Becoming New in Christ New Perception, New Person, New Power 2 Corinthians 5:17 Introduction: As Pastor Timothy just said, my name is Jordan Lorow I am blessed to be a part of the amazing staff here at Christ Covenant Church and I am grateful for the leadership of this church for giving me the opportunity to share God s Word with you this morning. As I prayed and considered a text for this morning, I couldn t help but use this opportunity, so close to the New Year, to reflect how our culture uses this time of the year to make changes, or attempt to make changes in ourselves and in our lives. We have embraced this time of year as a time of reflection and renewal. There is a sense of newness approaching and we can see an opportunity to have a fresh start as the calendar turns to January 1. We set goals, we make promises, we endeavor to make self improvements.. All which can be good However, we often find ourselves falling short of these aspirations, leaving us feeling ashamed and defeated Why is this? Or why is it better yet, why is it that even when we make progress; or obtain the possession or goal that we thought would make us satisfied, do we still feel unfulfilled and empty? I notion it is because we are constantly pursuing something that we never seem able to grasp Perfection. Whether it is our outward appearance, our possessions, or our success We always feel like we have something more to gain; Or what we have is just isn t enough. I, personally, have habitually made New Year s resolutions to break bad habits, lose weight, save more money, learn a new skill, be a better husband, student, employee etc.
While I may have made progress in some of these areas, I never feel like I have fully achieved what I had initially mapped out in my mind. These shortcomings leave me feeling like a failure, or unfulfilled, empty and disappointed. So, This morning I would like to suggest a new strategy this year for our resolutions... I would like to suggest that we would take our focus off our external longings for a moment and take a look inwardly That we would examine our deepest thoughts and desires and find where this longing comes from Our heart desires more this morning Let us look at God s Word this morning to see how we may truly become new and fresh and get the clean start we strive for year after year. Our passage this morning is from Paul s second letter to the Corinthians. The apostle Paul was on his 3 rd missionary journey in Macedonia, which is modern day Greece when he wrote to the church in Corinth and our text this morning is from the fifth chapter, of 2 nd Corinthians, verse 17: Hear the Word of God 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Today we will be looking at this statement from Paul and seek how we may apply this beautiful truth of newness to our lives. Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is teaching us how to have a New Perception of ourselves, how to become a New Person, and how to exercise a New Power. I. A New Perception: If we truly desire to make changes within ourselves, we must develop an accurate perception of who we are. It would be nearly impossible to solve any issues, or make any changes in our lives without knowing the origin of why we act and feel the way we do.
Why do we seek the approval of others to feel self worth? Why we are selfish and prideful? Why do we feel lonely, depressed, or unimportant? Why are we angry? Why do care so much about money and possessions? The answer to all these questions is sin and the negative effect it has on our lives. Sin is any want or conformity unto, or transgression of, the Law of God. WSC#14 Simply put, sin is anything we do that does not glorify God Shortly after the creation of man, Adam, the first man and representative for all of mankind, disobeyed God; bringing sin into the world. Adam was the only man, other than Christ, who was perfectly able to obey God, but he didn t. The federal headship of all mankind, Adam, fell in his sin all of his posterity, his bloodline, which is all of mankind, now inherits this virus. Sin is a nasty disease that has infected every man No human is exempt from this. We are born with it. Allow me to share an example of this original sin My son is almost 4 months old. I look at him; I stare at him; and he is perfect. I find myself being jealous of this state of perfection. No blemishes, no bad choices, he hasn t hurt anyone and made any big mistakes I see newness in him and it is beautiful but then I pause and I am saddened. I realize all the wrongs and mistakes that he we accomplish over his lifetime I hopefully will not be the one to teach him these wrongs. And honestly, no one will teach him these wrongs because he s born the desire to sin. Because of his original sinful nature, he going to know sin, and he is going to love sin, before he ever gets a chance to know and love Christ. My son is a new creation in the sense of just being born, but he is made in the mold of his forefather, Adam. Therefore he inherits sin. He is not a new creation in Christ. You see, original sin is the result of the first sin of Adam and this original sin is what causes the insecurities, loneliness, depression, selfishness, pride, anger etc within us. We feel lost and without purpose because we were originally created to enjoy the perfection and completeness that God offers in communion with Him.
