He Has Risen!

• 1 Cor 6:9
• the cross and the resurrection go hand in hand
  • cross without resurrection is just another dead person
  • resurrection without cross is an accomplishment of nothing
• without the cross, we were defined by sin
• we were once lost but now we’re found in Christ
• 3 metaphors to describe God’s transforming grace, with “but” underscoring everything
  • but you were washed
  • but you were sanctified
  • but you were justified

I was once characterized by sin but now I’m…

1. …scrubbed clean by the righteous blood of Christ
   • hope of Gospel is old made new, dead made alive
   • how do we remove the stain of sin from our human condition?
     • the damage of sin always affects who we are
   • 4 ways we try to deal with sin:
     1. Deny it
        • “I’m not a dirty glass”
        • believing something to be true doesn’t make it true…
     2. Compare it with others
        • “I’m not as dirty as other glasses”
        • still dirty
        • God compares us to himself
     3. Mask it
        • Making others think we’re more righteous than we are
     4. Replace it
        • “doing enough good outweighs the bad”
        • regardless of the good done, bad still remains!
   • the stain of sin can only be washed by God
   • cleans us from the inside out to be the original usage
   • Tit 3:5; washed clean and regenerated
   • righteous blood of Jesus is most powerful detergent for our sin
2. …made holy by the perfect life of Christ
   • manifestation of sin is unique for each of us, but also the same
   • perfect life of Jesus is foundational to being our substitute
   • Mt 4; Jesus succeeded in obeying God where Adam and Israel failed
     • required to live eternally with God
     • life of sanctification and perfect obedience
     • 2 Cor 5:21; our perfect replacement
     • we are then filled with His righteousness
3. …declared innocent by substituting death of Christ
   • “justified” = declared innocent
     • we stood guilty and condemned
     • there is no such thing as “forgive and forget”
   • God must execute justice due to His righteousness, else he is not the right judge
     • God is also merciful and right
     • the answer is the Gospel; Jesus hung in our place
   • infinite payment required for sin
     • eternal hell for our finite existence
     • highlights need for Jesus as infinite payment
   • Rom 4:22-25
     • we are never our full life potential until we are found in Christ and brought back to the Father’s house
   • the 3 words are done to you, not by yourself
     • by the name of Jesus and Spirit of God