New Year's Sermon 2024
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A common practice during this time of year are resolutions. While it is easy and perhaps too much fun to poke fun at how man practices this, it does point to a common human desire and experience that is worth detailing for a better understanding and practice of Christian doctrine.
This common practice points to a common human desire for renewal, positive change, moving in the right direction, and/or progress.
This is not a surprise that we see this element behind the practice; in much of our society we see a desire for these things. Every election year we see politicians campaign on platitudes like these, and if we thought hard enough we would see it in many areas of our lives.
While I am not a huge fan of the practice of new year’s resolutions per se (such actions shouldn’t be reserved for a certain time of year if they are truly needed) I am a fan of entertaining the proper expression of where that common desire comes from. What I mean is, people often times do silly, foolish, or straight up abominable things in their depravity. However, if we look into the action and heart biblically, we can locate where such wayward desire has its nucleus in a godly desire.
Simply put for this subject matter: progress, change, renewal, rejuvenation is something that all men should feel within their hearts because of sin, and because of the hope of the resurrection. As Christians, we should echo such a mentality and find our joy and worship in Christ who supplies us with it.
We have deep within us a desire for positive change, and a moving in the right direction. This is why new years resolutions are so popular.
We need to make sure and express this natural desire in a biblical way: thus not in frivolous life change promise but rather in sanctification in hope of glorification
I. There is something wrong at present
A lack of contentment
A desire for something different in future
II. The proper change for the future
What it’s not: frivolous resolutions
What it is sanctification
This assumes what has gone before Justification
This gives power to change for present
This gives hope to what lies ahead (glorification)
III. The implications for the New Year
Change is good and a proper emotion
But what sanctification change looks like
Does this change grow my relationship with Christ?
Does the intended result seem good from a love I have for God?
As compared to frivolous change
A lack of contentment
Wicked:
Always moving:
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
Driven by sensuality
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
We are creatures made by God to have desires, and have them fulfilled. But the nature of sin is its a show of fulfilled desires but only leads you wanting more. Like a dehydrated person lost at sea. He could put the salt water to his lips and if he didn’t know any better be convinced and thrilled that he has liquid to drink. But as soon as he did it would not fulfill but only cause the guy to look more intensely for true drink,
Left in our sin, we are natural seekers for desires to be fulfilled. And without the understanding given by God, we are like the guy lost at sea. We put the water to our lips and find it only makes us long for something more, and so we scoop up more water, and the cycle goes on and on.
That is why the philosophy behind new year resolutions are so on point with the human condition in sin. A potent, consistent, and nagging feeling that something is not right. And a desire to find something that will make it right.
And it also usually hits on another step in the right direction: the change is something good.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Stop drinking so much
Stop smoking so much
Focus on family
Make progress in a good career
But since its from a heart that is connected to this deeper human condition, it rarely succeeds. Or if it does, the question is often: now what?
The answer is not to mock at such longings for change. But rather to acknowledge that a change to fulfill underlining desire is what it means to be human. The error becomes when we try to satisfy ourselves with
The call is the same as what the prophet said millennia ago:
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
The answer is not frivolous resolutions
Whether its resolutions pointing to what is good, or to bad
If it does not have its basis in what is abiding, we can say with the preacher all is vanity.
So the question is if it is good to have within my heart a desire for change, and to move on that change: what does it look like to have a proper grounding and proper practice?
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Always followed by a putting on…new man…”man” since it covers every inch of us
Starts in understanding that finds its rest in our hearts
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
The prize of a flesh under control
Godly desires=natural desires=what equates to life and not death.
Sanctification which leads to resurrection and glorification
resurrection (born again)—sanctification process—resurrection of physical body—glorification of soul and body
This is points to positive, life giving, change.
Our hope needs to be in this promise of total renewal
And such hope is shown in present action to walk in this change today.
The unbeliever shows his desire for glorification and the realizing of the taste in sanctification.
We have the actual power by the Spirit
Let us rejoice and walk in faith.