"New in Christ" September 21 Readings: Isaiah 52-53, 2 Corinthians 5, Psalm 107:8–14, Proverbs 23:15–18

Today's Readings - Isaiah 52-53, 2 Corinthians 5, Psalm 107:8–14, Proverbs 23:15–18

Devotional 

Seldom do we pack two such powerful passages into one day's readings!

In Isaiah 52-53 we have one of the great passages of the Old Testament, a prophetic tour of the Cross of Christ. It is hard to imagine that a passage written hundreds of years before Christ was born could so accurately describe the sufferings of Jesus as he bore our sins so that by his stripes our sins could be healed.

4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.

6 We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the Lord has punished him

for the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

I committed the sin, he took the punishment. 

He was wounded, I was healed. 

I went astray, he brought me to the Father in peace. 

It is the most amazing story of grace, love, mercy and restoration ever, and it was promised to Israel and to us hundreds of years before the events took place. 

But the story continues in 2 Corinthians 5. That same work that was prophesied in Isaiah 53 is discussed there. Paul speaks not only of the fact that we have been reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin, but he tells us in verse 17 that we have been made new in Christ. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The work of Christ in us makes us brand new people, new creations. Not only that, but Paul says in verse 18 that being new creations, reconciled to God, gives to us the ministry of reconciliation. God saves us through the blood of Christ, makes us new, then assigns us the duty of making that blessed news known in this world. 

Thank you, Father, for the truth of these passages, and the joy of being forgiven, made new in Christ, and given the ministry of reconciliation in this world. 

Think and Pray

Read through 2 Corinthians 5 and write down everything this passage says about you as a believer - who you are in Christ.
These truths are essential to building a biblical self-image - one based not on who I am, but who Christ is and who I am in Christ!