Dear friend, it is good to see you here today, I thank God for you and that you are continuing on in your course.
Depression is horrible. Isn’t it? I was so long under its dark cloud, so down and discouraged, so swallowed up in despair. Depression just beat me up and hurt my heart. Do you identify? It’s a very cruel experience, isn’t it?
And yet our Father in heaven loves us, and in His time He rescues us from this horrible oppression and depression, this dark cloud of worry and anxiety and overwhelming discouragement. I really want you to experience this rescue, this deliverance, this love and grace of God as shown at the cross if you’re not already. It’s just so powerful. Light is more powerful than darkness!
Today we are going to continue our study of the inheritance our Father in heaven gives us, in the hope that:
It might brighten your world,
It might help you to look up through the clouds and see your Father smiling on you,
You might see that He loves you,
You might see that He has provided for your every need and given you an eternal and priceless inheritance.
In the previous lesson, we saw five ways in which your Father has provided an inheritance for you; God has given us an inheritance:
of eternal life
of salvation
of His Holy Spirit
of Himself
of righteousness
As you study through these next five truths about the inheritance you have in Christ I pray that you will see that God has given you “grace upon grace” (John 1:16) and that He “daily loads us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19 KJV). Our heavenly Father is not only loving, good and kind, but He is also abundantly generous!
6. God has given us the inheritance of a new life.
“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.” (1 Peter 3:7). Another version says that, for believing men, our wives are “heirs with you of the grace of life.” In other words, we inherit a new life!
“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone” (Romans 5:18).
“...he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
“He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Friend, please understand that what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross was to purchase for you a new life. He completely gave up His own life, His entire existence, indeed all of heaven itself, to give you a new life. Your old life of sin, doubt, rebellion, unbelief, and darkness, is gone entirely. You died with Jesus on that cross and rose with Jesus from that grave (Romans 6:1-14).
Now, your new life as a believer is a spiritual life, an eternal life, a life that is “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). You have inherited a new life. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).
One time some disciples of Jesus were put in prison, and God sent an angel to break them out of their prison. He said to them, "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people all about this new life" (Acts 5:20). My friend, I am here to tell you about this new life that you can have. I’m here to tell you that it came to you freely, but at a high price to God; it cost Him the life of the Son whom He loves.
The most amazing thing is that we don’t get this through doing certain steps, keeping certain rules, or taking certain drugs. This new life comes to us as we come to the cross. “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32).
Oh, have you ever knelt at the foot of the cross and looked up at Jesus there, and been drawn to Him? Have you seen the love in His eyes for you? Have you experienced the grace and love flowing from Him, like blood flowing from His wounds? Have you seen that He was punished so that you could have peace with God (Isaiah 53:4-5)? That He was wounded for your transgressions? That He suffered for your sins? Do you remember that He died to give you new life?
Oh, come to the cross friend. Come and look. Come and live. And as you see Jesus, you will find that you are given new eyes to see amazing things from God’s Word, new ears to hear the voice of God, a totally new heart that is tender toward God and other people, a new love, and a new life. You won’t be able to stop telling people about Jesus because He will have captured your heart and made all things new for you! This all happens at the cross of Christ.
Please take a few minutes and watch this short video:
Question 1. Do you understand that Jesus died on the cross so that you might enjoy a new life? Please share your thoughts:
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Wendy writes, "I was so lost. So confused. Being raised in a Christian home and being told that I was saved, I knew I was missing something. That something was Jesus. I knew it all, but I didn't come to the Cross. But now, since the day I was miraculously saved, that confusion is gone! I have a new life!"
Carnell writes, "I am really coming to understand it now."
Tori writes, "100%, my old life was filled with sin, despair and destruction and for me to enter into this new life of hope it is only through Christ that I get there."