Embracing Righteousness: Overcoming Sin Through Christ

 

Summary

In our journey through 2 Corinthians 5, we have explored the many reasons why we might lose heart, from the frailty of our earthly bodies to the harsh judgments of others and the weight of sin in our lives. Today, we focus on a profound truth that can anchor us amidst these challenges: the righteousness of God in Christ. For those who genuinely desire to live a godly life, the awareness of sin can be overwhelming. This heightened awareness is not a sign of failure but rather a mark of the Holy Spirit's active work in our lives. The Spirit shines a light on our sins, not to condemn us, but to lead us to Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Satan, the accuser, uses our awareness of sin to discourage us, but we must remember that this strategy is only effective against those who are in Christ. For those outside of Christ, Satan keeps them in darkness, unaware of their sin. However, for believers, he brings past sins to mind, hoping to cause despair. Yet, we have a new heart, sensitive to sin, longing for holiness, and aware of our shortcomings. This awareness is greatest in those pursuing holiness because the Holy Spirit's light reveals our need for Christ.

The key to overcoming this discouragement lies in understanding 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, bearing our sins on the cross. In exchange, we receive His righteousness. This divine exchange is the foundation of our reconciliation with God. Our sins are not counted against us because they were laid on Christ. In Him, we become the righteousness of God, not through our efforts, but through faith in Jesus.

This truth transforms our lives. It compels us to love Jesus deeply, recognizing that all our good is in Him. It drives us to take sin seriously, understanding the cost of our redemption. It energizes our pursuit of holiness, knowing that in Christ, we are complete. Therefore, let us be reconciled to God, embracing the righteousness offered to us in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The awareness of sin is a mark of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, leading us to Christ, not to condemn us but to draw us closer to Him. This awareness is greatest in those pursuing holiness, as the Spirit's light reveals our need for Jesus. [02:16]

- Satan's strategy is to accuse believers, bringing past sins to mind to cause despair. However, this is only effective against those in Christ, as he keeps others in darkness, unaware of their sin. [04:16]

- Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, bearing our sins on the cross. In exchange, we receive His righteousness, which is the foundation of our reconciliation with God. [11:01]

- Our sins are not counted against us because they were laid on Christ. In Him, we become the righteousness of God, not through our efforts, but through faith in Jesus. [21:55]

- Embracing this truth compels us to love Jesus deeply, take sin seriously, and pursue holiness with new energy, knowing that in Christ, we are complete. [32:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Losing Heart
- [01:29] - The Struggle with Sin
- [02:16] - The Holy Spirit's Role
- [04:16] - Satan's Strategy Against Believers
- [06:03] - The New Heart's Sensitivity
- [07:13] - Awareness of Sin in Pursuit of Holiness
- [09:41] - The Christian's Inner Conflict
- [10:42] - Understanding 2 Corinthians 5:21
- [12:24] - Jesus' Unique Qualification
- [15:43] - The Sinless Savior
- [18:05] - Reconciliation Through Christ
- [21:55] - Our Sins Laid on Christ
- [25:37] - The Righteousness of God in Us
- [32:04] - The Transformative Power of Belief

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- John 1:29
- 1 John 3:20

#### Observation Questions
1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:21 reveal about the nature of Jesus and His role in our reconciliation with God? [10:42]
2. How does the sermon describe the work of the Holy Spirit in making us aware of our sins? [02:16]
3. According to the sermon, what is Satan's strategy against believers, and how does it differ from his strategy against non-believers? [04:16]
4. What does the sermon say about the significance of having a new heart as a believer? [06:44]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the awareness of sin serve as a mark of the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life, and why is this awareness greater in those pursuing holiness? [07:13]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding the divine exchange in 2 Corinthians 5:21 can transform a believer's life? [11:01]
3. How does the sermon explain the concept of not having our sins counted against us, and what role does faith play in this understanding? [21:55]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between loving Jesus deeply and taking sin seriously? [32:04]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by your awareness of sin. How can you use this awareness to draw closer to Christ rather than lose heart? [02:16]
2. How can you remind yourself of the truth that your sins are not counted against you because they were laid on Christ? What practical steps can you take to live in this freedom daily? [21:55]
3. In what ways can you deepen your love for Jesus, recognizing that all your good is in Him? Consider specific actions or practices you can incorporate into your life. [32:04]
4. How does understanding the cost of your redemption influence your attitude towards sin? What changes can you make to take sin more seriously in your daily life? [33:53]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel incomplete. How can the truth that you are complete in Christ energize your pursuit of holiness in this area? [32:22]
6. Think of a past sin that Satan often brings to your mind. How can you apply the sermon’s teaching to set your heart at rest and not lose heart? [05:33]
7. How can you actively embrace the righteousness offered to you in Christ in your relationships with others? What specific actions can you take to reflect this righteousness? [27:39]

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Light Reveals Our Need for Christ
The awareness of sin in our lives is not a sign of failure but a testament to the Holy Spirit's active work within us. This awareness is most pronounced in those who are earnestly pursuing holiness, as the Spirit illuminates our shortcomings to draw us closer to Jesus. Rather than condemning us, this divine light guides us to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. It is a reminder that our journey towards godliness is not about achieving perfection on our own but about recognizing our need for Christ's redemptive power. [02:16]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel the Holy Spirit is highlighting your need for Jesus today? How can you respond to this awareness with gratitude rather than guilt?


