New Beginnings 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Ps. 51:2-4a Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight
Psalm 51:7-12a Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
I. Let the Past be Past through Forgiveness. (V.17) A. "Old things are passed away" - Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. - 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We must: B. Refuse to be tormented by our sins that God has forgiven. C. New beginnings also require forgiving of others.
Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. D. We can forgive because we have been forgiven! - Matthew 6:14-15: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But is you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
II. Let the Future be Fantastic through Faith. (V.18) A. "All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself" Philippians 3:13," but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." B. We begin with God by faith at the time of salvation. Romans 5:1: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
C. The entire Christian life is an experience of faith. the just shall live by faith (Hab.2:3; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) D. Why then are so many believers living in bondage to anxieties? 1. They are not trusting God for their everyday provisions. Phil. 4:15-19 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2. They are trying to face the future before it arrives. Matthew 6:31-34, Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
3. They have forgotten all things are possible with God Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible. Gen. 18:14a, Is anything too hard for the LORD?
III. Let the Present be Exciting through Evangelism. (V. 18-20) A. "God has committed to us the word of reconciliation." B. We have been commissioned to tell others of Christ's love.
Have you begun with Christ? Have you lost the joy of your salvation? Let forgiveness, faith and evangelism bring you into your New Beginning today!