A new creation (A)
Word explanations for lesson 3
1. To reconcile means to restore a relationship.
2. Righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God, including character (nature), conscience (attitude), conduct (action), and command (word). Righteousness is, therefore, based upon God’s standard, because He is the ultimate Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22), creator, and owner.
3. Circumcision is the cutting off of the foreskin of males, which is practiced by Jews
4. Justification means being declared righteous. It is a legal term used in the Bible to describe the act of God through faith in Jesus in which He declares that a person is not guilty anymore.
A new creation
It’s about God’s promise who we, as seekers, become: A new creation
And it’s about the position who we, as Christians, are: A new creation
Key passage 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in
REVEAL ANSWER the REVEAL ANSWER has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of REVEAL ANSWER : 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s REVEAL ANSWER , as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the REVEAL ANSWER of God.Question 1
Where does the word “Therefore” (verse 17) point to?
Question 2
Being in Christ means being surrounded by Him (Psalm 125:2, Hebrews 12:2). This Bible passage in 2 Corithians explains an intertwined relationship in detail. What does Galatians 3:27-28 say about it?
Question 3
How many times do you read the word “reconcile/reconciliation” in this passage (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)? Who made it possible to all believers to receive the ministry of reconciliation? How did He exactly do that (vs 21)? What is our new position (vs 20)?Question 4
Take some time to memorize verse 17. Do you think you can cite this verse in the group next week, with your eyes closed?
Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)
13 When you were
REVEAL ANSWER in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you REVEAL ANSWER with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 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. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.Question 5
The apostle Paul writes to the Jews in the early church in Colossae (currently in Turkey). Verse 13 speaks about “dead” and “alive”. What had made them spiritually dead and what had them made spiritually alive?
Question 6
How has Jesus made them alive (verses 14-15)? Who was disarmed?
The battle between God and Satan
Our sins gave Satan power over us. But God has in Christ disarmed Satan and his demons by the crucifixion of Jesus. If we believe in Jesus our sins are removed from us by being nailed to the cross with Jesus, and Satan’s evil and legal hold on our lives is broken forever. We now are justified and made righteous.Question 7
Has Satan still any claim on you? Or has he been defeated at the cross 2000 years ago, so that you are declared righteous? Upon what does your answer depend?
1 John 1:5-10 says
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Question 8
Notice the verses 6, 8, and 10. How many times do we read about claims? What conclusions does John draw from those false claims?
Question 9
Notice the verses 7 and 9. What do we need to do instead of making claims?
And what are the positive rewards, and based on what?
Now, we have tried to analyze three Bible passages regarding the new creation we are, after we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
Then we are sure that Jesus has set us free from the guilt and the power of sin.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
How to apply this freedom in our daily lives? We need to know it, believe it, and act on it.
If you experience difficulties to obtain spiritual freedom click this link.John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Question 10
How do you acquire the right to become a child of God, born of God? If you are a Christian already, how did you become a child of God? What was God’s part in this? How are we born of the Spirit?
Galatians 3:26-27
26 So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
We all become sons of God. Our former problems of identity and security are solved. As Christians, we share in Jesus’ sonship, becoming brothers and sisters. Therefore, we inherit the kingdom of God; we are co-heirs with Jesus in this family, receiving marvelous privileges and responsibilities.
Question 11
Respond to the following privileges and responsibilities:
▪ Led by the Spirit, knowing the love of God in our hearts, having assurance of acceptance
▪ Free of fear of punishment nor judgment
▪ Becoming more and more like Jesus
▪ Receiving love, discipline, and good gifts from our loving Father
▪ Being in His everlasting presence
Press the EMAIL button to save your sheet.
Let’s close in prayer, having this passage in mind:
Romans 8:13-17 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Word explanations for lesson 3
1. To reconcile means to restore a relationship.
2. Righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God, including character (nature), conscience (attitude), conduct (action), and command (word). Righteousness is, therefore, based upon God’s standard, because He is the ultimate Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22), creator, and owner.
3. Circumcision is the cutting off of the foreskin of males, which is practiced by Jews
4. Justification means being declared righteous. It is a legal term used in the Bible to describe the act of God through faith in Jesus in which He declares that a person is not guilty anymore.
A new creation
It’s about God’s promise who we, as seekers, become: A new creation
And it’s about the position who we, as Christians, are: A new creation
Key passage 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in
REVEAL ANSWER the REVEAL ANSWER has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of REVEAL ANSWER : 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s REVEAL ANSWER , as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the REVEAL ANSWER of God.Question 1
Where does the word “Therefore” (verse 17) point to?
Question 2
Being in Christ means being surrounded by Him (Psalm 125:2, Hebrews 12:2). This Bible passage in 2 Corithians explains an intertwined relationship in detail. What does Galatians 3:27-28 say about it?
Question 3
How many times do you read the word “reconcile/reconciliation” in this passage (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)? Who made it possible to all believers to receive the ministry of reconciliation? How did He exactly do that (vs 21)? What is our new position (vs 20)?Question 4
Take some time to memorize verse 17. Do you think you can cite this verse in the group next week, with your eyes closed?
Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)
13 When you were
REVEAL ANSWER in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you REVEAL ANSWER with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 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. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.Question 5
The apostle Paul writes to the Jews in the early church in Colossae (currently in Turkey). Verse 13 speaks about “dead” and “alive”. What had made them spiritually dead and what had them made spiritually alive?
Question 6
How has Jesus made them alive (verses 14-15)? Who was disarmed?
The battle between God and Satan
Our sins gave Satan power over us. But God has in Christ disarmed Satan and his demons by the crucifixion of Jesus. If we believe in Jesus our sins are removed from us by being nailed to the cross with Jesus, and Satan’s evil and legal hold on our lives is broken forever. We now are justified and made righteous.Question 7
Has Satan still any claim on you? Or has he been defeated at the cross 2000 years ago, so that you are declared righteous? Upon what does your answer depend?
1 John 1:5-10 says
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Question 8
Notice the verses 6, 8, and 10. How many times do we read about claims? What conclusions does John draw from those false claims?
Question 9
Notice the verses 7 and 9. What do we need to do instead of making claims?
And what are the positive rewards, and based on what?
Now, we have tried to analyze three Bible passages regarding the new creation we are, after we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
Then we are sure that Jesus has set us free from the guilt and the power of sin.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
How to apply this freedom in our daily lives? We need to know it, believe it, and act on it.
If you experience difficulties to obtain spiritual freedom click this link.John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Question 10
How do you acquire the right to become a child of God, born of God? If you are a Christian already, how did you become a child of God? What was God’s part in this? How are we born of the Spirit?
Galatians 3:26-27
26 So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
We all become sons of God. Our former problems of identity and security are solved. As Christians, we share in Jesus’ sonship, becoming brothers and sisters. Therefore, we inherit the kingdom of God; we are co-heirs with Jesus in this family, receiving marvelous privileges and responsibilities.
Question 11
Respond to the following privileges and responsibilities:
▪ Led by the Spirit, knowing the love of God in our hearts, having assurance of acceptance
▪ Free of fear of punishment nor judgment
▪ Becoming more and more like Jesus
▪ Receiving love, discipline, and good gifts from our loving Father
▪ Being in His everlasting presence
Press the EMAIL button to save your sheet.
Let’s close in prayer, having this passage in mind:
Romans 8:13-17 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.