The Cross and the Blood have forever transformed our relationship with the Lord. The evidence of that new relationship is the fact of the New Covenant. The New Covenant is an unconditional covenant of Grace established between Jesus and the Father and extended to anyone who would put their faith and trust in Jesus alone. We may fail but the covenant cannot fail, because neither the Lord nor Jesus can fail!

Because of the New Covenant the Old Covenant of the Law no longer applies to us! No longer is our heavenly relationship based upon obeying legalistic rules and regulations, but the focus on our relationship with our heavenly Father is based upon what Jesus has done for us.

The shedding of blood is a characteristic of all covenant relationships with the Lord. Even under the Covenant of the Law (the Mosaic Law or Torah), blood was essential to make atonement. Therefore, it says in Leviticus 17:1, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” And then again in Hebrews 9:22, “And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission(forgiveness).”

Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was shed to cover sin and renew a relationship with God. In the New Covenant, as was accurately said by John the Baptist in John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus became the sacrifice once and for all.

To fully understand the significance of the New Covenant I want to take something from my book about grace and the New Covenant, Seeing the Forest For the Trees, which by the way is available as a free download on my website.

New Covenant Grace (Chapter 21)

Grace is an attribute of God that is foreign to our natural experience because God’s grace is perfectly selfless and motivated by love. The trials and tribulations of life can make us wary of expressions of perfect love. We may not know how to react or respond to this expression of grace.

1. Some people feel unworthy of God’s grace and try to run away and hide from God.
2. Others try to understand God’s grace by attempting to intellectually comprehend Him; the result is a very small concept of God.
3. Still others try to earn the right to “deserve” God’s grace by being “good”, but who can ever be good enough? 
4. Finally, there are those who set up rules and regulations, and make legalistic sacrifices, so that they might try to“earn” God’s grace. A true gift cannot be earned.

God’s grace is an unconditional promise. 

It is His free-will gift motivated by pure love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The availability of this kind of grace depends entirely on the one who offers it. God offers His grace to all of mankind (the world), the just and the unjust alike. Grace is not offered on the basis of merit or deeds, but only upon God’s divine decision and invitation to love and bless His creation.

We cannot gain salvation or eternal life by our works (or the Law), or by a combination of works and grace. It is by grace alone that we receive eternal life and salvation (Acts 13:39; Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16; 3:21). Jesus did it all for us! The only thing we can do is to put our faith (belief and trust) in Jesus Christ: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8, 9). There is nothing and no one who can add to or replace what Jesus has already done and provided (Rom 4:1-5).

As has been stated, the New Covenant was ushered in by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary and His shed blood for the New Covenant: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). Jesus fully completed what He was sent to earth to do (John3:16). As a result of His work, He accomplished the following for each of us:

1. Jesus replaced the Old Covenant (Law) with a New Covenant (Grace); “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ Hehas made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Heb 8:13).
2. He provided a way to the Father who is holy and righteous. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).
3. Jesus cleansed us from our sins. Sin is what has kept us apart from God the Father. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
4. He has prepared an eternal place in Heaven for us. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
5. Jesus exchanged our old sinful nature for a new nature able to resist sin. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is anew creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17).
6. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live for Christ. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantagethat I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you”(John 16:7).
7. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil; “… For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

What Jesus accomplished on the Cross of Calvary, in obedience to the Father, was something totally new. He guaranteed salvation to all who would put their trust in Him (Rom 10:13). He also gave the Holy Spirit to every believer as a sign, or seal, of being born again (2 Cor 1:21, 22).

The Holy Spirit makes it possible for believers to live the life they are called to by God. The Holy Spirit gives power and help for a believer to be both willing and obedient (Phil 2:13). It is the person of the Holy Spirit that makes the difference in the life of a New Covenant believer (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is also given as a “guarantee” of God’s full redemption of our lives; spirit, soul, and body (2 Cor 5:1-5; Eph 1;13,14). Those who believe in Christ for salvation can be assured of that salvation and live with great faith. We can know that we are empowered to live the life here on earth and that we have a place reserved for us in Heaven. 

