Embracing the New Creation Through the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Boasting Only in the Cross

The cross of Christ is the focal point of our faith, where the world is crucified to us, and we to the world. This crucifixion signifies a complete break from the world's values and systems, inviting us to boast only in the transformative power of the cross. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that our only boast should be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is through the cross that the world is crucified to us, and we to the world. This transformative power of Christ's sacrifice allows us to live a life that is not bound by the values and systems of the world but is instead centered on the profound truth of the Gospel. [00:57]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What worldly values or systems do you find yourself clinging to, and how can you begin to let go of them to fully embrace the transformative power of the cross today?

Day 2: Living as a New Creation

The new creation is the essence of our Christian identity, where our old selves die with Christ, and we are reborn to live by faith. This faith is active, producing a life characterized by love and obedience to God. The concept of the new creation is central to the message of Galatians, as it signifies the rebirth of believers through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This new identity calls us to live by faith, actively manifesting love and obedience in our daily lives. It is a call to embrace the transformative power of the Spirit, allowing us to live as new beings in Christ. [06:09]

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

Reflection: In what ways can you actively demonstrate your faith through love and obedience to God in your daily interactions and decisions?

Day 3: Justification and Our New Standing with God

Our new standing with God is a result of justification, where Christ's sacrifice redeems us from the curse of the law. This legal transaction grants us righteousness and freedom from condemnation, allowing us to stand confidently before God. Justification is a key aspect of the new creation, as it signifies the legal transaction through which we are redeemed from the curse of the law. Through Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, we are granted a righteous standing before God, free from condemnation. This new standing allows us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are justified by faith and not by works. [10:18]

Romans 5:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How does understanding your justified standing before God change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship today?

Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our New Holiness

The new creation also brings about a new holiness, where the crucifixion of the flesh leads to genuine transformation. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin and live out the fruits of the Spirit, reflecting the character of Christ. This transformation is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live out the fruits of the Spirit. As we embrace our new identity in Christ, the Holy Spirit works within us to crucify the flesh and produce genuine transformation in our behavior and attitudes. This new holiness is a reflection of the character of Christ, as we are empowered to overcome sin and live a life that is pleasing to God. [12:45]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's help to transform, and how can you invite Him to work in that area today?

Day 5: Faith as the Conduit for Transformation

Faith is the key to experiencing both justification and sanctification. It unites us with Christ, enabling us to live as sons and daughters of God, transformed by His Spirit and empowered to live a life of love and holiness. Faith is not a passive belief but an active conduit through which we experience the profound realities of justification and sanctification. It is through faith that we are united with Christ, allowing us to live as sons and daughters of God. This transformative faith empowers us to live a life characterized by love and holiness, as we are continually transformed by His Spirit. [15:08]

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Reflection: How can you actively exercise your faith today to experience deeper transformation and alignment with God's will for your life?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Galatians 6:14-18, we delve into the profound truth that the essence of our faith is encapsulated in the concept of the "new creation." This passage serves as a summary of the entire book of Galatians, emphasizing that our only boast should be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the cross, the world is crucified to us, and we to the world, highlighting the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. The Apostle Paul underscores that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision holds any value; rather, it is the new creation that truly matters.

The new creation is birthed at the cross, where our old selves are crucified with Christ, and we are reborn as new beings living by faith. This faith is not passive but active, manifesting through love and a life transformed by the Spirit. The new creation involves two profound realities: a new standing with God and a new holiness in God. Our new standing is characterized by justification, where we are redeemed from the curse of the law through Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. This legal transaction grants us a righteous standing before God, free from condemnation.

Moreover, the new creation brings about a new holiness, where the crucifixion of the flesh leads to a genuine transformation in our behavior and attitudes. This transformation is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live out the fruits of the Spirit. Faith, therefore, is the conduit through which we experience both justification and sanctification. As sons and daughters of God, we are not only legally adopted into His family but also experientially transformed by His Spirit.

In summary, the new creation is the heart of the Gospel message in Galatians. It is a call to live by faith, boasting only in the cross, and experiencing the profound realities of a new standing and a new holiness in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The cross of Christ is the focal point of our faith, where the world is crucified to us, and we to the world. This crucifixion signifies a complete break from the world's values and systems, inviting us to boast only in the transformative power of the cross. [00:57]
2. The new creation is the essence of our Christian identity, where our old selves die with Christ, and we are reborn to live by faith. This faith is active, producing a life characterized by love and obedience to God. [06:09]
3. Our new standing with God is a result of justification, where Christ's sacrifice redeems us from the curse of the law. This legal transaction grants us righteousness and freedom from condemnation, allowing us to stand confidently before God. [10:18]
4. The new creation also brings about a new holiness, where the crucifixion of the flesh leads to genuine transformation. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin and live out the fruits of the Spirit, reflecting the character of Christ. [12:45]
5. Faith is the key to experiencing both justification and sanctification. It unites us with Christ, enabling us to live as sons and daughters of God, transformed by His Spirit and empowered to live a life of love and holiness. [15:08]
** [15:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Introduction to Galatians 6:14-18
[00:37] - Boasting in the Cross
[00:57] - Crucifixion to the World
[01:17] - The New Creation
[02:13] - Circumcision and Uncircumcision
[03:23] - Elemental Principles of the World
[04:49] - The Cross and New Creation
[05:28] - The Birth of the New Creation
[06:09] - Living by Faith
[07:25] - Faith Working Through Love
[08:51] - New Standing with God
[10:18] - Justification by Faith
[11:37] - New Holiness in God
[13:25] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[15:08] - Sons of God and Transformation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Galatians 6:14-18

