October 11, 2024 -- I Timothy 2:5-6 -- How does restoration from addiction and life controlling issues work itself out in my life?

 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
I Timothy 2:5-6 ESV

Okay, I’ve admitted I am powerless against my sin and destructive behavior. I have confessed my belief that God is the source of all power Who can restore me. But how does this all work? What does this mean? Who is this God that I should trust Him?

Last time we considered that God (the Father) before He ever created the heavens and the earth, chose men and women in Christ to be His sons and daughters. The Being God has revealed Himself to be Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. Three Persons in One Being. That is called Trinity. The Father prepared a way for sinful, destructive-life-style-living men and women to turn from evil and find hope in Him. Jesus Christ, His Son, is the One Mediator between God and Man.

Since Jesus is fully God He understands God’s utter hatred of any and all sin. Since Jesus is fully human, born of the virgin Mary, He understands the very human pull of temptation leading sin and the pull it has on our weak flesh. But the difference is Jesus never sinned. Ever. So Jesus is perfectly suited to stand between God and all people as the Mediator, the One Reconciler.

Wait. How did Jesus resist sin Himself when He was human? Great and important question. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. The third Person of the Being God, the Holy Spirit, filled Jesus’ humanity to all the measure of fullness (John 3:34). So all who believe on Jesus, confessing their sin, receive the Holy Spirit Who strengthens them to stand against sin and walk in the way of righteousness.

Today's text says that Jesus is the ransom for sin. That means at the cross, the Father put on Jesus the sins of all. Jesus was punished in the place of guilty, ruined sinners, so that His perfect righteousness (His keeping of God’s law perfectly in all His life from conception to death) is now credited to all who believe on Him and follow Him in faithfulness.

But what if I keep sinning after I confess my belief that God is the source of all power and He alone can restore me in my journey to freedom? You will keep on sinning. However, the change is you have a mediator, Jesus, Whose reconciling sacrifice continually makes you right with God. You have the Holy Spirit Who lives in you so that sin becomes hateful, more truly vile to you, and you want to turn from it. The Holy Spirit cleanses you more and more so that following Jesus becomes more desirable than going back to the vomitous ways of your past habits.

What is more, God Himself gives you a place in His family, as an adopted son or daughter. This is the good news that helps believers stay on course. When a fellow believer sees you straying, he will help you back on track. When you see a believer straying, you help him back to Jesus. This accountability strengthens the commitment of all to hold each other up in prayer. Believers in community with God and walking together guard each other from the Devil’s sly schemes and his treacherous tricks which are designed to get you back into your old addictions and submission to life-controlling issues. The Word of God is your daily help, showing you how the Devil is defeated already, disarmed by the cross of Jesus, and there is victory now in this life and peace in the life to come, eternal life, where the Devil and temptations are never to be seen or heard of again.

How does this work? Ask Jesus to be the One Mediator between you and God. Seek Christians who can help you walk with God. Get a Bible. Read it. Ask the Spirit of God to help you. You will find you doubt. You will question whether God can really love you. He can. He does. You will slip and slide at first—like an infant moving from crawling to attempting to walk, you will find you will knock against things, fall. Don’t worry. God delights to save all who call on His Name. You will find He even gives you opportunities to teach others about this newfound freedom and blessing. Doon you will be walking far more steadily, following Jesus.

God, I need help. As someone new to this faith-thing, lead me to Jesus.

God, I need help. As someone who has been walking with Jesus for a long time, there are so many battles still to be fought, in my head, in my heart and in my hidden motives.

The Bible promises that all who put their faith in Jesus, You, O Father, give the right to be Your sons and daughters. That is amazing. Do what You do best, continually bring us out of the darkness of our past and into the Light and Life of Jesus. Keep me tuned into You, so I will be ready to help anyone who is struggling trying to walk with You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/q-dWxto9-XQ?si=TNz2lSAnnxVU28_i I Set My Hope On Jesus

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