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I have been crucified with ChristI have been crucified with Christ

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I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Galatians 2.20

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For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2.2

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Thus says the LORD, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not the rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me…”

Jeremiah 9.23-24

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How do we boast in the Cross?How do we boast in the Cross?

“With a little Savior I am still in danger, but if he be the mighty God, able to save unto the uttermost, then I am safe in his protecting hand, and my consolations are rich and abounding.”

C.H. Spurgeon

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How do we boast in the Cross?How do we boast in the Cross?

“Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly. For he is victorious over sin, death, and the world.”

Martin Luther

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What does it mean to “Sin Boldly”?What does it mean to “Sin Boldly”?

• To recognize that we are sinners & to To recognize that we are sinners & to stop deceiving ourselvesstop deceiving ourselves

• To boldly confess our sins with the hope To boldly confess our sins with the hope of forgivenessof forgiveness

• It does It does notnot mean to use grace as a liberty mean to use grace as a liberty to sin even moreto sin even more

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Confession of SinsConfession of Sins

If we say that we have no sin, we are If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1.8-91 John 1.8-9

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Confession of SinsConfession of Sins

Confess your sins to one another, and pray Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.for one another so that you may be healed.

James 5.16James 5.16

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How do we confess?How do we confess?

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How do we confess?How do we confess?

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Listen & ConfessListen & Confess

• Confession of sins is vital to growth in Christ

• Confession must take place within a safe atmosphere among trusted brothers or sisters

• If we do not listen well, we do not give the other an opportunity to confess their sins

• God is the one who forgives sins, though we are the priesthood of believers who aid each other in actualizing forgiveness

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The DifficultyThe Difficulty

“Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother?”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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The DifficultyThe Difficulty

• When we confess our sins to one another, we are dying to ourselves & being crucified

• Nothing is quite so humiliating, nor is anything quite so liberating

• I encourage you to confess your sins to one another, while simultaneously confessing God’s greatness in your lives

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SummarySummary

• We are crucified with ChristWe are crucified with Christ

• We live by faith in ChristWe live by faith in Christ

• It is all about the CrossIt is all about the Cross

• Boast in knowing Christ crucifiedBoast in knowing Christ crucified

• Do not boast in our own strengthDo not boast in our own strength

• Confess his greatness among one anotherConfess his greatness among one another

• Confess your sin among one anotherConfess your sin among one another

• Sin Boldly, Believe Boldly, Rejoice BoldlySin Boldly, Believe Boldly, Rejoice Boldly

• Christ did not die for nothing!Christ did not die for nothing!