The Old Year has Passed

 2 Cor.5:17-21  I hope and pray that as you reflect on the past year you are able to remember good things amongst the despair that seems to highlight much of it.  Perhaps we should highlight what Christ has done for us.  Paul tells the Corinthians "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." God's work of reconciliation began first of all with His dealing with our sin.  Jesus' died for all, that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. The applied work of Christ to our lives anticipates change. When the work of Christ is applied to our hearts by faith our spiritual residence changes from being outside of Christ to being 'in Christ'; the result- we are a new creation. There is a transaction that takes place as Christ takes our sin on himself (21) and we become the righteousness of God in him.  The righteousness of Christ is 'imputed' immediately on the one who is reconciled (made right with) to God.  The word imputed can be described as 'being clothed.' It is witnessed in Gen.15:6 as Abraham believes God's promise to him. 'Counted', 'credited', 'accounted' are different words that describe the gift of God to Abraham. Imputed righteousness was given Abraham. The idea is of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ- a righteousness outside of ourselves. (Zechariah 3:1-5).  No works, just grace. Let's thank God!