No Condemnation

Sin always has consequences; sin always places obstacles in our relationship with God. A significant change between Law and Grace is that the condemnation for sin has been removed by the work of Jesus’ shed blood. When we, as believers, stumble and sin, we are not cast away or rejected by God. We are still His sons and daughters! “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, butaccording to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death”(Rom 8:1, 2).

Jesus’ shed blood has made us holy and righteous, but obedience is a process that will continue throughout our lifetime. When children are learning to walk, they stumble and fall. As parents, we do not reject or abandon our children because they fall down! In the same way, God will not abandon you if you fall as you are learning to walk with Him. God’s expectation is that you repent, learn from the experience, and endeavor to do better. 

 Grace is a wonderful gift from God, it is never to become an excuse to live a fleshly (carnal) life or ignore the teachings of Scripture. Our goal should always be to do our best to live in a manner that is obedient and pleasing to God. We might fall into a pit along the way, but we should not return to or stay in that sinful pit! 

God expects us to mature as Christians. As we learn and grow in the Word of God, and mature in following Christ, we should no longer be stumbling or falling into temptations or sin. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor 13:11). Immature children may stumble. However, the things we stumble over in our immaturity should not still cause us to stumble when we are more mature.

Now, as a Christian, if we sin, the Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin. We will feel “a godly sorrow” and a need to repent. If instead, we feel like running away from God and trying to hide our sin, that is “worldly sorrow” (2 Cor 7:8-10) and leads only to shame, guilt and condemnation. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Our confession and genuine repentance is the process to receive God’s forgiveness when we stumble. When we repent (turn around), and ask God to forgive us, three things happen:

1. We face our sin and take responsibility for it, no excuses.
2. The feelings of guilt, shame or fear are removed as we confess our sin to God.
3. Our open relationship with God can continue, and the sin no longer creates a sense of separation from Him.

Repentance has the added benefit of helping us admit our weaknesses to ourselves and to God. This will teach us to ask for God’s help and to rely on the Holy Spirit for the strength to avoid that sin in the future.

Grace Is God’s Idea

If you have any ideas about what grace is (or is not), and those ideas are contrary to what is in God’s Word, you must abandon those ideas! Embrace God’s Word, embrace His grace: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:14, 17).

The Gospel is about what God has done through Jesus Christ for us. Terms like reconciliation, atonement, redemption, and sanctification are all a result of the Gospel and all these things Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary. 

On the other hand, the Christian lifestyle is more about how a Christian should think, behave, and keys to successful living on earth. The fruit or benefits of a sincere Christian lifestyle are many however, it is the Gospel that produces a change from the inside out. It is the Gospel when accepted by a believer, that produces the change in the inner man or woman to become more like Jesus Christ. This is what it means to be born-again.

Many teach that it is how you behave that makes you a Christian and in a religious sense that may be true, but as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Then the Apostle Paul says in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

The Gospel is best understood when we recognize that it is about the Kingdom of God on earth and heaven. The Cross is the most recognizable symbol of the Gospel. Every Believer should know the significance of the Cross is not in the cross itself, but the person who was crucified for our sakes on that cross. When we see the cross, we should see that it is a demonstration of God’s great love for us. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The Cross is a sign or symbol of God’s great love. 

Listen to what Jesus said in John 15:11. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another”.

A sign or symbol contains information that directs to somewhere or someone, for example, a traffic stop sign is telling you to stop and look for oncoming traffic to keep you and others safe. In the same way, the Cross of Jesus is a sign that points to our Savior and King, who will keep you and others safe too. 

What the Cross is not: 

The cross is often used as an ornament or piece of jewelry to help a Believer keep their eyes on Jesus. We often see a Cross in a Christian church and it is there to remind us of Jesus’ great sacrifice of love for us. The Cross is not a token, amulet, or charm to ward off evil or used for “good luck”! The power of the Cross is not in the symbol but in the One who made the sacrifice for all of us, and His name is Jesus! When we see the cross, we must learn to see our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus is not on the Cross anymore, but He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Romans 8:33). Jesus now lives in us through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus accomplished on the cross the two things He was born to do.

1. He became the bridge reconciling humankind back to the Father that is called the Atonement.
2. He defeated Satan by destroying Satan’s power over sin and death.

