From Darkness to Light

Intro:

On Sunday we talked about this difference between the old life before Christ and our new life since we have met him:

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

I am sure for many of you, it may have been hard to pinpoint when you put off your old self and put on your new self. Many of you are like me. You grew up only believing that God is real and that Jesus died for your sin. If you were to tell me in middle school the idea about the old life before Christ, I would have no idea what you were talking about.

But what I never understood is that my belief in God is not the reason that I was given my new life in Christ. God’s word says this:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

If the demons know that God is real, then is it our belief in God that gives us new life in Christ?

It is not our belief that Jesus was real that gives us salvation, it is our belief in Jesus AND our acknowledgement that He is Lord of our life. That is how we get new life, because we have given our old life to Jesus to get the new life that he offers.

Maybe you have had a belief in God most of your life but it seems like you are living a life that is all for yourself and you are tired and you feel like God is not there

Have you acknowledged your need for someone to follow after and to take the reigns of your life?

So often we see butterflies and we are amazed at their beauty; but we often forget where they come from. They started as a caterpillar. One day there was this caterpillar that was the coolest caterpillar to all the other caterpillars. Everyone wanted to be like her. But one of her friends said that she heard of this new life that they could live where they would become all that their creator wanted them to be. The popular caterpillar scoffed at her friend and said: why would I need a new life when this one is going well? Day by Day all of the other caterpillars, chose to have new life as butterflies. Leaving their friend in the old life that they no longer desired.

You see there is a change that happens when we put our life in Christ.

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

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