Tom Branch - Roads of Faith

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col 3:10 NLT

After reading this I can see where sin is a constant struggle. If we put on the robes and is is always being cleaned and renewed, why would it need to be unless it gets dirty with sin over and over. This was and is a very comforting tidbit to come to know and understand.

Now the verse that really hit me last ngiht that I read over and over and it took me a while before I could move on was:

Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Cor 5:14-15 NLT

But how it was explained in the book I was reading made so much better sense. So I shall use that and illustrate this story. It is based upon 2 Cor 5:21

As being a resident on the lovely place called Earth I went down to the local Sin-Mart and bought all sorts of things. Now not everything that Sin-Mart had was bad. Some of the things were of good use. But its not the item that is good or bad, it is what is done with said items. Well I go to check out and use my credit card. Actually it was aptly named Master Card.

So I gave the cashier my MC and then informed me that my sins were charged to Jesus and I was credited his rightousness.

So that's when it hit me in those terms....he pays for the sins and gives us rightousness in return. Looking at it like a purchase like this really hit home. But the book went one more step to paraphrase it to even this....

God treated CHrist as we deserved to be treated in order that He might treat us as He deserved. That is grace.

I am still letting this thought settle in as much as it can. Needing to understand this is a key. I know of God's grace but I don't know God's grace. or know it like I should.

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