Life Lessons For New Life

INTRODUCTION:

A- We serve a God of new beginnings.

I THE REALITY OF THE NEW LIFE (COLOSSIANS 3:1a).

Colossians 3:1a NLT

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

A- The New Life is a present reality that is anchored to the reality of Christ’s resurrection.

1. The resurrection of Jesus is on of the best-witnessed events in history.

a. Jesus made at least 13 different post-resurrection appearances over a period of 40 days.

b. He appeared to:

He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18).

He appeared to the two other women (Matthew 28:9-10).

He appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).

He appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32).

He appeared to the apostles, except for Thomas (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25).

He appeared to the apostles with Thomas (John 20:26-29).

He appeared to seven of His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25).

He appeared to the apostles on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18).

He appeared to over 500 brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6).

He appeared to His brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7).

He appeared to the apostles and ate a meal with them (Acts 1:3-8; Luke 245:44-49).

His ascension (Acts 1:9-12; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53).

He appeared to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 9:1-6; 18:9-10; 23:11).

He proved to his disciples that he was alive!

(Acts 1:3) with many “infallible proofs!” ( ἐν πολλοῖς τεκμηρίοις)

Τεκμηριον [Tekmērion] is only here in the N. T., though an old and common word in ancient Greek and occurring in the Koiné (papyri, etc.). The verb τεκμαιρω [tekmairō], to prove by sure signs, is from τεκμαρ [tekmar], a sign. Luke does not hesitate to apply the definite word “proofs” to the evidence for the Resurrection of Christ after full investigation on the part of this scientific historian.*

B- The resurrection of Jesus is the evidence of the new life that has been placed in the Christian.

The phrase is an assumed truth by the apostle.

The old life is gone and a new life has become a present reality (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

II- THE REMINDER OF NEW LIFE PRINCIPLES (COLOSSIANS 3:1b-3).

“set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

A- Make eternal goals the aim of your life. (Colossians 3:1b)

(Matthew 6:19–21) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

(Philippians 3:13–14) “13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

(2 Corinthians 5:9–10) “9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

B- Meditate on godly principles and their application to daily life. (Colossians 3:2).

(Philippians 4:8–9) “8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

C- Move in the assurance of your union with Christ. (Colossians 3:3)

(Ephesians 3:12) “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

(Hebrews 13:6) “6 So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

III- THE REWARD OF THE NEW LIFE (COLOSSIANS 3:4).

“And when Christ, who is your* life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

A- Christ is returning and will be revealed to the world as King of Kings!

(Revelation 19:11–16) 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.

12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.

13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.

14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.

15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.

16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

B- Believers will share in his glory!

(Titus 2:12–14) “12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

CONCLUSION:

* Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. (See Acts 1:3).