A New Creation Presented by Steven Schiller
INTRODUCTION
We rejoice when someone becomes a Christian...
Even when an observer doesn't understand all that is involved, they often sense something meaningful is happening .
Especially as time goes on, and changes begin to occur in the person's life
But often the significance of becoming a Christian appears to be lost...Sometimes even Christians fail to appreciate the significance of being a Christian
When this happens, Christians often fail to grow as they should
It never hurts for a Christian to reflect, and ask such questions as...
Who im i?
Why im i here?
Where im i going when i die?
What did I do?
What have I received?
What are the implications and consequences of what I've done?
What has happened to me?
What have I become?
What is different about me?
To summarize these questions...
What is the meaning, importance, and value of becoming a Christian?
What am I now to do?
-- Such are the questions we hope to answer today, "The Significance Of Being A Christian"
[In this lesson, we note that a Christian is "A Person Reborn". That is because in Christ one has become...
A NEW CREATION
A CHRISTIAN IS A "NEW CREATION"...
A Christian rises out of the watery grave of baptism to newness of life - Ro 6:4-5
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Old things have passed away, and new things have come - 2 Co 5:17
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A NEW CREATION MADE POSSIBLE BY VIRTUE OF A NEW BIRTH...
A new birth produced by responding to the Word of God - Jm 1:18; 1Pe 1:22-23
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
A new birth produced by the working of the Spirit of God - Jn 3:3-5; Tit 3:5-7
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
THIS NEW CREATION EMBARKS ON A LIFE OF RENEWAL...
The inner man is to be renewed daily - 2Co 4:16
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
This renewal is ongoing, involving the renewal of one's mind - Ro 12:2
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Because of the new creation which has occurred, and the renewing which continues to take place, the Christian can be said to have.
A NEW LIFE
HAVING PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE...
As Jesus promised to those who hear His words - Jn 5:24-25
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Once dead in sin, we are now made alive to God - Ep 2:1-5; Co 2:12-13
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
We now have the promise and prospect of life eternal, given through God's Son - 1Jn 5:11-13
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
That You May Know
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
HAVING PASSED FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT...
Such is the objective of gospel preaching: to turn people from darkness to light
So Jesus told Paul - Acts 26:18
Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
So Peter wrote to Christians - 1Pet 2:9-10
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Though we once walked in darkness, we can now walk in the light
As children of light - Ep 5:8; 1Th 5:5
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
The metaphor of light representing goodness, righteousness, and truth - Ep 5:9
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
-- For which we should ever be thankful - Col 1:12-13
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
[What makes such a new creation and a new life a reality? It is more than a mere obedience to some new doctrine. It is possible only when such obedience is the result of...]
A NEW LOYALTY
A CHRISTIAN IS A "CONVERTED" PERSON...
As exemplified by the Thessalonians - 1Th 1:9
1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Conversion inherently involves change, particularly a change of loyalties
From serving sin to serving God - Ro 6:16-18
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
From serving idols to serving God - 1Th 1:9
1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
A CHRISTIAN IS CONVERTED TO JESUS CHRIST...
He or she acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ . Ac 2:36; 1Pe 3:15
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Above family, life, and self, the Christian chooses to follow Jesus - Mt 10:37-39
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
When one makes that choice, Christ will become the focus of that person's life - Ga 2:20
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
SUCH LOYALTY TO CHRIST RESULTS IN A NEW LIFE...
In which God blesses the individual through Jesus Christ , Php 4:6-7
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In which one finds strength to live the new life - Php 4:13
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
CONCLUSION
A significant thing about a Christian, then, is that he or she...
Experiences a new creation
Enjoys a new life
Entertains a new loyalty
-- Such a individual is truly "A Person Reborn"
But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth... Why is that?
They may have not yet truly experienced the new creation
Obedience not rendered in faith will not produce the new birth - Mk 16:16
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
For God's power to be at work, we must submit in faith - Col 2:12-13
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin
Hardened by sin's deceitfulness, they have departed from God -. He 3:12-13
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Entangled once again by the pollutions of the world - 2 Pe 2:20
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
-- In either case, their loyalty is certainly not where it ought to be!
May the promise of a new creation and a new life in Christ remind us of "The Significance Of Being A Christian", and challenge us to examine our loyalties if we do not see in our lives the evidence of "A Person Reborn".
HEAR THE GOSPEL
BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
REPENT OF YOUR SINS
CONFESS CONFESS JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD
BE BAPTIZED IMMERSED IN WATER, BEING WASHED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS
LIVE FAITHFULLY