MEANT FOR MORE: MORE THAN YOUR PAST

Sometimes our past can come up from out of nowwhere and it can be hurtful. Sometimes it can cause us to stop doing what God would have us to do. Last week, we started this series of being meant for more. Last week we talked about how because we are meant for more, that we are to trust God with our life. We looked at how when David trusted in God, he was able to discover what God’s plan was for him.

When God calls us to do something, it requires us to trust Him. That requires us to let go of our life and trust in him. When you let go of what you think your life should be, then you can discover God’s plans for you.

We were encouraged to look at what it means for us to know and understand what it means to be MEANT FOR MORE, trusting God. How, like David, you were meant for more. You just need to be willing to let go. And sometimes, that can be hard because of things we have done in our past that we are embarrassed about. Things in our past that might be keeping us from trusting God with our life.

Today, I want us to hear from and about a guy who gets what it means to let go of the past. To trust God with it.

Paul wrote the majority of the books if the Bible. Grab your Bibles, and turn to the book if 2 Corinthians. We are going to start there. The book is name 2 Corinthians because it was a follow up to address what the Believers are to do based on what Paul told them to do the first letter. By the way, do any of y'all write letters? (Allow for responses. Ask who, of they say yes. Have fun with this, start out by saying “Back in my day...” and talk about how we would pass notes in school and how you knew a guy of girl like you if they sprayed cologne of perfume on it.)

So Paul writes this follow up after Timothy (the guy who Paul wrote a letter to) others go and sees how the church is doing. And what he discovers is that the church had starter to listen to and follow false teachers. So Paul writes to them to address this as well.

The first part of the letter deals with Paul’s response to the resolving the crisis that he addresses in the first letter. The crisis was over a man living in sin and the church wasn’t dealing with it. Paul told them to deal with it and now that they had there was a need for restoration. He talks about in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 that they are to forgive the offender. He goes on in this first section of the letter to talk about treasure in earthen vessels, the Spirit of faith, Paul’s hope and the need for reconciliation. It is in this discussion of reconciliation that today’s passage is found in.

Read along silently while I read it aloud.

1. Transformation Through Christ

2 Corinthians 5:16–17 CSB

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

What Paul is getting at here is that through Christ, for those who believe, everything is different. We are to see people differently. We are to see ourselves differently. That the person that we once were are no longer the same person. That person is gone. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are a new creation. Reconciled.

The prophet Isaiah said it this way:

Isaiah 1:18 CSB

“Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.

And echoed in Psalm 103:12

Psalm 103:12 CSB

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Through Jesus, we have the forgiveness of sin. Paul reminds us that we are a new creation. No longer bound in the sin of our past.

Paul here is telling us that we are transformed through Christ. For you, that maybe something that you’ve heard before but this is the first time it has sunk in. That you are realizing that this passage is encouraging you to see yourself as God sees you. New.

And when we grab this new identity, it empowers us to act with love and purpose, breaking away from past insecurities and failures.

Turn to Philippians 3. When you got it, say “I got it!”

2. Redefining Worth in Christ

Philippians 3:1–7 CSB

In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

You might wonder why Paul would talk about how when we accept Christ, that we are no longer the person we once were. You might think, that you don’t know what I’ve done. How could someone who wrote most of the Bible know about having a past. What does this have to do with letting go of our past.

Paul here is dealing with people who doubted his ability to witness. Because of his past, these false teachers that were infiltrating the church at Philipi were trying to discredit Paul. By the way, these were his own people that were doing this. Paul calls them dogs which is a massive insult here.

Here we see Paul list out what all he once was. How in the eyes of the world, he sounds pretty successful. But for Paul - it meant nothing in comparison to Christ.

Paul’s worth was in his accomplishments. What all he had done. That is what his past was. And he was blinded by his accomplishments that he didn’t see the truth. Until he did. When he came to know Christ, he realized that his worth wasn’t in his past. His worth was in Christ. All that stuff was meaningless. That’s why he says, “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”

The same is true for you. Your worth is not in your accomplishments or what you did or didn’t do in the past. All too often we base our worth or even someone else’s worth on the past. And while there is merit to someone’s track record, it is not what defines us. Your past doesn’t define you. Christ does. That’s what Paul is getting at.

You might wonder, what does this have to do with having a past? This is what Paul did with his past. Turn to Acts 8:

Acts 8:1–2 CSB

Paul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

Paul’s past was that he was a persecutor, an attacker of Christians. He would hunt them down. His goal was to annihilate all who believed in Jesus Christ. This passage takes place as Paul watched with approval a Christian named Stephen being stoned to death. A brutal and gory way to do. Paul approved of it, Scripture said. What gives Paul the right to talk about having a past? This.

