What is the Christian Life?
II Corinthians 5:14-21
Intro:
1. The Christian life is the Lord Jesus living His post resurrection life in & through you!
2. ν17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
3. There are 2 words in the NT translated "new".
a. New (νέος) = new in relationship to time.
b. New (καινός) = new in relationship to substance; a different kind or type than the previous.
c. The word here is "a different kind". ILL: Transformation into a Butterfly.
4. The Christian life is not only new, it's a different type of new!
I. ν17 - It's a New Creation
A. How can you be a new creation?
1. By being born again! Jn 3:3 - I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
2. This birth takes place "of water & the Spirit". (Jn 3:5)
a. The father's role in the birth process is played by the Holy Spirit who uses primarily the written word of God. Jam 1:18 - He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
b. The mother's womb is played by the baptismal pool. Tit 3:5 - He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
c. Your baptism pictures this new life beginning as you die to the old life, bury the old corpse to rise again into a new life. (Rom 6:4)
B. How can you continue as a different kind of creature?
1. When you become a Christian you become a member of God's family & get encouragement from others. That's what the church is all about! (I Jn 1:7)
2. As a Christian you have inherited God's Holy Spirit as an internal witness & a seal of your relationship to Him (Rom 8:16 & Eph 4:30).
3. SO - as new spiritual babies, crave spiritual food the same way a baby craves milk (I Pet 2:2).
II. ν15 - It's a New Motivation
A. What are these new motivations?
1. ν15 - You are to live for Christ - not for yourself.
2. You are to seek the heavenly lifestyle. Col 3:2-3 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
3. There are a couple of promises that accompany this motive:
a. I Pet 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
b. Rom 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
4. Matt 6 tells us that if you focus on serving God you don't need to be especially concerned about the necessities of life because God will provide those!
a. ILL: Sparrows & lilies (Matt 6:28-30).
b. ν33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Β. Where does this new motivation come from?
1. Gal 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This means Lord Jesus actually lives His post resurrection life in you!
a. He lives in you - He talks through you - He conducts His life through you - His motives become your motives - His purposes yours.
b. You need to surrender your will to His will so that His desires can be exhibited through you.
2. You do this by going to the word!
a. You need to know how Jesus felt; what His attitudes were; how He conducted Himself.
b. Then take up your cross & imitate His royal example!
III. ν20 - It's a New Relationship to Others
A. You are an ambassador - a representative of Lord Jesus.
1. As ambassadors your mission is to reconcile others to God. (v18)
2. Reconcile (καταλλάσσω) = exchange value for value as in exchanging coins; what the money changers did.
3. Lord Jesus put it this way, Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.- Matt 4:19
Β. How will people know you are an ambassador?
1. Jn 13:35 - By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
2. I Jn 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.
C. You must yield to the Lord's Holy Spirit to have Him effectively minister through you!
1. The Lord wants to comfort lonely hearts.
2. The Lord wants to instruct & teach those hungering & thirsting after righteousness.
3. The Lord wants to seek & to save the lost.
4. The Lord wants to walk among men & tell them of His love.
5. The Lord wants to, again, present His personal message about the greatest sacrifice ever made for them.
6. The Lord wants to live & work through you to do all these things!
Your responsibility now is to let Lord Jesus live within you to reconcile the world to Him.
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