Spiritual Development November 2017
As a disciple of Jesus, we have been given a new nature and identity. Our heart has been transformed, our eyes have been opened, and our lives have been set on a path of dedication to our new Lord, Jesus Christ. I don’t know about you, but many times I need to be reminded of these truths and more specifically about what the Bible says about who I am in Christ. I want to use this opportunity to remind you and encourage you to cling to these promises and unshakeable realities that are true if you have trusted in Christ. There are many distractions and temptations that will take our eyes off of these truths, but we can respond back in the same assurance that John Newton had when he said "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."
- Through Christ, I am dead to sin (Romans 6:11).
- Through Christ, I am spiritually alive (Romans 6:11; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
- Through Christ, I am forgiven (Colossians 2:13; 1 John 2:12).
- Through Christ, I am declared righteous (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Through Christ, I am God’s possession (Titus 2:14).
- Through Christ, I am an heir of God (Romans 8:17).
- Through Christ, I am blessed with all spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).
- Through Christ, I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
- Through Christ, I am free from the law (Romans 8:2).
- Through Christ, I am crucified with him (Galatians 2:20).
- Through Christ, I am free from the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:24).
- Through Christ, I am declared blameless and innocent (Philippians 2:15).
- Through Christ, I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14-15; Philippians 2:15).
- Through Christ, I am victorious over Satan (Luke 10:19).
- Through Christ, I am cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7).
- Through Christ, I am set free in Christ from the power of sin (Colossians 2:11-15).
- Through Christ, I am secure in him (1 Peter 1:3-5).
- Through Christ, I am at peace with God (Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6-9).
- Through Christ, I am loved by God (1 John 4:10).
(List from Gospel Coach pgs. 71-72)
Recommended Resource— Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Life is hard. But even in that difficulty God remains trustworthy. This book helps us to think through why God is trustworthy and why we should run to Him in our trials and sufferings instead of anything else. Because God is in control of this world and is intimately involved in the workings of our lives we can believe that even when answers may escape us we can trust God who is working everything together for our good.