It is Finished

The real importance of the Cross for us is in the words Jesus spoke as He was dying on the cross, Jesus said “It is Finished!” John 19: 28, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

The Greek word for “It is Finished” is Tetelestai and it is in the Aorist Perfect tense. There is no English Aorist Perfect tense, but the idea is that the expression “It is finished” means that what happened on the Cross took place and continues to take place. What Jesus purchased at the Cross was not just a single event, but it continues to the present and goes on to the future. What this means for us is that we were forgiven and continue to be forgiven, we were delivered and continue to be delivered, we were reconciled and continue to be reconciled, we are saved and continue to be saved. That is why we say that sin and death were defeated by the cross of Jesus. We are truly free

First question, what is the Atonement?

Oxford Dictionary defines atonement as the “reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.” In a religious context, atonement means reparation or expiation for sin. Other words like atonement are reparation compensation recompense payment repayment redress restitution indemnity expiation penance and redemption.

• Colossians 2:11, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 

Second question, how was Satan defeated by Jesus at the Cross?

By exchanging forgiveness for sin and eternal life for death Jesus disarmed Satan by removing his power of sin and death from his arsenal. It was spiritual warfare at the Cross and Jesus had and has the final victory over Satan, sin, and death. 

• Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
• Luke 10:17,” Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

The curse of sin has been broken and the fear of death has been removed if we keep our eyes and hearts on the Cross and remember that it was Jesus who died for us.

• John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
• Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Close with Our Mission Statement:

The Cross of Jesus should constantly remind us of what the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

I love what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

• The treasure that is spoken of in earthen vessels is the treasure of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are the earthen vessels; we may be imperfect; some might even say we are “cracked pots,” but the creator of this universe lives in us. Therefore, nothing is impossible with God, and by extension, nothing is impossible for those who are led by the Lord. 

• We may indeed go through hard times, that’s what the apostle Paul means when he says that “we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed.” At times, we’ve been perplexed because we don’t know how God will perform what he has promised, but by faith, we trust and believe. Therefore, we will not become discouraged. In extreme cases, we may be knocked down, but we are not knocked out! In those extreme cases, we will choose to rise and not waver in our faith in Jesus, the one who has redeemed us and will deliver us! Remember, Jesus is the miracle worker, promise keeper, and anchor of our souls.

The Spiritual Battle

The apostle Paul was aware of the enemy of his soul, Satan, as each one of us needs to be. Even Jesus makes it clear that we have an enemy. In John 10, Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who comes to give life and life more abundantly. At the same time, he describes the thief, and of course, the thief, in this case, is Satan. Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Satan comes to steal your joy, kill God’s vision for your life and destroy your hope in Him.!

The Devil’s strategy

The strategy of the enemy is to undermine your faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, the “shield of faith” is your protection against the Devil. Satan wants to create doubt about what the Lord has promised, and he used the same tactic in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).

The importance of faith

Our salvation and every other promise found in the Bible is appropriated by faith. Every promise was provided to us because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Our faith is not in the promises but in the one who provides the promises, Jesus. In other words, our faith is not in faith itself but in Him!

The writer of Hebrews defines faith for us, Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hope in God’s promises is central to receiving from the Lord. Anything that undermines that hope is an attempt by the enemy to try and cause us to doubt the Lord and shatter our faith.

Faith in Jesus is so essential that it says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The book of James tells us that no one should expect anything from God if they waver in faith and wallow in doubt.

Disappointment and Discouragement

These facts alone should make you aware of how Satan will try to undermine you- he will attack you in the area of your faith in the Lord! This is Satan’s strategy; I call it the two “D’s”, disappointment and discouragement.

1. Disappointment: the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations
2. Discouragement: feeling the loss of confidence or enthusiasm; to cause to lose hope.

Let’s look at each one of these:

Disappointment

Every day we are plagued and challenged to face obstacles and issues: at work, in our finances, in our health, raising children, in relationships, in marriage, or even controlling our mind and its negative thought patterns. Everyone is susceptible at times. Maybe a friend betrayed you in the past, or perhaps you are disappointed with the job that you excitedly embraced a year ago; it could be that someone may have walked out of your life forever, or a loved one may have been disappointed by sabotaging your expectations, or maybe even some of your finest long-term dream may have tumbled down and shattered irreversibly.

