The New Life in Christ for Us.
March 31, 1997
Introduction
In Rev 21:5 NKJV we find these words "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful.""
These words, taken from Revelation, are describing the new life that is in the world to come, but what about now? Is there hope for a new life now?
This evening, our subject is "The New Life in Christ for Us." Let's begin our study in the Old Testament, and trace it to the new.
Body
I. The problem began with sin in the Garden of Eden.
A. Adam and Eve had everything, and everything was new--everything was perfect.
1. Their bodies were flawless--perfect, fresh from the Creator's hand.
2. Their home was perfect--the beautiful Garden of Eden.
3. Their relationship with God was perfect--He walked and talked with them in the cool of the day.
B. Everything collapsed when the Devil convinced Eve that there was one more thing she needed to be happy--she needed to be God--she needed to make her own rules.
1. The tragedy of that seemingly simple act is beyond the ability of man to calculate.
2. That day their perfect bodies began to die--they began to get old
3. That day their walk with God ended.
4. That day sin in all its horror was unleased upon the world.
They would experience the horror of one of their sons killing the other one.
C. In the midst of this greatest tradegy, they were given hope.
(Gen 3:15 NKJV) "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.""
1. In this verse that I didn't understand as a young Christian is the first prophecy of Christ.
2. Her Seed--women don't have Seed, men do--this is the virgin birth.
3. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.--He'll destroy you, but you'll inflict pain on Him--the pain of crucifixion.
II. The problem is heart disease--a selfish heart--a heart of divided loyatties, so how do we cure the problem?
A. The psalmist saw the new man as one who had a right relationship with God.
(Psa 40:1-5 NKJV) "I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. {2} He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. {3} He has put a new song in my mouth; Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. {4} Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. {5} Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered."
B. Old Testament prophecy spoke of a new hope even for the children of Israel.
(Ezek 11:19-20 NKJV) ""Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, {20} "that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God."
III. But what does the New Testament say about us?
A. Jesus announced His plan for us.
(John 10:7-11 NKJV) "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. {8} "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. {9} "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. {10} "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. {11} "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
B. Paul elaborated on what the new life means.
In 2 Cor 5:17-21 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
C. Paul says that in order to know the joy of the new life, we must live a different life.
(Rom 8:1-18 NKJV) "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. {2} For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, {4} that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. {5} For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. {7} Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. {8} So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. {9} But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. {10} And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. {11} But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. {12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. {13} For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. {14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. {15} For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." {16} The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, {17} and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. {18} For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
1. We must die to the world as Paul described it.
(Gal 6:14-16 NKJV) "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. {15} For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. {16} And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."
2. Paul described it as a daily process.
(1 Cor 15:31 NKJV) "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily."
(Gal 2:20 NKJV) ""I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Conclusion
Through Christ, we can come back into a right relationship with God.
It is a daily struggle against sin and temptation, but God has promised to help us to be victorious.
(1 Cor 10:13 NKJV) "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Again, from Rev 21:5, "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful.""
We can have a taste of that newness now, and the hope of all things new in the world to come.
Is your life right with God?
Do you need to make your life right tonight?
Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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