Jesus Gives New Life! Andrew Wong 18 Sep 2016
OT Reading u Deuteronomy 30:19-20 u 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
NT Reading u 1 John 5:11-12 u 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Gospel Reading u John 10:10 u 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [abundantly]
Abundant Life u John 10:10 (ESV) u The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. u perissos: over and above, more than is necessary, superadded
New Life (from John 14-15) 1. Relationship with God (John 14:6) 2. Supernatural life in the Spirit (John 14:12-17) 3. Abundant fruitfulness (John 15:16)
Tripartite Being/Nature of Man u Gen 2:7 u The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. u Ruach/Pneuma: breath, wind, spirit
GOD formed Man from the dust of the earth Body (Soma)
GOD and breathed into his nostrils the Spirit of life Body (Soma) Spirit (Pneuma)
GOD Body (Soma) Soul (Psyche) Mind, Will, Emotions and Man became a living being Spirit (Pneuma)
GOD SIN Body (Soma) Soul (Psyche) Mind, Will, Emotions Dead Spirit (Pneuma)
GOD SIN JESUS Body (Soma) Soul (Psyche) Mind, Will, Emotions Spirit (Pneuma)
Tripartite Being/Nature of Man u Spirit, Soul, Body u c.f. 1 Thes 5:23 u Spirit connects to God s Spirit u Soul mind, will, emotions u Body natural component u Spiritual life leads to physical life
Born again u Sin cuts us off from relationship with God (Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death) u Our spirit and God s Spirit were estranged by sin, leading to spiritual death (which leads to physical death) u 5 Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:5-6) u Born again = Spiritual rebirth
New Life (from John 14-15) 1. Relationship with God (John 14:6) 2. Supernatural life in the Spirit (John 14:12-17) 3. Abundant Fruitfulness (John 15:16)
1. Relationship with God u Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Baptism: Sign of New Life u Outward sign of an inward grace (faith and deeds) u Spiritual rebirth (God s grace working in you) AND outward evidence (water baptism) u 3 Or don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. (Romans 6:3-4)
1. Relationship with God u Jesus is the way to God the Father u Forgiveness of sins (inward grace) u New life God is the Source of Life u Baptism is the outward sign of new life
1. Relationship with God Reflection u Candidates: You are given freedom in Christ! From sin, worry, fear u Are you living like your sins are forgiven? Or are you still bound by sin? u Just as you have been forgiven, can you forgive others their sins? u Are you fleeing evil & selfish desires and pursuing righteousness, faith, love & peace (2 Tim 2:22)?
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. u 15 If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:12-17)
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u In Christ s name, we can ask for whatever and expect God to move! u Condition: Life in the Spirit (in His name) u A lot of people think that Christianity is you doing all the righteous things you hate and avoiding all the wicked things you love in order to go to Heaven. No, that s a lost man with religion. A Christian is a person whose heart has been changed; they have new affections. (Paul Washer)
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u When Jesus says that He will ask the Father to give us the Holy Spirit to live in us, He is giving us a new heart, new desires, and a new way of living! u Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17)
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u Resurrection power u 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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Rom 6:4-5)
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u He replied, Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Mt 17:20) u Jesus promises that He will do whatever you ask in His name! u Be renewed in Christ (Gal 3:27 says for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ ). New heart, new desires, new power.
2. Supernatural life in the Spirit u Corporate life as one body of Christ u For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor 12:13) u Image of the Triune God Unity & Plurality coexist
3. Abundant Fruitfulness u John 15:16 u 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
3. Abundant Fruitfulness u We were handpicked by God to bear fruit!
3. Abundant Fruitfulness u How to bear fruit? u Abiding in Christ (John 15:1-17) u Personal fruit vs Fruit for the Kingdom u Fruit for eternity -> GO make disciples
New Life (from John 14-15) 1. Relationship with God (John 14:6) through Jesus, baptism as sign of new life 2. Supernatural life in the Spirit (John 14:12-17) new creation new desires, through our relationship with God we have the resurrection power to move mountains, one family 3. Abundant Fruitfulness (John 15:16) personal fruit cultivated through relationship with God, Kingdom fruit