New Creation
Notes
Transcript
God knows you.
I remember going to the hospital in my hometown to visit Carol, one of my parishioners who was being cared for. It was a little under an hour from my area of ministry and back in my home town. When I walked into the room I was greeted by the family. Not long after my arrival the PA entered the room. I was taken back because I recognized her immediately from High School and her me. Dave (the husband) introduced his children to her and she walked over to me and addressed Dave and said “him too?” Dave, laughed and said, “oh no, that’s our pastor!” The woman looked me in the eye, smirked, and said “Pastor, huh. I did not see that coming” We laughed as I responded, “that makes two of us.” then proceeded to share how we knew each other.
It is hard to start over when you have a history behind you. But that is exactly what we are doing when we receive Christ into our lives.
In Christ we are a New Creation. Leaving the past.
Baptism, is the physical acting out of a spiritual work. It is the evidence of God at work in a life of the believer that recognizes God’s saving activity. God prompts the heart that is wayward and convinces us of our sin. We die to ourselves and are raised to life in Jesus Christ. God spans the gap.
Paul, addresses that the Gospel is about “how God knows us or does not know us” . Paul, begins this paragraph denoting that it is because of fear (phobos meaning in this context afraid but also reverent of) the LORD.
Frank Carver writes “At issue is an appropriate respect and reverence with a touch of holy terror.”
Paul addresses that only those who are unknown by God should be frightened because of their sin. It is because of Paul’s fear. That it is because of their knowledge and fear of God they work to bring others into the knowledge of God through repentance and acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Today’s society doesn’t understand or worse doesn’t agree that reverent fear of the LORD helps us remember our place in creation. Ultimate, that God is God and we are not. God is the knower of all hearts for it is God who works within the human heart to usher all people into His holy presence through belief. Only those who have received the Gospel message are known by God. Jesus, says to the religious that “they
Not only is Paul and his company known by God but Paul bridges that relationship to accentuate his relationship to the church in Corinth. He is not deceiving or working for dishonest gain but out of love for them. They should know him because of the great message he brought to them that was the Gospel of Jesus.
Paul isn’t going to defend his relationship to them but expects the church to profess it to those who are sowing mistrusts and criticism of Paul and the message he brought.
Once separated by sin.
Adam and Eve
18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.
Prevenient grace: the grace that invites us to the relationship.
Justifying grace: The cross and the resurrection are intertwined in Pauline theology.
Atonement and reconciliation
Paul in verse 16 shows us the new order for life in Christ is a present reality for those who believe. God no longer counts the sin of men against them thanks to the life-giving fountain of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
New Practice (The Sanctified Life)
New Practice (The Sanctified Life)
Paul tells the church that he knows Christ as he really is— not a historical character but the incarnate God.
Paul shares that he is called to share in the ministry of reconciliation as his calling from Christ.
Now that we are known by God we are called to “walk with the Divine”
Holiness of heart and life
His vision is grounded in the love of God—the holy love of God, to use Kenneth J. Collins’ useful corrective—such that God’s love renews our hearts, our lives, and brings us into the new creation in such a way that sin no longer reigns in our hearts.
In the words of Ryan Danker “It’s instant and a process”
Christian Perfection, entire sanctification, Holy Love, are all titles for the same state of existence. That it is possible to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind , and strength.
The New Creation is what we in Methodism hold as the sanctified or holy state.
Brought to fruition through cooperative work between the Divine and the human.
Living out the virtues of God and God’s truth.
To quote John Wesley :Truth and love united together are the essence of virtue or holiness.”
Charles Wesley: “Unite the pair so long dis-joined, knowledge and vital piety.”
Ordination vows: “Are you going on to perfection?” Yes, with the help of God.
We are going to be different and that is a beautiful thing.
New Witness (We are Ambassadors)
New Witness (We are Ambassadors)
Lyrics from mac Powell’s New Creation: “you brought me blessings out of the tragedy, turned my old song into a symphony, Spirit living inside of me! I’m a NEW CREATION”
The world and the devil want us to believe that our past is who we are. Jesus says we are worth dying for.
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
My sister Cyndee asking for baptism. God is constantly trying to get our attention and once that happens we have an opportunity to respond. We leave the past behind and walk into a new present to an amazing future. In that future we point others to the amazing work of Jesus Christ.
Evangelism: We get to share our story!
Our lives are not an anvil to our present and future; our past is the testimony to God’s amazing grace! God works through who we were and meets us where we are, so that He can usher us into the newness of life. Our lives are a witness to the power of God at work.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In Christ we are a new creation. The old is gone and no longer defines us. God has entered our hearts and conquered our flesh and spirit. We are children of God. We are family, known intimately by God. We are ambassadors for the Gospel.