Peace of Mind - September 30, 2020

Focus Scripture: Romans 3:23 - 26, AMP

Bible Tip: Today’s anchor Scripture is taken from the book of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul. It emphasizes a small portion of the third chapter of the book. In order to properly understand what he is seeking to communicate in our focus verses, read the entire third chapter. Answer these questions: What is his overall message? How do the focus verses help to reinforce his overall message?

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Sin is the falling short of the righteous and holy standard of God. The standard of God is perfect and beyond reproach and so, when we fall short of it, we do wrong. The feeling accompanying wrongdoing is guilt: it signals that we have missed the mark. But, even in the absence of this feeling, the report about us is clear: all have fallen short of the glory of God. All have sinned. All have done what is wrong.  All are guilty before God. (Romans 3:23). This is bad news. The penalty for sin is death and there are a thousand deaths to die (relationally to God, our true selves, others, things, the destinies we were lovingly crafted for) before the eternal one. (Romans 6:23).

But God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came into the world with a good report: God was not holding our sins against us. He was not counting them one by one. He was not condemning us. Instead, He had come so that through Him the world might be saved. (2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 19 and John 3:16 - 17).

He who came into the world to save us did it on a tree. From this tree He hung for crimes He did not and could not have committed. He died for our sins past, present and future - that's what happened on the cross! Those are the lashes that tore His flesh. Those were the nails that pierced His hands and feet; the sword that tore through His side. That's the weight that hung His head. 

Jesus confronted our bad news. And here is where I invite you to lean in a little closer: He was not overcome by it. He died, but didn't stay dead. He went to Hell, but did not suffer decay. He got up. How? By the Spirit of God. Why? Because He is righteous. God approved the payment of the One who had no debt on behalf of we who had a debt we could never pay. (1 Corinthians 15: 1 - 8).

And by grace, through faith, we cling to the feet of Jesus, hanging on the cross and accept His payment for our sin.  (Ephesians 2: 8 - 9). And by that same grace we shoot up from the grave in the Holy Spirit's power, not because of what we've done but, because of what He has done perfectly (fulfilled the requirements of the law). (Romans 8:11).

We are made a new creation by grace through faith (reliance on the perfection and sufficiency of Jesus Christ). The old is gone and now we are those born of Heaven. (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are those who have received what God eagerly desired we receive, i.e. mercy. We are those who are counted as judicially (eternally) right with God. (Romans 8:30).
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Beloved, you do not need to live in fear. In Christ you are eternally safe. The wrath of God will never be assigned to you. Forgiven you are because He is faithful and just to forgive you of all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, if you confess. (1 John 1:9). Totally forgiven you are because Jesus paid the debt in full. He is the all sufficient sacrifice. Free from wrath you are because Jesus bore it all. The wrath we deserved was poured out on Jesus. There is no more wrath left in His cup for the believer.

Beloved, when you fall short, and you will, you have the assurance that the eternal life flow, i.e. the blood of Jesus, will never lose its power. It makes the perfect plea. (Hebrews 10:1 - 18). Draw near in Godly confidence and receive the help you need. The help you need to live out (in your day-to-day life) your righteous identity in Christ. (Hebrews 4: 15 - 16).

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Sing this chorus to soothe your soul with the truth of the power of Jesus's blood. He did not shed it in vain. Every time you fall short or worry you have, remember that you have a perfect plea. Draw near to Him prayerfully as you lift up this old chorus, brought to us by Hillsong United via its iHeart Revolution project, 'With Hearts As One', released in 2008.

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Additional Resources

Pressing Question: Is there a sin the blood cannot atone for? 

https://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-unpardonable-sin-i-am-afraid-i-may-have-committed-it/
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https://davidjeremiah.blog/is-there-a-sin-god-cannot-forgive/​

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TRY: 

• Make sure that you have very clear expectations for your children. 
  
• Clearly communicate your expectations to your children. They should be able to identify what they are and why they are important to you, them and the overall welfare of the family. Just like your Father, be sure to emphasize the value added to their lives through their obedience to your expectations. Your expectations shouldn’t exist to suit your preferences, but to train your daughters for righteousness (a benefit to all members of your family and a safeguard for her own life). 
  
• Model your expectations for your daughters consistently. Your daughters will follow what you do more than they will do what you say. Be diligent, with the strength the Holy Spirit provides, to make sure that what you say aligns with what you do and that all it aligns with the standard of God’s Word. 
  
• Model justice by engaging your daughters in a discussion of where they have fallen below the mark with respect to your expectations. Don’t gloss over their wrongdoing or explain it away. Encourage them to tell the truth by accepting their apologies and refraining from disciplining in anger and using language that identifies them as a problem, e.g. “You are bad!” or “Bad girl!”  Separate their actions from their identity. Thank them for telling the truth, without approving what they are being honest about. If there is a disciplinary (corrective) consequence you have determined for an action, follow through on it consistently.
  
• Model mercy by withholding punishment so that you can first model grace by providing your daughters with the time and practical support they need to correct their wrongdoing or repair any harm done.