I AM FORGIVEN Ephesians 1:7-10

BIG IDEA OF THIS SERIES: Our identity is not in what we do but in who Christ is. This 4-week series will examine our identity in Christ, and what that means for us and what that can do for us.

Big Idea of the Message: You are God’s masterpiece! Week 1 Big Idea of the Message: You are God’s masterpiece! “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Big Idea: God made us who we are so we could make known who He is. Week 2 Big Idea: God made us who we are so we could make known who He is. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9-10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Today’s Big Idea: Because of what Jesus did on the cross and through the redemption of His blood, we are forgiven.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time — to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:7-10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

There’s CONFUSION in our lives when we don’t accept God’s forgiveness and when we don’t forgive ourselves.—God can’t lead us if we don’t accept His forgiveness and if we don’t forgive ourselves.

The next time the devil tempts you to think that you are not worthy to approach God, here is what I advise: Agree. Say, "You are right. I am not worthy to approach God. I never was worthy to approach God. I never will be worthy to approach God. My access to God's presence is not based on my worthiness, it is based on what Christ did for me on the cross."-Greg Laurie

The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin, while God knows your sin but calls you by your name.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

What is condemnation? The act of condemning ourselves with punishment or consequence. (Jesus went through the punishment and the ultimate consequence for our sins so we don’t have to live in condemnation)

Condemnation is the biggest cause of identity crisis because it keeps us from embracing what Christ did on the cross.

This is the strategy of the enemy--to entertain your thoughts and actions with the things that Christ died on the cross for. He wants to reverse the work of the cross against you so that what Christ did on the cross doesn’t work for you.--thus you live in with an identity crisis. WE MUST REFUSE TO ALLOW THE DEVIL TO DEFINE THE WORK OF THE CROSS.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9

What is repentance? Repentance proclaims the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man that changes the way we think and causes us to turn in the direction God wants to take us.

The common denominator among people being forgiven by God, no matter how horrible their sins might have been is repentance. “Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.” Acts‬ ‭3:19-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:12‬ ‭CSB‬‬ ““I — I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

God doesn’t waste anything in your life that has happened God doesn’t waste anything in your life that has happened. You are not defined by your past but God will use your past to prepare you for your future. (All things work together for good…….)--God will use the good, the bad, and the ugly to work together for His good.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭CSB‬‬ The Big Idea: Because of what Jesus did on the cross and through the redemption of His blood, we are forgiven.

APPLICATION: Read the following scriptures for each day. Let these scriptures remind you that you are forgiven and that Christ sets you free through the redemption of His blood. Monday-Read Ephesians 1:7-10 Tuesday-Read Romans 8:1-2 Wednesday-Read I John 1:9 Thursday-Read Psalms 103:12 Friday-Read Colossians 1:13-14

PRAYER: Father, I come to You with brokenness and humility to ask for forgiveness of my sins. Your word says if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just, and will forgive me and purify me from all unrighteousness. I’m asking for forgiveness of the sins I committed knowingly and unknowingly.

I thank You for the ultimate sacrifice of Your son and for His blood that washes and redeems me from my sins. I thank You that Your son did the work on the cross so I don’t have to work for Your forgiveness. I ask for Your guidance of Your Spirit as I move forward. I thank You that I am free from guilt and shame of my sins. In Jesus Name. Amen.

PREPARE FOR COMMUNION

WHO ARE YOU? I Peter 2:9-10