; Gal. 3:13-14; Gal. 4:4-5; Gal. 5:1; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Thess. 1:10; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 9:11-12; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 14:3)

5. Jesus’ Death Was a Means of Reconciliation For Us (Rom. 5:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:18-19 see also: Eph. 2:13-16; Col. 1:19-22)

6. Jesus’ Death Was an Offering (Isa. 53:7, 10, 12; Rom. 8:3; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 8:1, 3; Heb. 9:14)

7. Jesus’ Death Was a Passover Sacrifice (1 Cor. 5:7)

8. Jesus’ Death Was a Payment or Purchase (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 7:23 see also: 1 Cor. 6:19; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 14:4)

9. Jesus’ Death Was a Propitiation, an Atonement (1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10 see also: Isa. 53:5; Rom. 3:25; Rom. 5:1; Heb. 2:17)

10. Jesus’ Death Was a Ransom (Mark 10:45 see also: Isa. 35:10; Hos. 13:14; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 9:15)

11. Jesus’ Death Was a Sacrifice (Rom. 3:25; Eph. 5:2 see also: Heb. 7:24, 27; Heb. 9:26-28; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:10)

12. Jesus’ Death Was Substitutionary (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:14-15 see also: Isa. 53:3-12; Matt. 26:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Thess. 5:9-10; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Pet. 2:21, 24)

We Must Stand Firm In Our Battle (Ephesians 6:10-19)
      “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (NIV)

The Nature Of Our Battle:

• We are engaged in a spiritual warfare - Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
• The battle is taking place in "heavenly places" (the spiritual realm)
• Our enemy: the very things we had previously followed - Ephesians 2:2-3
• We must not be timid or fearful - 2 Timothy 1:7

The Need To Be Strong (Ephesians 6:10)

• To be strong in the Lord
• To be strong in the power of His might

We are Given the Armor of God:

• We are given the armor of God, which we must put on - Ephesians 6:11-13
• This armor is for the strong offensive battle we must all fight - Ephesians 6:14-18

In understanding Ephesians 6:10-19, we must understand that the Apostle Paul made earlier allusions to powerful beings in the unseen world and implies that human effort is inadequate in our spiritual fight against them but that God’s power is invincible. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. We must be careful not to lash out against human opponents as though they were the real enemy and also against assuming that the battle can be fought using merely human resources. God supplies the power and victory! (See also: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Compare Our Position To The Wicked Person Who Is Not Blessed By God (Psalms 1:1-2)

• The wicked are walking in the counsel of the wicked
• The wicked are standing in the path of sinners
• The wicked are sitting in the seat of scoffers

We Must Put On The Armor Of God:

The belt of truth buckled around your waist (Ephesians 6:14)

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Bill Fritz
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