Day 2: Satan's Accusations Are Powerless Against Our Identity in Christ
Satan, the accuser, seeks to discourage believers by bringing past sins to mind, hoping to lead them into despair. However, this strategy is only effective against those who are in Christ, as he keeps others in darkness, unaware of their sin. For believers, the awareness of past sins is not meant to condemn but to remind us of the grace we have received. Our identity in Christ means that our sins are forgiven, and we are no longer defined by our past but by the righteousness of Jesus. [04:16]

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: What past sin does Satan often use to accuse you? How can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ when these accusations arise?


Day 3: The Divine Exchange: Our Sin for Christ's Righteousness
Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, bearing our sins on the cross. In this divine exchange, we receive His righteousness, which is the foundation of our reconciliation with God. This profound truth means that our sins are not counted against us because they were laid on Christ. Through faith in Jesus, we become the righteousness of God, not by our efforts but by His grace. This exchange is the cornerstone of our faith and the assurance of our salvation. [11:01]

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the divine exchange of your sin for Christ's righteousness change the way you view your relationship with God today?


Day 4: Our Sins Are Laid on Christ, Not Counted Against Us
In Christ, our sins are laid upon Him, and we are no longer held accountable for them. This truth is liberating, as it assures us that our past does not define us. Instead, we are defined by the righteousness of God that we receive through faith in Jesus. This understanding should compel us to live in the freedom and joy of our salvation, knowing that we are reconciled to God and that our sins have been fully paid for by Christ's sacrifice. [21:55]

"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to live in the freedom that comes from knowing your sins are laid on Christ and not counted against you?


Day 5: Embracing the Transformative Power of Belief in Christ
Embracing the truth of our reconciliation with God through Christ compels us to love Jesus deeply, take sin seriously, and pursue holiness with renewed energy. In Christ, we are complete, and this completeness transforms our lives. It drives us to live out our faith authentically, understanding the cost of our redemption and the depth of God's love for us. This transformative power of belief is not just a theological concept but a daily reality that shapes our actions and attitudes. [32:04]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embrace the transformative power of your belief in Christ today? What specific actions can you take to reflect this transformation in your daily life?

Quotes

For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. One writer, Philip Hughes, says there is no sentence more profound than this in all of the Bible. I understand why he says that. This verse, which you should know, mark, underline, take into your heart and into your whole life, is the epicenter of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. [00:10:42]

The awareness of sin is greatest in those who are most vigorously pressing after holiness of life. Why? Because the light of the Holy Spirit shines into their lives because they have a new heart that's sensitive to sin. They long for greater deliverance, and Satan is always accusing them. [00:07:13]

Satan is described in the Bible as the accuser of the brothers, that is, he accuses Christian brothers and sisters, which means that he works against a Christian by bringing to mind your sins, your failures in a way that may cause you to lose heart. Now here's something to remember: this is a strategy that Satan only uses with Christian believers. [00:04:16]

The reason that a Christian is reconciled to God, the reason that a person in Christ has peace with God, is not that he or she is without sin. It is rather that in Christ, God does not count their sins against them. Charles Hodge, who writes on the second book of Corinthians, makes this striking statement about Christians. [00:19:55]

In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. Now, the reason that a Christian is reconciled to God, the reason that a person in Christ has peace with God, is not that he or she is without sin. It is rather that in Christ, God does not count their sins against them. [00:21:55]

If you believe this truth, if you believe what we have been learning in this marvelous verse that's the very epicenter of the gospel, if you really believe this, what difference will it make to your life? Let me suggest this to you very simply and very briefly, that if you really believe this with all your heart, you will love Jesus Christ with all your heart. [00:32:04]

In himself, Jesus was and is the sinless Son of God, but our sins were laid on him, and God dealt with him as if he were sin itself. In ourselves, we are sinners, but God's righteousness has been draped on us, and God deals with us as if we were righteousness itself. [00:28:02]

God does not count your sins against you. God counts your sin as dealt with in Jesus Christ. And that takes us to the third thing that's marvelously true of a person in Jesus: that God counts Christ's righteousness as yours. He made him to be sin who knew no sin, that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [00:27:16]

The Holy Spirit shines light into the dark corners of our life. He also shines the light on Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, because his work is never to condemn us. It's to convict us in order to lead us to Christ and to keep us walking with Christ. [00:03:36]

If you believe this, you will take sin seriously. You believe this, you will find yourself saying in your mind and in your heart, look at what sin did to him. When you think of what happened on that cross, what it meant for him to be made sin, and you see how much God hates sin. [00:33:04]

The Christian has a new heart, and the new heart has a godly impulse. Therefore, the new heart that God has placed within you is sensitive to sin, hates its presence, discerns its subtlety, longs for the day when it will be completely gone. Christian, your own heart, precisely because it is a new heart, will sometimes condemn you. [00:06:03]

Jesus is uniquely qualified to deal with our sins because he is God. He is uniquely able to reconcile us to the Father because he is man. He is uniquely able to stand with us as our representative and our substitute. And because he is holy, having no sin of his own, he is therefore uniquely in the position to bear the sins of others. [00:16:05]

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Transcript
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