New Life

ME

My name is Noah

Struggling with worry, anxiety

WE

everyone needs to be reminded of the gift we’ve been given

sometimes we need to be reminded of what God did, and what he requires of us

GOD

Ephesians 2:1–10 (NLT)

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

(What can dead people do? NOTHING. Your dead! Why? Sin! scripture says you used to Live in it!…)

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (You and i used to be dead, beyond self help. But God loved you enough to do something for you, to revive you.)

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

We were dead

Romans 3:23 (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

We deserve the death we were in

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is a rough place to find ourselves in, but God didn’t leave us in our mess…

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

God Loves us enough to pay our debts for us

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

He shares his resurrection with us!

Ephesians 2:6 (NLT)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

WHY? Why does God choose to make salvation work in this way? He says it in the next section.

7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

recap

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (You cant earn a gift! if you’ve heard me speak before, i’ve said this so many times. God wants to have a relationship with you. He created you to have one. He’s reaching out to you, he has offered this Gift of life in Jesus)

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

What does being made “anew” look like? what are the good things he has for you and i to do? I wanna talk about that tomorrow, but let me read you this from john…

John 6:28–29 (NLT)

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

What did Jesus tell them?

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:29

6:29. Jesus’ response to their question was a flat contradiction of their thinking. They could not please God by doing good works. There is only one work of God, that is, one thing God requires. They need to put their trust in the One the Father has sent. Because of their sin people cannot please God by doing good works for salvation (Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5). God demands that people recognize their inability to save themselves and receive His gift (Rom. 6:23).

Know God, Make Him Known

every believer shares this calling

Know God, Make Him Known

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So we see in John, KNOW ME (get saved and grow deeper)

and in Matthew, MAKE ME KNOWN (already saved, sharing because he’s transformed you)

Ephesians 4:17–32 (NLT)

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles (Unbelievers) do, for they are hopelessly confused.

18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,

22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. (Throw is an aggressive term! i coach flag football, when i ask you to throw something, i dont mean a toss, i mean THROW)

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

(THROW OFF and Put On)

when god pulled you from darkness to light

when he brought you from death to life

your very nature changed!

Peter says it here…

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NLT)

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

you are chosen! You are his people! you are Gods people…

Both Paul and Peter agree, our lives will be different, should be different, because of this.

back in Ephesians Paul goes on to say…

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

(Replace your twisted actions with pure ones!)

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

idk about you, but i hear so much foul language everywhere, even at your school. Guys, the word clearly says right here, STOP! There’s grace for when it happens, but we’re called to a higher way of living!

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Change your attitudes towards each other!)

we should be radically different than other people

we should be radically more caring, compassionate, and forgiving

1 peter says this

1 Peter 2:15–17 (NLT)

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.

16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

Let your actions speak for themselves…

1 peter goes on to shed more light on holy living

1 Peter 1:13–16 (NLT)

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

This isn’t a suggestion! BE holy AS I AM!

YOU

You and i have a higher calling. But it stems from simply knowing God deeply. we will begin to change as we seek him out fiercely

WE

What do you NEED to THROW OFF

and what can you put on to replace it…

it’s time we put our foot down in our own minds, made up our own minds to agree with God. HE, not me, not your parents, not the school, HE has called you to a higher way of living, how will you respond to GOD today. He has given you people to communicate these things to you, like me, and he’s given you people who hold you accountable to these things, such as your teachers. but can i say, you guys should be reminding EACH OTHER and holding ONE ANOTHER accountable!!!

What do you NEED to THROW OFF

and what can you put on to replace it…

(THROW OFF and Put On)

Know God, Make Him Known

LET YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK FOR YOU