Lesson 22: Washing at the Cross, Walking by the Spirit, Warring Against the Flesh
Questions 1 and 2
Greetings, friend, and welcome back! It’s great to be studying with you today!
Remedy for Sin Captives
Trapped in drunkenness and impurity was like being submerged in darkness as I was captive to my impulses to drink to excess, which led to other sins. I could not control my cravings, nor could I free myself from slavery to substances.
It was like I was asleep to the danger I was in, slumbering away my days, turning to many false saviors such as alcohol, pornography, and an over-indulgence in food and entertainment. Like Jonah, sleeping in the bottom of the boat, impervious to the storm of destruction surrounding him, I was asleep in sin and unaware of my peril.
Finally, this kind of living was foolish, unwise, and unhealthy. Do you identify with this three-fold description of living with substance abuse?
Today we will study through a passage of Scripture that incorporates all three of these (darkness, sleep, and foolishness), showing us the power of sin and how it holds us captive.
But we will also see very clearly the three foundational principles of washing at the cross, walking by the Spirit, and warring against the flesh, so that we can experience the greater power of God’s remedy than the power of sin.
Please read the following passage carefully and prayerfully, then answer the questions below:
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:8-20 NIV
Question 1. How is our past life described in Ephesians 5:8-12?
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Darkness to Light
Ephesians 5:8-12 describes my past life perfectly; I was once in darkness, there was no light in me. This darkness was decisive in my life, overtaking any desire to live right or be a good person. It could drag me into a drunken stupor faster than I would have imagined, and then the darkness would lead me to gratify the lusts of my flesh with many different sins adding insult to injury.
But the Scriptures are clear that we are now “light in the Lord” and admonishes us to “live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8-9). What happened?
The clear answer from Scripture is that Jesus rescued us!
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”.
Colossians 1:13-14
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
Galatians 1:3-4
Look with me at the cross just now. Do you see Jesus having been beaten and stripped and crucified on a tree? Do you hear Him praying to His Father to forgive those who are crucifying Him? Watch now as darkness comes over the land (Mark 15:33), a pitch-black kind of darkness. What is happening here?
Jesus has entered the darkness of your sin. He has taken your sin on Himself and literally “become sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Since sin is always connected with darkness, the entire land has become dark, the sun even refusing to shine on Jesus as He hangs in our sin, covered in darkness.
But you have to understand that Jesus has entered this darkness to rescue you out of it! He gave Himself for your sins to rescue you through the forgiveness of your sins and removal of your guilt! Christ shed His blood to atone for your wrongs so you can be free of them! He died to give you life! Yes, the cross is a rescue mission where Jesus entered by the cover of darkness to rescue you from sin’s darkness and sin’s power!
Gaze at this scene for a moment, let it sink in, let it wash you and overcome you! As I stand here with you at the foot of the cross, I want to cry out tears of thankfulness to Jesus. “Thank you, Jesus, for your suffering in my place to heal me, for the blood you shed to make amends for my wrongs, for your wounds, and your death as my Substitute."
Question 2. As you look at this amazing rescue happening, where Jesus came into the darkness to take you out of it, what would you like to say to Jesus just now for all that He accomplished for you on the cross?
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Karen prays:
Jesus, I know that as you were being rejected and made subjected to the wrath of God in bearing my sins like a wreath around your neck, you prayed, Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Jesus, your word says that God’s wrath poured down, like a fire burning and consuming that sin to the bone. You bore the wrath of the Father against all my sins, including this defiling, dishonoring sin of this smoking addiction I am now troubled with. Today I hear you cry out to me, “she shall call upon Me and I WILL ANSWER HER; I will be with her now in her trouble; I will deliver her and honor her.” Jesus, I do call upon you now and I know you will not forsake me now, because you already bore the forsaking on your cross. I thank you and praise you for obeying your Father’s love for me, and you were willing to suffer so in my behalf, because you too loved me.