While everyone experiences disappointment in life, it is important to realize that it is an emotion and that emotion does not define you. It’s a feeling, and feelings come and go. The danger is not to recognize that the enemy of your soul is a liar, and he wants to drag you down to the next stage, and that is discouragement.

Discouragement

Discouragement means you are losing hope and beginning to not trust in the Lord! 

It is a ‘choice’ that we make in how to respond to disappointments, it’s in that battlefield of the mind that we must be aware of.

If we are feeling discouraged, then it means we have subconsciously decided to blame our disappointment on our circumstances and wallow in pity and negativity. It’s a choice! A deliberate choice. We can either choose to cave in and have a pity party by being discouraged or we can consciously and deliberately decide to shake that disappointment off turn to the Lord with joy and expectation.

The bottom line is we cannot do away with disappointments in life. However, we can shake off the negativity that comes with discouragement. We can shake off self-pity and worry and all the other accompanying disappointments that can afflict the human mind. As the Lord said to Joshua when he took over the leadership from Moses, “Be strong and courageous, or another way of saying it might be “be strong and don’t be discouraged!” Joshua maintained his courage by following hard after the Lord.

II. Discouragement differs from disappointment. When our expectations aren’t met, we feel disappointed, Whereas discouragement produces a  feeling of hopelessness. We can choose to remain without courage (discouraged) or determine to work through our feelings and overcome them. Remember, courage is not the absence of fear but taking action despite the fear!

III. The Causes of Discouragement

1. Inability to please others
2. Physical or verbal abuse
3. Unanswered prayer
4. Lack of proper recognition
5. Strongholds
6. Financial pressure
7. Health problems
8. Unexplained adversity
9. Feelings of worthlessness

IV. Blindness caused by Discouragement

1. Lies from Satan. He is an accuser and an opposer of God’s people. Fear, unbelief, bitterness, self-pity, and condemnation are all based on Satan’s lies.
2. Not recognizing that the battle is spiritual
   1. 2 Corinthians 10:4… We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood… READ
3. Not recognizing your weakness AND then not calling on Him!
   1. 2 Cor 12:9 “9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
4. Not maintaining your Spiritual Armor
   1. Ephesians 6:14-18… READ  
5. Specifically: Neglecting His Word!
   1. Putting down the shield of faith – “Faith comes by hearing…” Rhema and Logos
      1. When we lose sight of God’s ways or God’s resources in Christ, we remove our spiritual protection.
   1. Neglecting the Sword of the Spirit –
      1. When we are not reminded of His promises, we easily forget the truth and fall for the Devil’s lies.      

V. The Cure for Discouragement

1. Recognize pride in your life. Some put their trust in themselves and pursue relationships, accomplishments, or possessions instead of a relationship with the Lord.
2. Look within yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit, “Why am I discouraged?”
3. Look back. Don’t dwell on hurtful things in the past. Instead, think about God’s faithfulness to deliver you.
4. Look up. God has the authority, power, and ability to rescue you from harmful attitudes.
5. Look ahead. Focus on what the Lord is doing now in your life. Be encouraged by what He has planned for your future.

VI. Biblical examples of Discouragement

1. Rachel could not have children. One day, she burst out to her husband, Isaac, “Give me children, or else I die!”(Genesis 30:1). 
   1. Rachel’s discouragement came from her disappointment in a situation she had no power to change instead of trusting God to change the situation. 
2. When the Israelites heard that the Canaanites were giants and lived in fortified cities, they “lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). 
   1. Their discouragement came from comparing a difficult situation to their resources instead of God’s resources.
3. When the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, the Bible says, “The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way” (Numbers 21:4). 
   1. In this case, they were discouraged because they focused so much on their difficulties that they lost sight of God’s promises and provisions. 
4. After a major victory, Elijah fell into discouragement when Jezebel threatened his life. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” (1 Kings 19:1-3)
   1. Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted.
   1. Elijah took his eyes off the Lord and put them on his enemy.
5. David was about to be stoned by his own men when they were distressed about losing their wives and possessions. (Ziklag, 1 Samuel 30…)
   1. David’s low point came through experiencing rejection and misunderstanding from those he loved. 
   1. We have the good news that he didn’t yield to discouragement, but rather “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). Following the Lord’s instruction David and his men were able to restore all of their families and possessions. 

