3-22-98............ A New Life in Christ............ II Cor. 5:17-21

by Ronald E. George Jr.

Salvation Series: Number 4 of 5 in "The Truth about Salvation."

Enjoying Your New Life in Christ it is free!

Purpose: is to show the riches of our New Life in Christ and invite everyone to enjoy.

A little girl was sitting on Santa Claus' lap. She gave him a whole list of expensive toys which she wanted for Christmas and then without a word of appreciation, she jumped off Santa's lap and started toward her mother. Her concerned mother spoke quickly, "Honey, haven't you forgotten something?" The little girl thought for a moment, then said, "O, yes." Then turning back toward Santa, she shouted, "Charge it."

God has already "charged" our sins to His Son and has paid the debt in full. What more could you ask for at Christmas?God Looked at the bill for sin and said I will pay for it. I hate the sin but I love those people.

Scripture Text: 2Cor 5:14-21

2Cor 5:14 (KJS) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more. 17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {he is: or, let him be} 18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. {committed...: Gr. put in us} 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Key Verse: 17 (KJS) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {he is: or, let him be}

What is New about the Christian Life?

I. A New God:

We are now In Christ… Our God is now the one true living God that we all serve. We are in Him and He is in us. Water in the sponge and sponge in the water. We are in Christ. A brand new God that capable of doing all that we can’t do. We have a relationship with a real God. The only one that is real.

"The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says "Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires that you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked -- the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you myself: my own will shall become yours." -- C. S. Lewis

II. A New Life v.17

A New reason to live. Caterpillar changes in to the Butterfly. Where it used to crawl on the ground it can now fly with the eagles because it has undergone a change and a new birth. It can now be who God Created and recreated it to be. Are you enjoying your new life In Christ? We have something and someone else to live for. Are you really experiencing new life on a daily basis? If not what is missing? You can be revived today and renewed.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." 2 Corinthians 5:17

When a young man left home for his freshman year of college, his mother was concerned that he wouldn't keep his dorm room in order. So when she visited him at Thanksgiving, she was not surprised to find his room in total disarray. Papers and books were scattered all over the place. But what shocked her the most were the obscene pictures hanging on the walls. At Christmas time she sent her son a box of presents, including a portrait of Jesus. He thanked her for the gifts but didn't say anything about the picture. In the spring when she visited the school again, her son was eager for her to come to his room. Upon entering, she found on the best wall space the picture of Christ. All the other pictures were gone. Wisely she said, "Jack, there is something different about your room. Did you get a new rug?" "No." "Is this new paper on the wall?" "No." "When I was here before, it seemed to me you had more pictures than now." "Yes, I did, Mother, but those other pictures all seemed out of place after that one of Jesus came into the room."

Psal 51:10 (KJS) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me or, 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

III. A New Occupation/Job v. 18-20

Did you see the wanted ads? Wanted People to tell others of opportunities immediately available. Opportunities are available for people to have a place in heaven.

We now have A New Title (Ambassador), A new Job (representing the Lord), and a new Word (Telling the good news). Ambassadors Are Representatives and Ministers.

Our new position is Ambassador of the King. Our new job is telling others of the opportunity that God has given us to be reconciled to Him in Christ who is our sacrifice. Inviting them to experience the blessings and joy we have in Jesus.

Luke 19:12 (KJS) He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

The term posthaste goes back to the time of Henry VIII. Postmasters were given relays of horses to carry messages for the king to important cities in England. Because some couriers were irresponsible and wasted time in taverns and inns on the way, a drastic law was put into effect demanding that every dispatch carrier should "ride for his life." The king's edict meant that anyone caught delaying his messages would be publicly hanged. Often there was drawn upon important letters the figure of a man suspended from a gallows. Beneath was this ominous warning: "Haste, post, haste! Haste for thy life!" A number of men did suffer death because of their inefficiency, but in the 19th century the practice was discontinued. However, the old expression still remains as a reminder that the utmost speed and urgency is required when the king's business is involved!

IV. A New Friendship/Standing with the Lord. V. 21

This is the basis of our new Life in Christ. It is the Blood of the Lamb that is life giving.

That blood that was shed for us as Christ became our sacrifice for sin.

We are God’s Friends or Foes. He became sin and took the penalty so that we made be right or righteous in the sight of the Lord. Now, we can stand with the Lord who stood for us.

Jame 4:4 (KJS) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

V. IF any man be in... V. 17 are you in Christ? If you are then … If you aren’t then you can be by deciding to follow him today. Are you in Christ? Are you enjoying you new Life in Christ? Your new God? Your new Position? Your new Friendship? Come into the Joy of the Life you can be recreated in. The Lord invites you to enjoy Him as He is.