“You are a new creation, but sometimes it takes time for your new nature to become second nature.”- Mark Batterson
As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 3 of If, he offers encouragement that it is never too late for you to be what you might have been. God still can roll away your if only regrets. One way to break the sin habit is to establish a prayer habit. That way you can leave the past in its place- the past. Pastor Batterson adds:
“He crucified our sin by nailing it to a cross. Don’t resurrect it!”
We appreciate the grace of God by fully acknowledging our sinfulness, rather than underestimating it. We also appreciate and reflect God’s grace by not labeling others by their sins. There is no gradation of sin. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 8:23).
In order to step into what if, we have to get past if only. The cross of Christ, the crossroad, “turns if only regrets into what if possibilities.”
Mark believes that when we focus just on the penalty Jesus paid for us at Calvary, which is wonderful beyond words, that’s only half the gospel. Pastor Batterson refers to this partial focus as the glass-half-empty gospel. Since Christ’s righteousness has been credited to your account, your glass is full of the righteousness of Christ. Mark elaborates:
“This half-empty mindset causes us to focus on forgiveness, but Jesus didn’t die on the cross just to forgive you. . . . He died to change you. And He didn’t die on the cross just to keep you safe. He died to make you dangerous- a threat to the enemy. He died so you could make a difference for all eternity.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you see yourself as a new creation in Christ? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The emergency exit”
