Thankful to God for Newness of Life

INTRODUCTION

The highest grossing film franchise in the world (The MCU) garners total worldwide box office revenues of $22.56 billion. The top four film franchises gross nearly $50 BILLION globally.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Star Wars

Harry Potter

James Bond

Spider-Man

Why are people from Moscow to Miami, from Sydney to Stockholm, drawn to the stories in these film franchises?

Perhaps it is because we live in a world where humans have a common struggle against evil, and it is a continual battle. Disease, disaster and delinquent behavior prompts us to hope for something good — something better.

Biblical disciples live the type of lives that continually encounter evil. However, we are given a source greater than any evil, and we can experience daily victory as we overcome evil with good.

Read Romans 6:1-14

Shall We Continue To Sin? No! (v. 1-2)

This section of the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome starts off with a question:

Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?

The answer: by no means!

μὴ γένοιτο – one of the strongest negatives in the Greek language

It is not possible to both die and live in the same sense. If you are dead to sin, you cannot also live to sin

Consider Our Baptism In Christ (v. 3-11)

We identify with Christ in every area of His work on the cross

Our old self (body of sin) was crucified with Him on the cross (v. 6)

Our old self, after being crucified, has been buried (v.4)

We are resurrected to newness of life (new self) (v. 4)

The Apostle Paul expands on this in Ephesians 4:22-32

Verses 22-24 – lay aside the old (dead) self and put on the new self

Verses 25-32 – examples of laying aside the old and putting on the new

Jesus died to sin once, but now lives to God (v. 10-11)

We only die to sin once, and now we are alive to God in Christ

Present Your Body As An Instrument Of Righteousness (v. 12-14)

Since we live to God, we ought to be presenting ourselves for His service

Our bodies are merely a tool/instrument to be used for a purpose

We can choose to obey sin and use our bodies in a sinful manner

We can choose to obey God and use our bodies for righteousness

Transition Statement:

What does it look like for someone to find newness of life?

I want you to watch this video and see the possibilities for your own faith.

Show Video Clip

The reality is that life in Christ ought to lead to a life of commitment and change.

It is no longer about our desires and wants, but what is in the best interest of our neighbor for the gospel’s sake.

Philippians 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The way that we acquire this sense of living in a new manner is through the transformation of how we approach this life.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Biblical disciples choose daily to die to self and lose their lives for Christ’s sake. (Luke 9:23-26 )

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

ILLUSTRATION: The Voice of the Martyrs magazine, June 2021

Armed Hindu extremists approached Kande’s home in India, angry that he would not renounce his faith in Christ. Kande told his wife, Bindi, “No matter what happens to me, you should not give up your faith in Jesus.” Kande and Bindi continued living for Christ, praying and trusting God each day. After repeated harassment, Kande was killed by a Hindu mob. Bindi’s father suggested that she should stop following Jesus. But in replying to her father, Bindi repeated something she remembered Kande once saying: “I will live for Jesus or die for Jesus, but I will never turn back.” Those who have died to self are willing to live for Christ, no matter the cost.

As disciples of Christ, we make the daily decision to live to honor Him.

The decisions we make can make all the difference in our lives… or someone else’s.

PRAYER POINT:

Christians in Iran risk their freedom and lives to place God’s Word in the hands of those who do not know Jesus. Let’s pray that every Bible distributed in Iran and in every hostile area and restricted nation will be read or listened to, leading many to new life in Christ.

PRAYER

COMMUNION

The Broken Body

Deliverance from the power of sin

Romans 6:6-7

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Pray

Distribute the bread

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

The Shed Blood

Deliverance from the penalty of sin, permanently

Romans 3:24-25

[We] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

Pray

Distribute the cup

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”