New n Improved
New & Improved
1. Intro: Brandi’s testimony & segue
2. Scripture, 1 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24
3. In Christ
Ø “In Christ” is the start. In Him His sacrificial payment for our sin cleanses us; makes us holy.
Ø In Christ we have a true fresh start. Without Him we are still under wrath.
Ø You can’t overcome the old life, sin, B4 you’re in Him. You can’t walk out His purposes for your new life until you’re in Him.
4. Anyone
Ø “Anyone” Not just the good ones.
Ø Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Ti 1:15
Ø Not just the bad ones.
Ø If you never have… come. Come!
5. New Creation, Old Passed Away
Ø Anyone in Christ can experience the “new creation” We’re not just cleansed or remodeled, but transformed.
Ø “Has gone” is in past tense, so while that’s the smoother English translation, it’s more like “is done & gone” or canceled or removed as the east from the west.
Ø Clearly there’s some continuity of person, yet in a very real sense we are new.
Ø A diamond isn’t t/carbon it once was. No female chemist/geologist is confused about this as she is being proposed to.
Ø All the old of your life is or can be truly gone.
6. New Things Have Come
Ø “The new has come” Many things that were never true are now reality. These would include who we are in Christ as well as who we can become and what we can do as we live in Christ and abide in Him.
Ø I had many immediate changes. (Brandi too?)
Ø But this verb is in present perfect, “has come,” and its effect continues in an ongoing renewal.
Ø He who has begun a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus.
A. Recreation & Curse Rollback
Ø New creation connects us to the new heavens & earth to come when the curse is rolled back.
Ø All that is wrong in life, in the world, is from sin. Sin brought death and the curse.
Ø Let’s simplify. If all was done right, nothing would ever have gone wrong. When humanity fell away from God in disobedience, pain & death became part of creation.
Ø In Christ we participate in a re-creation as the curse in our lives is rolled back & we grow into Christ.
Ø The NT refers to Adam as the old man & Christ as the new man. We put off one and on the other. Thus putting off the old creation’s curse and putting on Christ and freedom to follow. Created to be like God, reflecting his image as the first Adam did.
B. To put on the new requires taking off of the old
Ø We will forever be frustrated if we attempt to put off the old without putting on the new.
Ø Corruption comes from deceitful desires. They would not corrupt if they were always resisted, but they at times succeed in their deception. We believe their false promise of satisfaction, only to find them clouds without rain.
Ø We must take off the old in daily practice and put on that which unmasks the deception and grows our passion for the holy.
Ø Take off the graveclothes!
!! C. How
Ø How do we do this? Be made new in the attitude of your minds.
Ø “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17)
Ø Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Ro 12:2
Ø We see more clearly as our minds are made new putting on Christ.
Ø Our experience of the power & joy of these truths is proportional to our daily abiding in Him.
Ø Our experience of new purity and innocence is renewed in daily time listening, talking & walking with Jesus.