2 Corinthians 5:14-21
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 …we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
A New Creation: Living for Christ
INTRODUCTION:
Here we see that one of the outcomes of the gospel and new birth is the reorientation of life.
The believer no longer lives or thinks for himself but in accordance with God’s divine plan of joy, fulfillment, and purpose. To live for Christ, we must live from Christ.
A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…(2 Corinthians 5:17)
This is an incredible and freeing revelation of the born-again.
Why?
We may feel bogged down with condemnation and shame, yet heaven declares that we are a new creation in Christ, because of Christ.
Paul declares: All things have become new
- It is good to be refreshed in the beautiful truths of the gospel. -
This is a teaching and a principle that many Christians learn early on in Sunday service or children’s church, due to the passage of time it can be forgotten.
However, the Apostle Paul calls this principle back to memory continually because it preserves him in his walk-in sanctification.
In our walk it is easy to fall into the cycle of wandering off the path of the gospel and denying holiness or the pursuit of holiness. Or on the flip side we fall into legalism and begin to believe that through our works we earn God’s Grace, Love, and Mercy.
This passage seeks to reorient us!
in Christ – When the believer is “in Christ” the Father sees their life as Jesus’ life
What does that mean:
1. The Father sees our life as Jesus’ life.
a. We no longer have to bring spotless animals before God as a sacrifice for sin, because, when God sees us, he see’s Christs righteous blood covering us.
2. We are granted full access into the divine relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:20-26).
a. Through Prayer and the Holy Spirit, we can approach the throne of Grace.
3. Our inheritance and future are guaranteed and protected in the Kingdom
(Colossians 1:13)
a. The Born-again Believer is never going to Die!
i. John 10:28-30
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.
b. We have an inheritance according to how we live our lives on this earth.
i. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
c. You can walk in full confidence that you will rule and reign with Christ for all of eternity in the new heavens and the new earth(s).
i. 2 Timothy 2: 11-13
11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself
4. Our life is no longer our own, but under the authority of the King.
a. Our life BELONGS TO GOD!
b. The Gospel has bearing on every aspect of our life!
i. It has bearing on our work, mission, marriage, money, influence, sexuality, OPINION! Your opinion doesn’t matter. The opinion of the King is all that matters.
The beauty of the Christian faith is that at the moment of the salvation, the condition of the spirit is made entirely new.
However, the path to becoming fully sanctified takes the work of the holy Spirit over time.
The truth transforms the Christian from patterns of shame and condemnation to holiness.
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.
(Romans 8:1)
THE OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW
… old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
We don’t have to work to victory in God, today we work from a place of victory in God!
We pursue Holiness from a place of victory in God!
We pursue righteous outward acts and deeds from a place of victory in God!
We love our families from a place of victory in God!
It changes everything! The battle has already been won!
We also adopt the opinions and ideologies of Christ.
Psalms 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Our personal perspectives and opinions don’t matter. All that matters is the word of God!
Everything Must be subject to the will, the word and to the purpose of God!
This profound truth grounds us in turbulent times!
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