TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17a
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Listen: 2 Corinthians 5
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Paul uses language we aren’t used to when he says, “if anyone is in Christ.” He means anyone can have a relationship with God through Jesus. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you’ve attended church all your life or if you are just starting to dig into God and his Word. It doesn’t matter if you do all the right things or have lived a selfish life, what situations you’ve put yourself in or who you’ve been with. What matters is Jesus invites ANYONE to place their faith in his sacrificial death on their behalf to experience God’s forgiveness and restoration.
Being in Christ isn’t attending church your whole life or even believing Christ died for all people. It means taking what Jesus did on the cross and making it personal. The way to do that is to thank Jesus for what he has done and tell him, “I believe you died in my place, I accept your gift of paying for my sins, and I want to follow you.” It’s just that simple.
Being in Christ means you have many things: eternal life (Romans 6:23), a new identity as a child in the family of God (John 1:12), citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and indwelling by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Paul wants Christians in Corinth (and us) to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” so we can live with certainty and purpose (Ephesians 3:18-19).
rs. Paul presents a new standard based on faith in what Jesus has done for us and the power of the Holy Spirit within us to carry it out.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
If you haven’t yet experienced his forgiveness and restoration, make this the day you tell him you believe he died in your place, and you accept that gift. If you’d like to talk with someone about what it means to accept Jesus’s offer of life, email btw@adabible.org. We would love to speak with you. Whether you trusted Jesus today or sometime in the past, listen to the song “Here I am to Worship” and thank Jesus as you focus on the words.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
January is BIBLE READING. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
