New Creations
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--- Title Slide
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
ILL. One study found that the average person spends 22-25 minutes a day
trying to fix a computer-related issue.
Over half of computer problems technicians deal with
can be fixed with a simple reboot.
The reason that computers often fail is that
they have systems processes continually running behind the scenes.
These processes leave behind an electronic footprint
that takes up memory (RAM).
When you restart your computer or smartphone,
these programs and processes end,
allowing you to start on a clean slate
with a faster and more efficient working device.
“Reboot”
“Reset”
clean slate.
FCF - We need a “Gospel Reset” from time to time.
Actually, when I first came to Grace Point,
my first four months were spent covering these topics.
The reason: If we miss the Gospel, we end up with...
1) man-made religion.
Bascially a way to get to the better life that you desire.
It makes the Gospel into a Christian self-help ideal.
2) Legalistic idea of what love for the Lord is.
A bunch of rules...
If you follow them, then you will be ok.
3) A powerless message.
B/c if your faith and your hope is dependent on you,
you have no hope.
B/c our strength will fail,
our wisdom will fail at some point,
our morality will fail,
our will power will fail.
The harsh reality of being human is that we are finite.
and b/c we are finite,
we will ultimately fail at some point.
And if we’re honest,
we will fail well before our life ends.
A faith and hope that depends on you...
is no hope at all.
So, with it being New Year’s Day...
let’s talk about how the Gospel makes us new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
“in Christ”
By faith, you receieve and rest upon Jesus as he is offered in the Gospel.
Faith in Christ… unites us to Christ.
So the Scriptures call that being “in Christ” (union with Christ).
All of what is what Jesus has been given is now given to us.
The access that Jesus has to the Father, we now have in him.
The Creative Work of God Alone
The Creative Work of God Alone
"new creation”
This is also called regeneration.
“the beginning of the new life” in a believer in Christ.
“creation” - points to the fact that this is not our work...
It is the work of God.
We are completely passive in God making us new.
“Regeneration is a creative work of God, and is therefore a work in which man is purely passive, and in which there is no place for human co-operation.” (Louis Berkhof)
This is good news.
Just as God created the world,
he creates new life in us who have faith in Christ.
It is an instantaneous change...
Not a process (sanctification).
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ILL. Record Book of Sin:
Let’s imagine this book in my right hand contains a detailed account of my life.
Each page has the details of all my sins;
every word I have spoken,
every thought that ever crossed my mind,
every wrong deed I’ve ever done.
My sin (hold up book) is the problem.
(Place book in palm of left hand.)
God loves me (point to your left hand),
but He hates my sin (point at the book on top of your hand),
and must punish it.
My sin separates me from God.
There are times I have tried to take care of this problem.
I would try to turn my life around.
I tried to turn over a new leaf.
But the problem was still there.
By my own efforts I cannot make things right with God.
I must be made "new".
You must be born again.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
We have died with Christ.
“old gone”
“new has come”
“no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
(Berkhof) “gives birth to a life that moves in a Godward direction.”
While we were dead in sin,
God made us alive in Christ.
“made alive with Christ, shares the resurrection life,”
(v. 14) compelled by the love of Christ.
"love of Christ controls us"
"seizes, confines"
"to compel"
"constrains us"
Kittel:
“to enclose” or “to lock up,”
e.g., an army behind walls, or a prisoner
The love of Christ “controls” or “dominates”,
so that he has to live for Christ and not for self.
We are hemmed in by the love of Christ so much that (v. 15) becomes a reality...
we "no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
How was this “new creation” accomplished?
The Great Exchange
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus took on what we deserved.
And we received what he deserved.
Our sin was put into his account.
His righteousness was put into our account.
"New” - What does it mean?
"New” - What does it mean?
A radical change of the governing disposition of your life.
New spiritual life is implanted within us.
Now… you are under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
convincing us of our sin and misery,
enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,
and renewing our wills,
he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ.
New orientation of life
No longer for ourselves, oriented to Jesus
New power at work in us.
No longer enslaved to sin, but empowered by the Spirit.
New Destiny
No longer destined for the judgment of God, but destined for eternity with him.
New Creation
Made new after the image of Jesus,
yet still being made like him from one degree of glory to the next.
Regeneration is the “divine act by which the sinner is endowed with new spiritual life, and by which the principle of that new life is first called into action.” (Louis Berkhof)
First called into action...
We are given a new direction in life and a new influence over our life...
yet, this “new creation” is the initial time the new life is activated.
Regeneration is not a change in the substance of human nature...
It is rather a new disposition and empowerment of the believer.
App. Just like at the beginning of our physical lives,
we needed to grow and learn how to live and funciton.
We also need to grow and learn to function in this new life.
Freed from sin’s penalty (death for sin)
Freed from sin’s power (no longer slaves to sin)
Not freed from sin’s presence (it still resides… even though we have new life)
"New” - What does it NOT mean?
"New” - What does it NOT mean?
Some people think that regerneration (“new”) replaces our sin with righteousness.
This is simply no the case.
ILL. When I first began in pastoral ministry,
there was a song (short chorus, really) - “Change My Heart, O God”.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
We sang that from time to time as a short reflection or response.
But a couple of our members pushed back about us singing that song.
They said that we shouldn’t sing that song...
b/c God has already changed our hearts.
And it is asking God to do something that he doesn’t need to do again.
This points to one of the common misconceptions about being “New” in Christ.
“Two elements must be distinguished in regeneration, namely, generation or the begetting of the new life, and bearing or bringing forth, by which the new life is brought forth out of its hidden depths.” (Louis Berkhof)
Even though we are “new”...
we are still incomplete and not fully sanctified.
It gives us patience in our growth process.
And, it gives us patience with the people around us.
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** On Communion Sunday...
If after 10:30,
go straight to the Lord’s Supper.
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
Benediction:
Benediction:
Extra Stuff:
Extra Stuff: