The questions below are a helpful way for me to reflect on the completeness of the finished work of Jesus on the cross on our behalf.
Think of these five questions on kind of a sliding scale with “not at all” on the left side of the scale and “completely” on the right side. Where are we on this line?
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Not at all Completely
Question 1: Under the new covenant, how much am I forgiven?
Am I partly forgiven? Am I forgiven of all my sins up to my salvation, up to my decision to believe the gospel? Are there sins that I am responsible for after that? Am I only forgiven of the sins I remember to confess?
or
Am I completely forgiven of ALL my sins; past, present, and future? The new covenant answer is YES, I am completely forgiven. (Colossians 2:13-14)
Question 2: Under the new covenant, how much of the Law am I under?
Do I need the moral law but not the ceremonial law? Am I under the some of the Old Testament Law, but not the sacrifice system? Am I under the ten commandments?
or
Am I completely set free from ALL of the Old Testament Law? The new covenant answer is YES, I am completely free from the Law. (Romans 7:1-6)
Question 3: Under the new covenant, how much of my old self died with Christ?
Is my old self kind of dead? Is my old self positionally dead? Is my old self partly dead? Which part of my old self died with Christ?
or
Was my old self completely crucified with Christ? The new covenant answer is YES, my old self was completely crucified with Christ. (Romans 6:6-7)
Question 4: Under the new covenant, how acceptable am I to God?
Sometimes acceptable? Mostly a disappointment? Depends on my actions? Maybe God doesn’t even see me?
or
Am I completely accepted and deeply loved by God at all times? The New Covenant answer is YES, I am completely accepted and deeply loved by God. (I John 3:1)
Question 5: Under the new covenant, how close am I to God?
Kind of close? Am I getting closer? Not close at all? Depends on the day? Maybe 6 out of 10? Depends on my behavior? Do I alternate between getting closer to God and falling further behind?
or
Am I completely inseparable from Jesus and the Father? The new covenant answer is YES, your union with Christ is unbreakable. (John 14:20, I Corinthians 6:17, Colossians 3:3, Hebrews 13:5)
Jesus said, “It is finished”. The cross worked and accomplished all that Jesus promised to us.
(Adapted from a message by Andrew Farley)