Brand New

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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.

Intro: you ever wish you could just start over; just shake it up like a etch- a – sketch

Tired of being limited by the expectations abd perceptions of those who carelessly speak in our lives including ourselves

That is the hope that is offered in Jesus ; a new start without restraint or limitations

It is what will be expected

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.

Regard to know (cognitive) v. — to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.

sinful humanity ⇔ flesh n. — the physical aspect of a person in distinction to the immaterial soul; often understood as the seat of sin and rebellion to God.

At one time, Paul had evaluated Jesus from a worldly point of view—in Greek, literally, “after the flesh,” meaning “according to human standards.” As an educated Jew, Paul was looking forward to the Messiah. But the Jews of his time were looking for a political Messiah, a powerful person who would free them from Roman rule. Instead, Jesus had died, even suffering the Romans’ most cruel punishment: crucifixion. Because Deuteronomy 21:23 says “anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” NIV, the Jews considered dying on a cross a sign of God’s disapproval. According to human standards, Jesus was an insignificant man who died like a criminal—not a person who deserved worship.

1 (5:17) ) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. New Creature—New Man—Regeneration: the message is one of regeneration, the making of a “new creature.” a. What does it mean for a man to become a “new creature”? Very simply, it means just what the Scripture says: the man actually becomes a new creature—his whole being, nature, life, and behavior changes:

NEW That which has just been made or come into existence—often replacing that which already existed, thereby turning the old into new That the second part of the Bible is called the New Testament indicates how fundamental the idea of “new” is to biblical revelation. Many key theological expressions incorporate the idea: new creation (2 Cor 5:17), new birth (Jn 3:3), new man (Eph 2:15; Col 3:10), new commandment (Jn 13:34), new covenant (Jer 31:31), new life (Rom 6:4),

Romans 6:4 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

divine creationn. — a object of creation brought into existence by God; as opposed to the creation considered as a whole.

The old has passed away

Pass Away to be destroyed; to become untrue; cease to exist

Who you were you are no more

You now have to discover who you are in Him; do I like singing or dancing; like an infant all over we discover who we are.

The difference now is it has nothing to do with our intellect or ability but all to do with the creators ability through us.

To be in Christ means that a believer walks and lives in Christ day by day. It means that he does not “walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Ro. 8:1, 4). It means that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit. 2:12). It means that he bears the fruit of the Spirit (Ga. 5:22–23). It means that he abides in Christ, that he becomes as connected and attached to Christ …

• as members of the body are connected and attached to each other (1 Co. 12:12–27)

• as the branch is connected and attached to the vine (Jn. 15:4–7)

From this, it is clearly seen that a person who is “in Christ” is a new creature. This is what is meant by such Scriptural terms as being “born again” and becoming a “new man.” However, no better words describe the experience than the words of this verse: “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This is the message of the Christian ministry: a man can start life all over, no matter how corrupt he has become or how far down he has fallen. God longs to make a new creature out of him.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3).

Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

2 (5:18–19) 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. 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.

to be reconciled v. — to be or become restored to favorable or friendly relations with another after a presumed wronged.

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Isaiah 61:7 ESV

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.

Colossians 2:14 ESV

By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Zechariah 9:12 ESV

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Even before the fondations of the Earth he had plan and that is what he is restoring you to a plan that is good and pleasing to him according to his greatness not ours according to God’s strength not ours

3 (5:20) AMBASSADOR Messenger or envoy officially representing a higher authority. In the OT, an ambassador was a messenger, envoy, or negotiator sent on a special, temporary mission as an official representative of the king, government, or authority who sent him. Examples include the ambassador of Pharaoh (Is 30:4, KJV), of the princes of Babylon (2 Chr 32:31), and of Neco, king of Egypt (2 Chr 35:21). In the letters of Paul, the apostle called himself an ambassador for Christ because he had an apostolic mission to convey the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles (2 Cor 5:20; Eph 6:20).

→ The ambassador belongs to the One who sent him out.

→ The ambassador is commissioned to be sent out. He exists only for the purpose for which he was sent.

→ The ambassador possesses all the authority and power of the One who sent him out.

→ The ambassador is sent forth with the message of the Sender.

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (Jn. 15:16).

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Ti. 1:12).

So don’t be quiet about your new tell the world ; proclaim to all that I am not who I was I am new brand new

I no longer am held by my old restraints