Our first study deals with the subject of what happened when we came to Christ. We will discover how sin was the big problem that we had and how Christ dealt with it once and for all on the cross of Calvary.

 

2 Corinthians 5.14-21

 

Sin and its cause

 

• We have fallen short i.e. failed to measure up to God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3.23)

• Our good deeds are not good enough for God (Isaiah 64.6)

• People are not sinners because they sin, they sin because they are sinners (Psalm 51.5)

• Like sheep we have an inborn tendency to do our own thing and go our own way (Isaiah 53.6)

 

But the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5.17).

The Old Has Gone

The Fall

The Bible says that the problems we face in the world today can be traced back

to one bad decision by the very first couple.

[Read Genesis 3.1-24]

Four things happened as a result of what the Bible calls the Fall:

1. The relationship that Adam and Eve had with God was affected (vv. 8-13; 23-24)

2. The relationship that Adam and Eve had with each other was affected (v. 7, 16.)

3. The relationship that they had with their environment was affected (vv. 17-19)

4. Death became a reality (v.19b)

 

How sin came into the world

The Bible explains that through one man sin entered the world and death through sin (Romans 5.12)

We will look at that in more detail in a moment.

Q. What is the implication of this?

Ans. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23)

 

 

• What is sin like? -

The Nature of Sin

Most of us could give examples of sin. But what is the true nature of sin?

1. Sin is failure (Romans 3.23)

2. Sin is rebellion against God (1 John 3.4)

What you were before you became a Christian

Before you came to Christ you chose darkness. You were (i) Responsible for the state you were in; (ii) Helpless to put it right. The Bible says you were:

1. Dead (Ephesians 2.1)

2. Guilty (Romans 5.16)

3. Defiled (Titus 1.15)

4. Enslaved by sin (John 8.34)

5. Blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4.4)

6. Under God's judgment (Ephesians 2.3b)

7. Cut off from God (Ephesians 2.12-13; Romans 6.23)

The New Has Come

When you became a Christian, God dealt with your sin problem.

[Read Romans 3.21-26; 6.1-14]

There are three aspects of the effect of sin upon our lives that have been dealt with through what Jesus has done on the cross.

We are rescued from:

 

1. The Penalty of sin (Romans 3.25)

   Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. He experienced the punishment that we deserved to receive.

   Christ died as a sacrifice for our sins.

2. The Power of sin (Romans 6.6-7)

   We died with Christ therefore breaking the hold that sin has over us.

   You can't bully your slave if he's dead!

3. The Presence of sin (Romans 6.11-13)

   Even though sin is present with us, we have the ability to overcome temptation because we have been freed from its control.

You don't have to obey your sinful desires any more because Christ is your master, not sin!

The Effect of Christ's work on our lives

1. Forgiven (Ephesians 1.7)

   • God forgives (1 John 1.9)

   • God forgets (Isaiah 43.25)

   • Don't let your memory condemn you (Romans 8.1, 33-34)

2. Justified (Romans 3.24)

   • At the cross, Jesus took your sin so that you might take His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5.21)

3. Cleansed (1 John 1.7)

   • Mind, memory, imagination and conscience are cleansed through the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10.19-22)

4. Reconciled (Romans 5.10)

   • Before you were God's enemy, now you are His friend

5. Born again (John 3.3)

   • Physical birth gave you the life of your parents, but this new birth gives you the life of God, eternal life (John 10.27-28)

6. In God's family (Romans 8.15-17)

   • God is now your Father, you are now His son or daughter and all other believers are your brothers or sisters. As Father He is committed to love, protect, provide for and train you (2 Corinthians 6.18)

7. Bound for heaven (John 14.2-3)

   • Christ has gone to prepare a place for you

 

Memorize

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5.17)

Home Task

Under the heading What you were before you became a Christian there are seven descriptions of your old life. Look up one scripture under each description and write it out in full in your notebook.

Remember, that's how it is with your relatives and friends who are still without Christ. Make a list of them and start asking God to save them as He saved you.

Under the heading The effect of Christ's work on our lives, there are seven descriptions of you as a brand-new person. Find a quiet place on your own. Look up one scripture under each description and confess out loud what it says you are, followed by the scripture.

For example, the first would be: ‘ I am forgiven because 1 John 1.9 says, If we confess our sins etc'. Then write it out in your notebook before moving on to the next one until you have completed all seven.

Finish off by giving thanks to your heavenly Father for all the blessings of this big change in your life.