In conclusion,

All of us experience disappointment when things don’t go the way we expect or want. The danger is in falling into discouragement for any length of time. It is in those moments of discouragement that we need to place our focus on Jesus our savior and deliverer. His promise is that He will never leave you nor forsake you. You are never alone because He is with you. 

For a first-time commitment consider the Words of Jesus 

• John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
• John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

And this is how to become born-again, believe the promise:

• Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
• Romans 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 
  13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

You see, all that is required is to believe that Jesus is who He says He is and receive the gift of new life. With that gift is the promise that the Hoy Spirit of God will come into your life and help you fulfill the hopes and dreams that Jesus puts into your heart.

For a re-commitment consider the following Scriptures, Return to me… (Backslider)

Jeremiah 3:14, “Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”

Jeremiah 24:7, “Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”

The prophet Jeremiah has something to say to those who are far off from God, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

You may be feeling weak and tired but listen to what Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

And don’t forget Isaiah 43:18, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth.”

Beginnings!

A new beginning can start at any time, but there is no better time than now! I find it interesting that in the Old Testament the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Then in the New Testament the first chapter of the Gospel of John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

New beginnings for a Christian Believer.

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

You are not defined by your past, good or bad, but you are defined by your relationship with Christ! Look at your life and figure out what has been holding you back. Those weights may be sin and preventing you from moving forward. Remember you are forgiven and keep marching in His direction. The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4: 20, “But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true the righteousness and holiness.”

Every person knows what things are preventing them from moving forward with the Lord, and it is up to them to walk away from those strongholds that are holding them back. Every person in Christ must make the decision to be completely committed to the cause of Christ. You can’t be halfhearted you must be “all in” to reap the benefits of an overcoming life on earth. 

There are times when we don’t quite know what to do, it is in those times we must turn to the scriptures. The Old Testament contains three books that are classified as Wisdom books, they are Job Ecclesiastes and Proverbs some scholars also include two more books Psalms and Song of Solomon. The Wisdom books give practical everyday advice and direction. They are the building blocks of a life focused on the Lord. 

Psalm 23

For instance, a very familiar passage would of course be Psalm 23. I believe that Psalm 23 is a good guide for planning for the new year. It gives us instruction and promises; if we follow God’s instructions, He will fulfill his promises.

Psalm 23 is a psalm of David. David is described by God as “a man after my own heart”, which means that David wanted to do only one thing, please God! This doesn’t mean that David was perfect, but it does mean that his desire was to please the Lord. As believers, our desire should be to please the Lord in all that we do. 

There are times when the Lord reveals to us His purpose and plan for our lives and then there are times when we must make our own decisions in life. It is in those times of making decisions that the wisdom of the scriptures becomes an important guide for living. That is why we are encouraged to read and meditate on the Word of God. You see it is not just about knowing the Lord’s intentions and will for us, it is the ability to obey and follow through the Lord’s direction. How are we to know God’s will unless we spend time in His Word. We can count on the Lord to help us in our ability to hear and obey because the Lord has placed His Holy Spirit in us to be a guide, teacher, and comforter.

Psalm 23 instructs us to acknowledge that the “Lord is my shepherd” and that “I shall not be in want.” The Lord promises to fulfill all of our “needs”, but not necessarily all of our “wants” because sometimes our wants lead us away from the Lord and His plans and purposes for our lives. 

Verse 2 promises that if we trust Him, He will make our path easy and not troubled. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” All of this speaks of His provision. Remember Matthew 6:30, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” These “things” are the things you need for life and godliness!

Verse 2 is about physical needs, but the Lord is concerned about your emotional needs too and we see that in verse 3. “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Philippians 4:6 says, “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Peace in this case is the peace that does not depend upon circumstances it is the peace of knowing Him and knowing that you are known by Him as well.

Verse 4 is the promise that regardless of what is going on around me I do not need to be in fear. Fear causes us to doubt the Lord and doubt is the enemy of faith. Remember we are learning to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). No matter what you are going through God is with you. He will protect you and guide you.