This is why we spend our whole lives chasing after the things of this world, hoping that they will provide the happiness and contentment we so desire! Stuck in our original sin, stuck with the merits of Adam, we are not content. We need a cure to fulfill the missing part of hearts. However, we cannot cure this disease of sin with our own efforts. We cannot completely satisfy our heart s desires with the things of this world. If we are in Adam, our first representative before God, we inherit his original sin.. But the gracious creator that we have, sent us another representative, so that we may have the opportunity to inherit the new representative s merits So that His creation may be redeemed and made new. Romans 5:17 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. You see, if you are in Adam, there is no hope for newness! You inherit Adam s achievement of sin, and the result of sin is spiritual death and eternal damnation. Being in Adam offers original sin... Being in Christ offers something significantly better So what does it mean to be In Christ. Many theologians have pointed out that there are 3 states that a man can or will experience. Being without Christ, being in Christ, and being with Christ. First, Being without Christ is the condition in which everyone who does not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, who lived perfectly, died on the cross, and then rose again; these people, upon death, will endure eternity separated from the love, grace, and mercy that God offers through His Son. They will not share any of the benefits of the redeemed. This is a most miserable state.
Second, Being In Christ is having the Spirit of Jesus reign in your heart and life while you are on this earth, which we will expand on in just a moment. And finally, being with Christ is the state of glorification and perfection once Christ returns and restores His creation for all of eternity. This is the new heaven and new earth. Let us consider what it means to be In Christ. II. New Person: 17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation Paul uses this phrase, In Christ many, many times throughout the New Testament. So what does it mean? Being In Christ means that you are united to Him. You are bound to Christ. He is now the possessor of your heart and He has made it new. Listen, the Creator of your heart is constantly pursuing you! He wants to dwell in the very heart that He created! HE WANTS US TO BE HIS! He says in Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness (not sure what translation this is) We were made for Him And the only way your heart can be in the presence of the Almighty Creator, God, is if it is sinless. How does your heart become sinless in the sight of God? Only if it is IN CHRIST!...completely It s amazing to me how life changing these two words can be. In Christ. Being In Christ is where we find the newness, the clean slate, the fresh start that we are so desiring. It s where we find joy and completeness, value and identity and most importantly it is where we find life!! If you are in Christ listen to what it means for you: These are just a few examples, from scripture, where the phrase in Christ is used.
In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. 2 Timothy 1:9, He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the ages began. In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation. Ephesians 1:4, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love. Romans 8:38 39, I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. Ephesians 1:7, In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. In Christ Jesus you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you. 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. In Christ Jesus the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. Philippians 4:7, The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus you have eternal life. Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. And in Christ Jesus you will be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:22, For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. All those united to Adam in the first humanity die. All those united to Christ in the new humanity rise to live again If you are still in Adam, if your hope is in Adam, if your hope is not IN CHRIST, then you are spiritually dying. So how are we found in Christ?
T/S: For us to be found in Christ we need to embrace a new power, the power of the Spirit of God. We need to allow this power to transform us. III. New Power: I would like to use the apostle Paul as an example of the transformation that is necessary to be found in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote this letter, together with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, using his own personal experience. Before Paul met Jesus, he was on the road to Damascus, to continually persecute and kill the people who were proclaiming the good news of Christ. Paul was a murderer who did not have any desire whatsoever to love Jesus. But what happened on that day to Paul on the road to Damascus, was an act of God, based on God s own will and power. Paul did not will or want to be found in Christ. More than that, Paul did not deserve to be found in Christ! Paul had done nothing to earn Christ s favor or merit! There is nothing that can be done to earn Christ s favor! This is what we call grace! We were not looking for Christ! But He redeemed us and covered us through His sacrifice! Once we were lost but now we are found Paul didn t find Christ! Christ found Paul!! It was a supernatural act of transformation! Jesus revealed himself to Paul, transformed his heart, and made him a new creature. (You can read of Paul s conversion in Acts 9:3) The desires of Paul had been flipped upside down when Jesus took over his heart. Paul was made new, and without any terms of agreement or conditions, the Lord took the old things away and made him a new creation. He did not hold on to the things of his past and let his old self prevent him from being new! He embraced and fell at the feet of Jesus and spent the rest of his life serving the One who had made him new! Christ died so that the sins of Paul and all who believe Him would be completely washed away!
