A New Creation
Notes
Transcript
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Does anyone see anything different about me this morning?
Can you see anything different about the inside?
Stitches internally, torn ligament, etc....
Can we always see the internal changes?
Today, we are going to discuss the change that occurs within us when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior.
In this passage, Paul emphasizes the transformative power of Christ, declaring that those in Christ are a new creation. He calls believers to reconcile with God and encourages them to live out this new identity, highlighting the urgency of proclamation and the opportunity of salvation.
Something changes within us!
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.
When we ask forgiveness, and God grants it, it is an event that changes us spiritually, and in a way others can see and can tell. Our old actions, our old desires, our old ways of thinking, all change and we desire to be more like Christ. We are made new!
By understanding our identity as new creations, Christians can find freedom from past sins and failures. This revelation can empower them to navigate struggles, offering hope and a fresh start, reminding them that they are not defined by their past but by Christ’s work in them.
This sermon teaches that being in Christ fundamentally changes one’s identity and purpose. It emphasizes reconciliation with God and the call to share this good news with others, challenging believers to live in the reality of their new nature and actively engage in ministry of reconciliation.
It points us towards the revelation of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus. From the promise of a new covenant to the ultimate renewal of all creation, Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s purpose to restore the lost and lead them into new life.
Embracing our identity as new creations in Christ empowers us to live with purpose and urgency in sharing the message of Salvation.
Perspective Shift: New Creation
Perspective Shift: New Creation
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Christ died to create a new man: a man that no longer judges after the flesh. Combine v. 17 with this verse and the point is clearly seen. Christ died so that we would no longer judge men after the flesh, no longer judge men to be only fleshly, human, earthly beings. Men are also spiritual beings who are to exist forever. Christ died so that all men could be made into new creatures and into new men. Note that Christ once lived in this world and was known to be in the flesh, but He is no longer known to be upon the earth. He has risen from the dead and is with the Father, and He shall be with Him eternally.
This is the very reason He died and rose again: that man’s spirit could be created anew and man could live forever. Therefore, men are no longer to be looked upon as being “in the flesh,” but as being in the spirit. They are to be brought to Christ so that they can be made into new creatures.
Through embracing our identity as a new creation in Christ, we are called to see ourselves and others not according to worldly standards, but as transformed individuals within God's salvation plan. No longer identified by our sins, but by our Savior.
Proclaim Reconciliation: Christ's Mission
Proclaim Reconciliation: Christ's Mission
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
The message is one of reconciliation—a world of men can be brought back to God. Reconciliation means to change thoroughly, to change from enmity to friendship, to bring together, to restore. The idea is that two persons who should have been together all along are brought together; two persons who had allowed something to come between them are restored and reunited.
The thing that broke the relationship between God and man was sin. Men are said to be enemies of God (Ro. 5:10), and the word “enemies” refers back to the fact that men had become sinners and ungodly (Ro. 5:6, 8). The “enemies” of God are the sinners and ungodly of this world. This simply means that every man is an enemy of God, for every man is a sinner and ungodly. This may seem unkind and harsh, but it is exactly what Scripture is saying. The fact is clearly seen by thinking about the matter for a moment.
When any of us sin, we work against God and promote evil by word and example. In other words, to not live IN Christ is to live OUTSIDE of Christ. We cannot be dabbling in the things of God and the things of the world. Think this way, when we turn the hot water on, then turn the cold water on, what happens? We get lukewarm water, neither hot or cold. Hot water makes good coffee, cold water quenches thirst, but have you ever tried to drink warm water? It’s disgusting. So is the example of a lukewarm Christian to God.
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
This is the point of God’s great love or reconciliation. He did not reconcile and save us when we were righteous and good. He reconciled and saved us when we were enemies, ignoring and rejecting Him. As stated above, it is because we are sinners and enemies that we need to be reconciled - made whole again through Jesus..
Represent Righteousness: Urgent Gospel
Represent Righteousness: Urgent Gospel
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We, as Christians are called to be Ambassadors. Now, what is an ambassador? A messenger who officially represents a higher authority. WE represent Jesus Christ - the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Messiah, The Son of God, OUR REDEEMER!!
“Be reconciled to God.” The message is so critical that we are to implore (deometha) men: beg, entreat, cry, and plead with them to be reconciled to God.
Note that it is “for Christ’s sake” that we are to plead with men. Christ has paid the ultimate price to make reconciliation available to men: He has taken the sins of men upon Himself and borne the condemnation for them. Because He has done so much, every man owes his life to Christ—every man owes it to Christ to be reconciled to God. For Christ’s sake, a man should give himself to God.
the message is unbelievable—a message of redemption, that is, of a substitution for sin. This is one of the great verses proclaiming the unbelievable love of God. It is a verse that has so much compacted in it that even a lifetime of study could not fathom its depths. It is impossible for man to grasp how God could make Christ become sin for us. Yet, this is exactly what Scripture declares: “[God] hath made him to be sin for us.” How was it possible for Christ to be made sin for us?
He knew no sin.
God made Christ to be sin for us - He took on the sins of the world.
He then provided the way of righteousness of mankind and God. when a person believes in Jesus Christ—really believes—God takes that man’s faith and counts it as righteousness. The man is not righteous, but God considers and credits the man’s faith as righteousness.
Why?
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Seize Salvation's Moment
Seize Salvation's Moment
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The message of redemption is not to be received in vain. A person must not hear the message with empty, deaf ears. Redemption and salvation are available. God has made it possible—He even begs and pleads with men—to be saved; but a person can receive the message with empty ears and heart. He can either do nothing about the message or deliberately reject it. In either case he refuses …
• to let the grace of God take effect in his life
• to let God’s grace work in his heart through regeneration
• to let the death and righteousness of Christ be counted as his death and righteousness
A person must not receive the grace of God in vain. God’s grace is much too wonderful—it is the only hope and way of redemption and salvation.
The decision to be saved is to be made now. Now is the only reasonable time to be saved. There may be no tomorrow; in fact, there may not even be one hour left for any of us.
Paul, the minister, cries out: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Note the forceful implication: the day is coming when the day of salvation will no longer be present.
