The Great Change
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I want to talk about “The Great Change” this morning!
Out of everything that I have received in my lifetime, I am most thankful for the gift of salvation! I often try to comprehend all that God has done for me, but I admit that it is beyond my ability to fully understand the greatness of salvation.
We will most likely never fully understand God’s abundant, amazing, grace, but that shouldn’t stop us from expressing our gratitude for all that we have received in Christ.
Paul never lost sight of what he had received in Christ. He never got far away from the foot of the cross, and you and I shouldn’t either! Paul was forever thankful for the grace that God extended to him.
John MacArthur writes, “Paul was overwhelmed with gratitude that the eternal, holy God sent His Son to die as a substitute to pay the penalty for his sins. That marvelous truth left him no room for self-congratulation, as if he had contributed something to his salvation. But Christ’s death did not merely put him in a position to be saved; it procured his salvation. From that reality flows reconciliation, justification, forgiveness of sin, peace with God, and deliverance from wrath and judgment. Paul desired above all else to live for the One who sovereignly and graciously redeemed him through His blood.”
The great change that Paul experienced on the road to Damascus was a transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ.
This change was so profound that it led him to completely redefine his life and dedicate himself to spreading the gospel.
The Word of God tells us there will be a change when we meet Jesus! Let’s take a look at these verses and see what we can learn about the change that takes place when one becomes born again...
I-The Necessity of this Change
I-The Necessity of this Change
2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV 1900)
14 ...that if one died for all, then were all dead:
This statement speaks of mankind’s sinfulness.
Christ died for us all because we are all sinners. We are all dead in trespasses of sin and needed someone to pay the price for our sins.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)
23 For the wages of sin is death;
Sin separates from God, and to be separated from God is spiritual death. A change is needed, not in God, but in the condition of the soul that is already lost to Him because of sin.
A change is needed! We are born separated from God, and if there’s no change in that status, then we will die in our sin and be thus be judged for those sins, which will result in being condemned to hell for eternity!
II-The Making of this Change
II-The Making of this Change
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
To be in Christ is to be trusting Him so entirely that God is pleased in grace to reckon the righteousness of His Son as for us.
God in His mercy and grace provided a means for all to be saved. This is accomplished through a new birth in the Lord Jesus.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
It is at this new birth that the old nature of sin dies and we are reborn into a life of righteousness. At the moment of salvation, all things become new. The desires, anger, hatred, envy, jealousy, of the old man have been replaced with newness of life in Christ. Life is now filled with a desire to serve God, a love for others, and a hope for the future.
We are talking about a complete change here! The saved person now has a new heart, new eyes to see, new feet to walk, new hands to work, and a new voice to speak!
Only Christ can bring about a change like this!
III-The Method of this Change
III-The Method of this Change
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
In Jesus of Nazareth this lowly Man of Sorrows, God was seeking to reconcile a world at war with Himself.
In Christ we meet with this seeking and forgiving God, finding salvation and newness of life, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 4:16 (KJV 1900)
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;...
With the new birth, comes reconciliation.
It is through salvation that fellowship between God and man is restored.
God is holy and righteous and cannot accept sin.
As long as we are in sin there is no fellowship; we are condemned, separated. The blood that Jesus shed for us reconciled us to God. We have been cleared of all guilt. The sin that we clearly were guilty of has been forgiven.
God didn’t lay the charges of sin to man, but Christ Himself bore our sin.
It is by grace alone we are saved! God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!
The Innocent became guilty so the guilty could become innocent.
Jesus is the only way to be reconciled. He restored what sin had lost.
IV-The Evidence of this Change
IV-The Evidence of this Change
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Christ died that we might live through Him:
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
As Christians, we are called to be Christ-like! That’s the meaning of the word Christian...
Understanding that...It has well been said, “Christ died our death for us that we might live His life for Him.”
If a lost sinner has been to the cross and been saved, how can he spend the rest of his life in selfishness?
The evidence that we have of being redeemed and transformed is a changed attitude towards ourselves and our Lord. It is not “I” now, but “Christ.” He gave Himself that He might redeem us. Now henceforth it must be ourselves for Him.
This new purpose in life is surely what is expected from a new creature.
The same God that saved us is the same God that...
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
V-The Responsibilities of this Change
V-The Responsibilities of this Change
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
We are Christ’s representatives in the world, both as to His character and His purpose.
Being an ambassador in ancient times was an important and highly regarded duty.
An ambassador was both a messenger for and a representative of the one who sent him, and believers are messengers and representatives of the court of Heaven.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
If sinners reject us and our message, it is Jesus Christ who is actually rejected. What a great privilege it is to be heaven’s ambassadors to the rebellious sinners of this world!
An ambassador of the United States is an American in a foreign land. His life is spent among people who usually speak a different language, who have a different tradition and who follow a different way of life. The Christian is always like that. He lives in the world; he takes part in all the life and work of the world; but he is still a citizen of Heaven. In those terms, he is a stranger in this world.
When one government sends an ambassador to another government, it means they are on friendly relations. God is still friendly with this world. He has sent us as His ambassadors. Ancient ambassadors gave the specific message of those who sent him. This is what we are to do too. One day He will call His ambassadors home at the Rapture. Then judgment will begin, just as a nation pulls out its ambassadors on the verge of war with another nation.
Conclusion
Conclusion
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Salvation is essential to reach heaven.
Man in himself can never achieve what is required. At the moment of salvation, we receive all that is needed to enter an eternity with the Lord. All of the qualities we’ve looked at work together.
Do you possess these qualities? If not, I urge you to come. Salvation is the only way!
