The Great Change
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THE GREAT CHANGE
THE GREAT CHANGE
2 Corinthians 5:14–21
The experiences of a Christian may not all be Christian experience. Experiences may be as varied as Christians themselves. But there are some radical and fundamental experiences that lie at the root of every real Christian life. Here are some of them. We shall note—
I. The Change Needed.
I. The Change Needed.
A. “If One died for all, then were all dead” 2 Cor 5:14 .
A. “If One died for all, then were all dead” 2 Cor 5:14 .
B. “Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
B. “Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
C. Rom 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” Sin separates from God, and to be separated from God is spiritual death. A change is needed, not in God, but in the condition of the soul that is already lost to Him because of sin.
C. Rom 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” Sin separates from God, and to be separated from God is spiritual death. A change is needed, not in God, but in the condition of the soul that is already lost to Him because of sin.
II. The Change Wrought.
II. The Change Wrought.
A. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Cor 5:17).
A. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Cor 5:17).
B. To be in Christ is to be trusting Him so entirely that God is pleased in grace to reckon the righteousness of His Son as for us. In this new creation old things have passed away.
B. To be in Christ is to be trusting Him so entirely that God is pleased in grace to reckon the righteousness of His Son as for us. In this new creation old things have passed away.
C. No man can create himself. We are His workmanship. “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10).
C. No man can create himself. We are His workmanship. “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10).
D. The change is so great that “all things become new,” both in us and around us, because the heart is renewed and the eyes are enlightened.
D. The change is so great that “all things become new,” both in us and around us, because the heart is renewed and the eyes are enlightened.
1. In Christ we become new - 2 Cor 5:17
1. In Christ we become new - 2 Cor 5:17
III. The Divine Method in Accomplishing this Change.
III. The Divine Method in Accomplishing this Change.
A. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” 2 Cor 5:19 .
A. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” 2 Cor 5:19 .
B. Yes, in Jesus of Nazareth this lowly Man of Sorrows, God was seeking to reconcile a world at enmity with Himself. In Christ we meet with this seeking and forgiving God, finding salvation and newness of life, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24 ).
B. Yes, in Jesus of Nazareth this lowly Man of Sorrows, God was seeking to reconcile a world at enmity with Himself. In Christ we meet with this seeking and forgiving God, finding salvation and newness of life, being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24 ).
C. “By grace are ye saved through faith. Eph 2:8-9 ” “It is of faith that it might be by grace” (Rom. 4:16).
C. “By grace are ye saved through faith. Eph 2:8-9 ” “It is of faith that it might be by grace” (Rom. 4:16).
IV. The Evidence of this Change.
IV. The Evidence of this Change.
A. “He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them” 2 Cor 5:15.
A. “He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them” 2 Cor 5:15.
B. The evidence that we have of being redeemed and transformed is a changed attitude towards ourselves and our Lord. It is not “I” now, but “Christ.” He gave Himself that He might redeem us. Now henceforth it must be ourselves for Him. This new purpose in life is surely what is expected from a new creature. Let the time past suffice for the love of self, the will of the flesh, and the pride of place.
B. The evidence that we have of being redeemed and transformed is a changed attitude towards ourselves and our Lord. It is not “I” now, but “Christ.” He gave Himself that He might redeem us. Now henceforth it must be ourselves for Him. This new purpose in life is surely what is expected from a new creature. Let the time past suffice for the love of self, the will of the flesh, and the pride of place.
C. The grace of God that saved us now teacheth us to deny worldly lust and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12). For God hath called us unto holiness (1 Thess. 1:7; 1 Thess 4:7 .
C. The grace of God that saved us now teacheth us to deny worldly lust and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12). For God hath called us unto holiness (1 Thess. 1:7; 1 Thess 4:7 .
V. The Responsibilities Connected with this Change.
V. The Responsibilities Connected with this Change.
A. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” 2 Cor 5:20. We are Christ’s representatives in the world, both as to His character and His purpose.
A. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” 2 Cor 5:20. We are Christ’s representatives in the world, both as to His character and His purpose.
B. In Christ’s stead we are to beseech men to be reconciled to God. Having been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, there is committed unto us “the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Cor 5:18 .
B. In Christ’s stead we are to beseech men to be reconciled to God. Having been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, there is committed unto us “the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Cor 5:18 .
C. Thank God, it is not the ministry of hopeless damnation. God is not waiting to be reconciled to men, but to reconcile men to Himself. As ambassadors, we are not left to our own resources. We are workers together with Him 2 Cor 6:1 . Out of His fulness are we all to receive John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
C. Thank God, it is not the ministry of hopeless damnation. God is not waiting to be reconciled to men, but to reconcile men to Himself. As ambassadors, we are not left to our own resources. We are workers together with Him 2 Cor 6:1 . Out of His fulness are we all to receive John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.