Verse 5 is another expression of God’s protection and abundant provision. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” As Christians, we face enemies both spiritual and physical and we must remind ourselves that God has promised to “never leave us or forsake us.” The Lord is ours and we are His. That will never change.

Finally, the conclusion to David’s Psalm to the Lord, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” Here we have a reaffirmation of the Lord’s promise that He will provide and protect and that we will also spend eternity with Jesus our Lord and Savior in Heaven

Let me close with this final scripture from the Apostle Paul which should be our personal mission statement:

Philippians 3: 12, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s define our terms:

• Sin is the opposite of righteousness (being in right standing with God)
• God determines what is righteous and what is sin throughout the history of mankind.

2 This may seem an odd question but “How do you kill a zombie…?”

• First of all, let me assure you there are no such things as Zombies, and even if they did exist as Christians, we have nothing to fear from them because of the scripture that assures us that “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
• Now, if zombies did exist, based on the TV shows, movies, and books, you must destroy the brain!
• This is a metaphor for Wrong Thinking. As Christians, we often hold to wrong teaching that opposes what the Lord has said.

The consequences of sin are the Zombies of guilt, shame, and “regret.” They won’t stay dead and buried! Let’s look at terms again.

• Guilt – a feeling of having done wrong or failed in an obligation:
• Shame – a loss of respect or esteem; dishonor.
• Regret – to feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity)- regret is not always bad, as we will see later.

All these emotions can be a result of letting yourself down or letting someone else down, for instance, letting the Lord down! 

My proposition is the following; if you experience guilt, shame, and “regret,” it’s not from God! You were taught to do it to yourself, or you are falling for the lies of the enemy, Satan. Remember, Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren” for a reason. (Rev 12:10)

3 Here is the foundation of this message:

1 John 3:9, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

Born of God – “You must be born again! John 3, Jesus said, “you must be born-again!”

His Seed – the Holy Spirit of God!

A seed does not represent what it will look like when mature. The seed must develop and grow. 

He cannot sin – because of a change in direction (repentance)

You have a pass for sin, not a pass to sin!

For example, I know- police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and court officers wear badges to show their authority, but they also have little badges they put in their wallets. If these people get “pulled over” for speeding, they will often show their license or ID card next to their badge. Because they have a badge, they will often get a “pass” and get off with a warning. Note: speeders will eventually have accidents; sin always has consequences in life.

4 Is Grace absolute? The answer is YES!

Ephesians 2: 8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

• 2 Corinthians 1:21, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
• Ephesians 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

5 THE KEY – How to know that you are truly born-again?

• Two magnets in sync or opposed. When they are opposed, for example, the magnets will repel when the two north poles are put together. However, when the two opposite poles, north and south, are put together, they attract. 
• The magnetic needle of a compass, the nature of which is always to point to the pole, is easily turned aside but always re-seeks the north pole. To be attracted to the north is the default.
• In the same way, our natural default nature is to seek sin. No matter how hard you try to do the good or righteous behavior, you are pulled in the wrong direction, over and over again. Something must change!
  • Salvation means that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); the default nature has been changed because of the Holy Spirit in you. It is as if the magnet inside of you has been reversed and you’ve been charged; the Holy Spirit now lives in you. 
  • Now your default is to seek righteous behavior. However, you still have old habits and ways of thinking that need to be overcome.

6 How do I know that I am truly born-again?

• I know that I am born-again because I want to know more about Jesus, and I want to change to please Him. 
• Spirit is willing; the flesh is weak, Romans 7 and Paul’s dilemma, Romans 8 the solution!
• The Chosen – Mary Magdalene, “I was one way then, I am completely different now; and in between was Him!” “He calls me His own!”

7 Conclusion

1. Repent means to have a change of mind and to change, not simply to feel guilt and shame. 
   1. 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2. You will never have victory if guilt and shame are a part of your thinking because guilt and shame will cause you to try and hide from God.
3. Jesus said the truth will set you free. John 8: 32 & 36. The truth is that you are totally and absolutely forgiven… you need to forgive yourself and move on. When guilt and shame rise, you need to rebuke it because the source is not God, but Satan, the accuser.