In Christ Jesus, you have become a new creation and a son of God.

• We compare ourselves now in Christ to ourselves before without Christ.
• The second comparison is ourselves now in Christ to the fullness of Christ.
• The first appreciates how far I have come. The second recognizes how far I’ve left to go.
• We are new.
• Newness is from God, who graciously, through Christ, doesn’t hold sin against those who are in Christ. 
• We are new creations because we move from enemies of God to children of God.
• Your old garments are gone, clothed in Christ, you have a new identity that comes with the full rights of the citizenry of heaven.
• You were hostile to God.
• You could not please Him.
• But Christ could and did.
• In Christ alone, you have been chosen, loved, redeemed, justified, and made new, by the grace of God. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Titus 3:5, John 3:6-8, Revelation 21:4-5, Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 8:1-2,5-7,8,10,13,17,37-39

In Christ Jesus, you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins.

• We can become the righteousness of God because of Christ's work on the cross.
• We can become righteous because Christ was sinless.
• We can be righteous because Christ took on our sin.
• We can be righteous because God willed Christ to be our sin.
• We can be righteous because Christ's righteousness is attributed to us.
• We can be righteous through faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5, John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7 & 12, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:4-6 & 10, Romans 5:17, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 3:8-9, Titus 1:6-9

In Christ Jesus, you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins.

• Redemption - The forgiveness of sins is a gift of the grace of God.
• Christ not only frees you from slavery but he also removes what causes the affliction to begin with.
• Your worth is measured in the blood of Christ.
• Your rescue is not provided with the perishable but the priceless, irreplaceable blood of Christ.
• It’s always been about his unmatchable ability to bring about the redemption and restoration of the sinner.
• Only Jesus is capable of redemption.
• Christ left Glory and took on human form to be your substitute.
• Jesus' authority to forgive sins exists because of his deity.

Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 2:8-9, Mark 2:6-10, Isaiah 53:4-5

In Christ Jesus, you are loved by God with an inseparable love. 

• In Christ, we have the greatest possible love.
• It’s because of Christ’s sacrifice that we know what love is to begin with.
• Christ loved us to show us what love is and to inspire us to love others.
• Christ loved us despite ourselves.
• Christ loved us as a reflection of the Father’s love.
• Christ died for us to save us and to bring us into the fold.
• Pretty straight forward.

John 15:13, John 10:14-17, 1 John 3:16, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:9-12, 1 John 4:10, John 15:9-13, John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35

In Christ Jesus, you were chosen by God before creation.

• In Christ alone, you are chosen.
• In Christ, each of us has everything we need for spiritual well-being.
• Our purpose is to be set apart and blameless sacrifices dedicated to God’s purpose.
• We have been chosen to be coheirs with Christ.
• In Christ, all have been chosen. But not all respond in faith.
• This choosing, saving, and adoption accomplished through Jesus should result in our praise of God.
• Our faith is sealed with the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3-14

In Christ Jesus, you were given grace before the world was created.

• Salvation is a completed act, born from grace. Grace is not a merit-based system.
• It’s only through the grace of Christ that anyone can be saved.
• Sin entered the world and death became possible.
• Jesus came to Earth for one purpose: to destroy death.
• Through Christ and Christ only, we receive grace, which is undeserved life in the face of deserved death.
• We need grace to ensure that we aren’t defined by our worst moments.
• God’s power shines through our weaknesses.
• God may not change your circumstances. But through grace, he can change your perspective on your circumstances.
• Christ is grace.
• The law magnifies your sin. The Master moves you past it.

2 Timothy 1:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8:28, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23a, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Exodus 33:18-19, John 1:16-17, John 8:53-54, John 4:12-14, Titus 2:11, John 14:6-7, James 4:6, John 6:14

The Day of the Lord is coming. We don’t know when. But Jesus is returning and so we must commit to living with purpose and pursue truth in all things as we wait for His arrival.

• If Jesus were coming back tomorrow, how would your today be different?
• Know the Scriptures and know the God you serve. Know his desires for your life. To love God with all your heart and to love others the same way.
• Before Jesus comes again, many will come in his name but will only be serving themselves.
• God’s word is final. What he says will be - and it is. Scoffers disregard God’s Word and what has been, and claim that God is inactive.
• What is immediacy for an eternal God? One who is slow to anger, quick to forgive, and patient with his creation, desiring that they not perish?
• Knowing that God is coming back should inspire all of us to live lives of holiness and godliness.

2 Peter 3, Matthew 24:3-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

False teachers beware. God didn’t spare angels and He won’t spare us either. We must be sure to follow and teach the truth in order to avoid the wrath of God.

• False teachers are Satan's biggest weapon and the Christian's worst enemy.
• False teachers dress up their message as the word of God but are really pulling people away from the true Christ and his teachings.
• A false teacher's message sounds good but lacks substance.
• Masses will follow these messages, which support our desire to sin and experience salvation.
• False teachers exploit followers for their own personal gain.
• Judgment is coming, but the righteous will be saved, and you are personally responsible for your outcome.
• The Lord knows how to rescue the faithful from the midst of a trial and is equally capable of punishing the unrighteous.
• Better to be reviled in this life than destroyed in the next.
• A false teacher can’t quench your thirst because they promise freedom they don’t have.

2 Peter 2

Everything we need, we have in Jesus. The perfecter of our faith can help us progress in our own faith, and we must follow trustworthy sources to get there.

• The first step to mature faith is understanding that equality exists between all believers.
• We can't just know of God; we must know God.
• We supplement this grace with tremendous effort.
• These qualities show our growth in the Lord, and we should be growing at all times.
• Goodness - Morality and righteousness.
• Knowledge - Of the Lord. Spiritual understanding, which comes from the Spirit and the Word.
• Self-Control - Preventing one's passions from becoming overwhelming.
• Perseverance - Withstanding those who scoff at and persecute us.
• Godliness - Reverence for the Lord.
• Brotherly Affection - A genuine care for others.
• Love - Desiring the highest good for others.
• As Christians, we have to be growing constantly, or we risk being unfruitful.
• Our task isn’t easy, so encourage one another every chance you get.

2 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2:24

Those in leadership must be led by God and lead with love. Our responsibility is great, and others depend on us. But we must depend on God to avoid failure.

• Mature Christians must step up to guide those who are less so. 
• Each of us has a ministry serving those newer to faith than us. 
• Humility is the pathway we must travel on our walk of faith. 
• Faith In God’s providence is no excuse for blind carelessness.
• Your suffering is temporary, Your reward is forever.

1 Peter 5, John 21:16, 2 Tim 4:7-8