"By nature children of wrath." The cross changes our very nature, friend. Instead of children of wrath, we become children of God. Instead of children of darkness, we become children of the light and the day (1 Thessalonians 5:5). The cross puts to death our "old man," our "old nature," our "sin nature." This is why Paul could say, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live" (Galatians 2:20), for the cross had indeed crucified his "old man." Though we still have flesh and so can be tripped up, our old nature is dead, crucified with Christ, and buried in the tomb. Our union with Jesus Christ - His death on the cross and resurrection- has transformed our "natures."
Question 6. Do you understand that the cross produces an actual change in your "nature"? Do you rejoice that by grace you are now a child of God? Are you experiencing the daily benefits of being saved from an old sinful and selfish nature?
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"Justification is instantaneous; sanctification is a long growth. Justification is the act of God whereby He takes a man who is dead in trespasses and sins and says, ‘I create within you the new life of Christ and now I look upon you and see you just as perfect as I see the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Justification is the act of God whereby he declares an ungodly man to be perfect while he is still ungodly. It is as extraordinary a thing as if you were able to say that the caterpillar is really a beautiful butterfly. ‘Oh,’ you say, ‘but it isn't! It still looks like a caterpillar.’ Well, that is exactly what God does with us. He comes to us in our "caterpillar status" and declares us to be "butterflies." In reality, that is what happens in nature, too; that caterpillar does become a butterfly. For God has given us this remarkable picture of metamorphosis-that which goes into the cocoon as a worm comes out as a butterfly, for it lives part of its life in one state and part in another. We call this process metamorphosis. It is very interesting to note the Greek word used in Rom.12:2: ‘Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed (metamorphosed) by the renewing of your mind.’"
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Question 7. Please list out the six things from which we are being saved daily that are mentioned in this lesson:
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God not only saved us once for all at the cross but by the power of that same cross, He saves us daily. Daily we are saved from habitual sin, from the power of Satan, and from gratifying the lusts of our flesh.
A changed life is an indisputable argument. So, when cynics sneer at Christianity and say it is all a lot of nonsense, the best way to refute them is to produce the evidence of a changed life. This is what the cross does; it produces a changed life!
To close today's lesson, please read and meditate on the following passages and take note of how they teach that we are "being saved":
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16