Christ died, and through His own power, rose again so that you may have a new life! A life that desires righteousness instead of sin. How are we found in Christ? First, Acknowledge that you need Him Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Then consider what is being offered to you Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then understand that you need to become a new creation in Christ! John 3:3 "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Then embrace Christ as your Savior! John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Then profess your faith! Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved And finally, abandon the old you and run to Christ for Newness! Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Do these things and you will be in Christ forever! The Father wants to adopt you into His family, through His Son, so you may partake in His inheritance! He wants to love you, walk with you, teach you how to overcome your sin and live righteously! Now I know some of you are thinking, Jordan, you don t understand what I m going through, you couldn t relate to what has built up in my life.. And I would say to you, you re right Maybe I don t know but Christ does!
Are you feeling tempted? Christ was tempted Are you feeling pain, sorrow, loneliness or anger? Christ experienced all these things Are you feeling betrayed or abandoned? Christ did. Are you feeling rejected? Christ was rejected so much so that He was murdered for who He was. Jesus understands what you are going through, and He knows the pain, and He wants to take it from you and replace it with all privileges that come with being a child of God!! Do you think what you re going through is too big for Jesus? It s not! He overcame death and completely conquered sin! Christ has washed away your sin! It s gone! He wants you to experience the good things that He has to offer you! Christ died to replace your filthiness with pure holiness What does this look like? I hope this will give you a visual application to amazing gift of being in Christ. Conclusion: We have the opportunity to be washed clean... but why would we even want to be washed clean? Because the truth is, The Father demands perfect obedience to be in His presence. As you and I both know, because of our original sinful nature, we cannot meet that standard. We deserve the wrath of God, eternal damnation. We have disobeyed and failed our creator and we are in desperate need of a Savior. Listen, the reason that we even make a New Year s resolution each year is because we feel inadequate and we are constantly struggling with sin. And what happens a month later? We fail again We need a Victor in our life that has successfully carried out the perfection that we desire. And let me stop and say this: I m not claiming that your struggle with sin will end, trust me I stand here a fallen man, struggling with sin, with fleshly desires and much brokenness. But perceiving this, as a new person with knowledge of the new power I have in Christ, I am humbled yet driven towards the gospel; the good news of being a new creature in Christ. I want the power of Christ to reign in me, so that, it would not be my will, or by my own
power, but His will, and His power! I am drawn to the promise of eternal happiness, comfort, joy, peace, love, and understanding that Christ offers me IN HIM! Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and fulfilled the requirement of perfection, took the punishment of our sin, and overcame death so that we may experience eternal life with Him. If you are here this morning, and you are tired of the old self that you have been trying to improve, put a band-aid on, and mend over and over again, and want to throw that away and embrace a new self, a new creation, a new heart with new desires, then ask God to transform you and ask Christ into your heart. Let go of the old you!! Rid yourself of the heartache, emptiness, selfishness, and weariness! Take off those dirty rags of sin and enrobe yourself in the beautiful garment of Christ! Allow Christ to consume you and change you! And if you re here and you are in Christ but the remnant of original sin is clinging to your new creation, ask the Lord to destroy that remnant every day. We all have struggles that we could write on our hands but are you ready to let Christ wash your hands, be made clean, start new, and inscribe His truths, not on your hands, but in your heart Embrace the newness of Christ and His grace, mercy, and forgiveness again today! Remind yourself that only IN CHRIST can you experience pure contentment, perfect love, and eternal peace. As we enter this new year, let us ask the Lord to make us new creatures, changing us from the inside out! Let us be found in Christ Let s pray