You might be like, you don’t know what I’ve done. You don’t know my past. You’re right. But I don’t think you’ve done what Paul did. I don’t think you’ve done something that bad.

Yet if you read a little bit further, you will see what happens with Paul. He has an encounter with Christ, and becomes a believer. This same God who forgave Paul despite his past, wants to forgive you.

Our past achievements or failures do not decide our identity in Christ. In Christ, we can have a new story in Christ. A story of redemption through Mercy. Turn to 1 Timothy 1:15-17.

3. Mercy Redefines Our Story

1 Timothy 1:15–17 CSB

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

In Christ, we are not defined by our past but transformed into new creations, capable of living a life that brings honor to Him. Paul’s life is proof of this. Through the mercy that Christ gives, Paul's life and his story were redefined. He didn’t see his past as something to be chained to. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to show who Jesus is. How God can use our failings for His glory.

Let me ask you this: Who invented the light bulb? (Allow for responses) Thomas Edison. Did you know how many times he failed at creating a light bulb? 10,000. You know what he said? He famously said, 'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.' Despite numerous failures while inventing the lightbulb, Edison's perseverance brought forth a great innovation that revolutionized the world. That is what God does with our failures. God uses our failings, like Edison's, as crucial chapters in our stories that display His glory and faithful guidance.

Paul understood this truth. THE BIG TAKEAWAY TODAY IS THIS: WHEN YOU BEGIN A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, YOUR PAST DOESN’T DEFINE WHO YOU ARE OR DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE. Instead, through the transformation of Christ, our worth is redefined not by our past, but by the mercy of Christ. When we experience that, when we let go of our past and embrace Christ, we can begin to see and know how we are meant for more.

SCA CLOSING

But in order for us to do that, we have to be willing to let go of our past. To give it to God and allow Him to use it for His glory. So if there is something in your past that you need to let go of, then do it. Give it to God. I promise you that if you do that, you will experience new depth and new life in ways that you never thought possible. And you won’t regret it.

YOUTH CLOSING

But in order for us to do that, we have to be willing to let go of our past. To give it to God and allow Him to use it for His glory. So if there is something in your past that you need to let go of, you are going to be given an opportunity to do so. I’m not going to ask you to come forward, but we are going to spread out and have a time of prayer and reflection. Not long. Just a time for you and God. I’ll have some music playing this time. What is it in your past that you haven’t let go and given to God? Now is the time to do it. If you have nothing, then I want to encourage you to spend this time in quiet prayer for others in this room.

Play “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.” by Jadon Lavik followed by “More Love To Thee” by Fernando Ortega.

After the second song, bring them back together and close in prayer.

QUESTIONS:

WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT THE NEED TO LET GO OF OUR PAST. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR PAST TO BLOCK US FROM ALLOWING GOD TO USE US. THAT WE FEEL THERE IS NO WAY THAT HE CAN USE US. WE LOOKED AT PAUL’S LIFE AND WE LEARNED THAT CAN LET GO OF OUR PAST BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE CAN BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFORMATION THROUGH CHRIST. LET’S REREAD 2 Corinthians 5:15-17

What does Paul mean when he says that we are a 'new creation' in Christ?

How does Paul illustrate the importance of letting go of past accomplishments and failures?

How does Isaiah 1:18 connect with Paul's message in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17?

What key event from Paul's past does the sermon reference to illustrate redemption?

How can letting go of your past improve your relationship with God?

What does it mean for you to see yourself as God sees you?

LET’S TALK ABOUT HOW OUR WORTH IS REDEFINED IN CHRIST. LET’S LOOK BACK AT PHILIPPIANS 3:1-7

7. Why does Paul talk about how all of his past accomplishments mean nothing to what he has through Christ?

8. How can understanding that your worth is defined by Christ affect your daily actions?

9. In what ways can you personally relate to Paul’s experience of transformation through Christ?

FINALLY, LET’S FOCUS IN ON THE LAST POINT LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW MERCY REDEFINES OUR STORY. LET’S LOOK AGAIN AT 1 TIMOTHY 1:15-17

10. What does Paul mean when he says that he is the worst of them?

11. How can you encourage a friend who struggles with their past to embrace their new identity in Christ?

12. How can you use your past experiences to help others in your life today?

13. What are some actions you can take this week to remind yourself of your new identity in Christ?