Bible Reading:
- Galatians 6:14-18
- Galatians 2:20
- Galatians 5:6

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul mean when he says, "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" in Galatians 6:14? How does this relate to the concept of boasting only in the cross? [00:57]
In Galatians 6:15, Paul states that "neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything." What does he say is the only thing that matters, and why is this significant? [01:17]
How does Galatians 2:20 describe the transformation that occurs in a believer's life? What does it mean to be "crucified with Christ"? [06:09]
According to Galatians 5:6, what is the relationship between faith and love? How does this verse complement the message in Galatians 6:15? [08:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why does Paul emphasize boasting only in the cross of Christ? How does this perspective challenge the values and systems of the world? [00:57]
How does the concept of the "new creation" redefine a believer's identity and relationship with God? What implications does this have for how believers live their lives? [05:28]
In what ways does the crucifixion of the flesh lead to genuine transformation in a believer's behavior and attitudes? How is this transformation facilitated by the Holy Spirit? [12:45]
How does faith serve as the conduit for both justification and sanctification in the life of a believer? What role does faith play in uniting believers with Christ? [15:08]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you find yourself boasting in things other than the cross of Christ? How can you shift your focus to boast only in the transformative power of the cross? [00:57]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of living by faith, which is active and produces a life characterized by love and obedience. What specific steps can you take this week to live out your faith more actively? [06:09]
Consider your current standing with God. Do you feel confident in your justification through Christ's sacrifice? If not, what might be hindering your confidence, and how can you address it? [10:18]
The new creation involves a new holiness, where the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with sin. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it? [12:45]
Faith is described as the key to experiencing both justification and sanctification. How can you cultivate a deeper faith that unites you with Christ and transforms your life? [15:08]
Think about a recent situation where you were challenged to live out the fruits of the Spirit. How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time to better reflect the character of Christ? [13:25]
As sons and daughters of God, we are called to live transformed lives. What is one practical way you can demonstrate your new identity in Christ to those around you this week? [15:08]

Sermon Clips

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world and then he explains why with this ground Clause here because or for the reason I boast only in the cross even though it means I'm crucified the world is crucified is because neither circumcision is anything nor uncircumcision but only a new creation. [00:45:10]

The cross must be very closely interwoven with this new creation or I would say it like this the cross is the place where the new creation comes into being I boast in the cross because only a new creation counts which comes into being at the cross which is why I boast in the cross ultimately the cross is the place of the creating of something brand new. [00:316:00]

I have been crucified with Christ is chapter 2: 20 it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me so now no longer I who live I'm dead the cross was the end of my life my old unbelieving rebellious flesh dominated sinful life I died with Christ but Christ who lives in me now and the life I now live so there's a new me. [00:359:19]

When you trust Christ and ENT identified made in Union with Christ the old you dies a new you comes into being that is the new creation and the essence of the new creation it is a person who lives by faith who looks to Christ for salvation looks to Christ for satisfaction and here's a confirmation of that in Galatians 5:6. [00:416:08]

The new creation is the new person that comes into being through death with Christ and life with Christ and is a believer in Christ the kind of faith that yields a new kind of life now here's where the summary of the entire book comes into its own this new creation essentially a person who is trusting in Jesus TAPS in to two profound new realities. [00:490:00]

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree so here is is the great glorious substitution of Christ for us we are redeemed from the curse so our condition before a holy God is that we are under the curse of his law because we have disobeyed. [00:558:92]

We must gain a new standing with God we must escape from guilt and we Must Escape From the curse or condemnation and we escape it by Christ redeeming us purchasing us becoming a substitute curse for us and the positive way of describing that is justification 216 we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith. [00:591:60]

The newness of the new creation is first faith and then Faith unites us with Christ so that the curse that he bore delivers us from the curse and positively we are counted righteous justification so that's the the new standing that we have by faith you could call that a a legal transaction that happens. [00:663:95]

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires there is a real change when we die with Christ when we become people of Faith the flesh which is the source of our sinning it's our sin nature it dies so we're not just legally in a new standing we are behaviorally and attitudinally transformed by the crucifixion of the flesh. [00:765:80]

The holy spirit is supplied to deliver us miraculously from the power of the flesh through faith so Faith as the new creation gives rise to a new standing and a new Holiness and these two come together this is justification you could call this sanctification but in Paul in Galatians I'm simply saying the crucifixion of the flesh the arrival in fullness and power of the Holy Spirit. [00:820:39]

Because you are Sons now just pause there and let that sink in he redeemed Us in the preceding verses here and by that Redemption we have a legal standing as sons of God Justified accepted forgiven no curse no condemnation no slavery sunship instead of slavery that's the new standing and then comes this God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying ABA father. [00:867:83]

Faith leads to justification the new in faith leads to the crucifixion of the Flesh and the supply of the holy spirit so that we are people of love and we are sons of God I do believe that pretty closely sums up the whole book. [00:925:60]

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Embracing the New Creation Through the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Boasting Only in the Cross

Day 2: Living as a New Creation

Day 3: Justification and Our New Standing with God

Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our New Holiness

Day 5: Faith as the Conduit for Transformation

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing the New Creation Through the Cross

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