The universality of sin is rooted in Adam's fall, which brought sin and death to all humanity. This original sin affects every person, leaving us with a corrupted nature. However, through Christ, the second Adam, we are offered a new beginning and a new nature. [31:23]
"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, ESV)
Reflection: Consider how the legacy of Adam's fall has impacted your life. In what ways can you embrace the new beginning offered through Christ today?
Day 2: Rebirth in Christ
Believing in Christ means dying to our old selves and being reborn in Him. This transformation is profound and ongoing, as we continue to grow in our understanding of the Gospel's power. In Christ, we are no longer bound to our past but are given a new identity and purpose. [33:42]
"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: Identify one area of your life where you feel stuck in old patterns. How can you invite Christ into this area to experience His transformative power?
Day 3: From Law to Grace
The cross of Christ changes our relationship with God from one of law to one of grace. Under grace, we are no longer condemned by the law but are embraced by God's love and favor. This new relationship empowers us to live victoriously and confidently in God's presence. [41:28]
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt condemned by your own shortcomings. How can embracing God's grace change your perspective and actions today?
Day 4: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is given to us as a source of power and guidance in our new life in Christ. We are not left to face the world's challenges alone but are equipped with the Spirit's strength to live according to God's will. This empowers us to overcome sin and live a life that honors God. [44:14]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing where you need the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength? How can you actively seek His help today?
Day 5: Confident Access to God
Prayer becomes a powerful tool in our new life in Christ. Through the cross, we have access to God and can approach Him with confidence, knowing that we are heard and loved. This relationship with God transforms our lives and gives us the assurance of His presence and help in times of need. [46:26]
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific need or concern you have today. How can you approach God in prayer with confidence, trusting in His love and provision?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth of humanity's fallen state and the transformative power of the Gospel. We began by acknowledging the universality of sin, tracing it back to Adam, the representative of the human race. His fall brought sin and death into the world, affecting all of humanity. This original sin has left us with corrupted minds and a natural inclination towards sin. However, the Gospel offers a solution through Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who came to start a new humanity. By believing in Him, we are no longer bound to Adam's legacy but are given a new beginning in Christ.
This transformation is not just a change in status but a complete renewal of our nature. In Christ, we die to our old selves and are reborn with a new nature, free from the dominion of sin. This is the glory of the Gospel: it offers a new life, a new identity, and a new relationship with God. We are no longer under the law, which condemns us, but under grace, which offers us forgiveness and a loving relationship with God as our Father.
The cross of Christ changes everything. It not only reconciles us to God but also empowers us to live a victorious life through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer helpless in the face of sin and the world's challenges. Instead, we have the Spirit of God working within us, enabling us to live according to His will. This new life in Christ opens the door to a relationship with God, allowing us to pray with confidence and assurance, knowing that we are heard and loved.
Key Takeaways
1. The universality of sin is rooted in Adam's fall, which brought sin and death to all humanity. This original sin affects every person, leaving us with a corrupted nature. However, through Christ, the second Adam, we are offered a new beginning and a new nature. [31:23]
2. Believing in Christ means dying to our old selves and being reborn in Him. This transformation is profound and ongoing, as we continue to grow in our understanding of the Gospel's power. In Christ, we are no longer bound to our past but are given a new identity and purpose. [33:42]
3. The cross of Christ changes our relationship with God from one of law to one of grace. Under grace, we are no longer condemned by the law but are embraced by God's love and favor. This new relationship empowers us to live victoriously and confidently in God's presence. [41:28]
4. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a source of power and guidance in our new life in Christ. We are not left to face the world's challenges alone but are equipped with the Spirit's strength to live according to God's will. This empowers us to overcome sin and live a life that honors God. [44:14]
5. Prayer becomes a powerful tool in our new life in Christ. Through the cross, we have access to God and can approach Him with confidence, knowing that we are heard and loved. This relationship with God transforms our lives and gives us the assurance of His presence and help in times of need. [46:26]
Adam was our representative he was the first of the human race and God made him the representative of the human race so that everything that he did involves the whole of his posterity and what we know well happened was this he sinned and he fell and he died and the Apostle says that because of that we all died. [00:30:58]
We were all involved in that act of Adam we were all as it were in Adam Adam was the head and the representative and the focus of the whole of humanity and he fell and we all fell with him the punishment of sin is death he died we've all died ever since everybody he says died even children die all death came into the world and all die as the result of the sin of Adam. [00:31:34]
Christ who is he he's the son of God but why did he come on Earth ah he came on Earth to start a new Humanity he is the second Adam he is the second man the first man was Adam the second man is the Lord Jesus Christ the first man was of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord from Glory. [00:32:49]
If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ he becomes your representative and everything that he did he did for you and so you have done it in him we all fell in Adam argues Paul we can all be raised in Christ and if you believe in him it means this that you died with him you've born your punishment you finished with that old men that you once were you no longer belong to Adam you belong to Christ. [00:33:19]
This is the most wonderful thing of all you see this is where the glory of the Gospel comes in can the leopard change his skin or can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots the world says no what a man is so he remains you can't start aesh you can't have a new beginning you you'll always be what you were. [00:34:17]
Now now says the gospel it is possible for a man to become dead to what he was he can cease to belong to Adam he can cease to be in Adam he can be in Christ he can have undergone a death he can have an entirely New Birth a new start a new nature a new life he dies with Christ he rises with Christ he is in Christ and so he becomes a new man. [00:34:56]
The cross that does that there is nothing that will get rid of the old men that we all are by nature but the death of the Cross and calvary's Hill but if you believe in him and in the purpose of that death and what that death accomplished you are truly dead to your old damic nature knowing that our old man was crucified with Christ and he's gone and he's gone forever. [00:36:12]
Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace what does that mean well let me tell you just a little about what that means oh that men and women might understand this you know people will think of Christianity as just that which offers pardon for our sins that God says all right I forgive you but then you remain exactly where you were. [00:36:57]
This is the essential thing that my whole position is changed my whole relationship to God is changed I'm not only at peace with him I'm in an entirely new relationship this is the difference you says the Apostle are not under law but you are under grace what's he mean well he means this all of us by Nature are under law under the law of God. [00:37:50]
The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ it makes an entire change you are not under law he says but under grace you who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and his death upon the cross you've been taken from that position you're in an entirely new position you are under grace what is Grace Grace is unmar favor Grace is kindness shown to people who deserve nothing but punishment. [00:41:23]
The moment I become a child of God the moment I realize I'm not in Adam but in Christ the moment I come from being under the law to being under grace do you know what it does it opens the door of Heaven to me and I can begin to pray and we've all known haven't we what it is to turn to God In Prayer. [00:44:31]
There is only one way whereby a man can pray with any confidence and assurance and it is by believing in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ listen to the Apostle therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein We Stand. [00:46:26]