Day 5. Return to the Lord’s Original Idea About You.

Tom Marxen The Origination 18 October 2023 Hits: 42

Change your mind – exchange your identity .

All have sinned – missed the mark – this is true, but the pathway to right standing is easier and harder than what is first appears.

Romans 3:22-26

For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV

What is Sin?

The word for “sin” is “harmartia” in the original Greek, it comes from “ha” (negative) and “moros” (form) it can be translated “without form or identity” We have all lost our identity as the “image and likeness of God” and we behave in a damaging and distorted way.

Also the phrase “short of the glory” comes from “hustereo” (to fail, to be inferior) and “doxa” (glory, blueprint – from “dokeo” which means opinion, intent)’ From these insights “The Mirror Bible” translates Romans 3:23 as “Their distorted behavior is proof of a lost blueprint”.

The Glory of God is man fully alive!

Verse 24 and 25 from the Mirror Bible continue:

Jesus Christ is proof of God’s grace gift; he redeemed the glory of God in human life; mankind condemned is now mankind justified because of the ransom paid by Jesus Christ! (He proved that God did not make a mistake when he made man in his image and likeness! All fell short because of Adam; the same “all” are equally declared innocent because of Christ! The law reveals what happened to man in Adam; grace reveals what happened to the same man in Christ.)

25 Jesus exhibits God’s mercy. His propitiation persuades humankind that God has dealt with the historic record of their sin. What he did vindicates God’s righteousness

The concept of restoration in the bible is not that we would get restored back to the original state or status as it was at the point in time when we lost it. God restores us to a state that is better than we were originally. He has continually made better covenants throughout the scriptures. He never nullifies the older ones, but He always improves them. He is taking us from Glory to Glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In Hebrew culture, the bonds of adoption are stronger than for a natural born child. The strength of a weld is stronger than the original steel. If the weld breaks, it will usually break at the edge of the weld not in the middle of the weld.

God’s restoration is like the weld, stronger than the original relationship. The book of Romans tells us that as gentiles we are branches grafted back into the vine.

Romans 11:17-19

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. ESV

Grafting is like a living weld. We are welded to God through the Covenant of Jesus Christ.

Divine Redemption - How do we change our identity?

God provided a Savior who can lead us to freedom from sin and restore our relationship with God.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to fulfill this mission. Jesus who is the Word made flesh (John1:1-5, 14) lived a perfect, sinless life in complete obedience to God. He willingly took upon Himself the fury of His Father’s wrath against our sin; He suffered and died in our place.

After Jesus’ death and burial, God raised Him from the dead, thus proclaiming Jesus’ divinity and validating His sacrifice in our place. (See Romans 1:1–4.) “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing [taking an inventory of] their trespasses unto them … . For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:19, 21).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

In the Bible, many verses explain what God did through His love for us. Below are several references telling the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

John 3:16–17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”

Romans 5:8-11

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ESV

Titus 3:4-6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ESV

When you believe on Jesus Christ, accepting God’s gift of salvation, you are justified (declared free of the guilt and penalty of sin) before God because of what Jesus has done. God forgives you of all of your sins. Your relationship with God is restored; you become His child. (See I John 3:8–10.) You are redeemed from the bondage to sin. (See Romans 6:22.)

The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer.

Romans 8:15-18

Slavery is such a poor substitute for sonship! They are opposites; the one leads forcefully through fear while sonship responds fondly to Abba Father. His Spirit resonates within our spirit to confirm the fact that we originate in God. Because we are his offspring, we qualify to be heirs; God himself is our portion, we co-inherit with Christ. Since we were represented and included in his suffering we equally participate in the glory of his resurrection. Mirror Bible

Accepting God’s Gift of Salvation

To receive the redemption God provided for all of us through Jesus Christ, believe the truth. Turn to God. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19, ESV). “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Does that sound too simple to be true? God’s truth is simple. You can believe in Him. Humble yourself as a little child and admit your need for God. (See Mark 10:15.) Turn away from sin. Come to Jesus. He beckons to you with open arms. He has already purchased your salvation—will you receive it as a gift from Him?

Romans 5:1-5

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (pressure reveals patience), 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ESV

Discussion Questions:

Day 5 - Change your mind – exchange your identity