He Makes All Things New (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

A Violin Made New

Transition: This story of the violin is an example of how God redeems us from the trash heap of sin and restores us, not just for the sake of beauty, but for the sake of God’s Kingdom pursuit to redeem sinners. Just as a violin is made to make music, we are remade in Christ to sing His song of redemption.

1. In the same way that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was compelled by love, we are compelled by His love to live on mission. (vv. 14-16)

The love of Christ compels a new perspective of the world.

Christ died not only for me, but for every single person in the world (“one died for all”)

All need redemption (“all died”)

We no longer live for ourselves

We live for Christ. This means that we not only have a new perspective of the world but also a new purpose in the world.

The love of Christ compels a new perspective of people.

We understand that people are primarily spiritual beings. (Lit., “according to the flesh”)

The love of Christ compels a new perspective of Christ.

Our redemption is based on faith that Jesus is God in the flesh; that He is both God and man. As man, He was the perfect sacrifice for sin. As God, He had the authority and the power to rise from the dead and redeem people from sin.

The love of Christ creates in us an entirely new perspective: an eternal one. And this compels us to no longer live for ourselves but to live for His purpose: redemption of sinners.

2. We are made new so that we can live for Christ. (vv. 17-18a)

We are new because we were newly created in Christ.

We are new in quality. (abundant life)

We are new in innovation.

The word, create, implies an artistic act. The word, create implies a Divine act. The word, create, implies a miraculous act: ex nihilo.

We are newly created so that Christ can abide in us.

The word, create, was coined to describe the founding of a city. In this use, it means, “to make habitable”.

John 15:4-5 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

John 14:23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

We are new because the old has passed away.

Sin’s hold on our life has passed away. Enmity with God has passed away. Guilt and shame have passed away.

In Christ we are all brand new!

Isaiah 43:18–19 “Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

In Christ we are all brand new!

This means more than simply cleaning up my act, or turning over a new leaf; it is becoming an entirely new person. We live in a new covenant. We live together as a new people. When Christ returns, we will receive a new physical body. And we will live eternally in a new creation.

All this new is from God. It’s His work in us through the Holy Spirit who is always doing new things. All this new is because we have been reconciled to God through Christ. In other words, our newness in Christ is all God’s work in us. We didn’t do anything to deserve it. We didn’t do anything to earn it. And we didn’t do anything to achieve it.

This is why we live for Jesus: compelled by love, out of deep gratitude, knowing that apart from His work, we would be our old sinful selves with no God, no hope, and no future.

3. We were made new so that we can tell others about Jesus. (18b-21)

What does this all mean for me? This being made new in Christ.

As new creations, our daily living is to reflect the newness we have in Christ.

God has given His new creations the ministry of reconciliation.

God has committed to His new creations the message of reconciliation.

God has commissioned His new creations to be Christ’s ambassadors in this world.

Ambassadors speak for the king:

We make His appeal of grace to sinners.

We plead His mercy to those dying.

We live a righteous life that backs up our message.

What do I do now?

I have a Savior to represent.

I have a service to give.

I have a message to share.

Remember, a violin was made for music.