| 2Corinthians 5:14-21 |
Countryside Bible Church 5-7-00 |
Intro: Paul writes
to the Corinthian church, “…if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this
is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…”
It might be said that God has two creations. For Paul says that “anyone in Christ is a new creation”. Of course, this is not to say that the Christian is recreated physically, although one day that is our hope, but that he is recreated spiritually. He lives by a new principle of righteousness, not of law but of faith.
This is a new and exciting principle although not easily grasped because we are so oriented to law, to tit for tat.
I suspect that very many
people without much Christian background and still many who are active in the
Christian church hold in their minds a kind of judicial system of
balances. If my good out-weights my bad
I will be accepted into God’s kingdom or into heaven, or whatever. Or, at least, if I am very, very good, I’m
okay.
Others go to an extreme view of faith that says it does not matter what we do so long as we are careful to say to God, “I’m sorry”. It goes along with the theology that God loves us and loves us all alike regardless of the kind of lives we lead or regardless of how good or bad we are. It’s the kind of “don’t worry, God loves you” fad. This is all a meaningless mix of mush.
God is not measuring us by the yardstick of law neither is He unconcerned how we live. God’s purpose is to produce in Christ a new person and to produce in that person His righteousness.
For does not Paul say regarding the yardstick of the law that He is “not counting men’s sins against them”? And does it not say that “I him we might become the righteousness of God”?
I.
WHAT COUNTS, NEW CREATION
A.
what counts is a
new creation Gal
6:15-16
1.
Peace and mercy to all
who follow this rule
2. Not wanting to fight old nature 3. Go back to tit for tat. 4. Irradiate, install new nature. |
II.
THIS IS WHAT GOD IS
DOING
A. Compliant candidates. 1. Covenant relationship. 2. Not understand “fine print 3. Is learned. B. Forgiveness, more than cleansing
1. It’s renewal (being recreated) 2. ...so that we may serve the living God! Heb. 9:14 3. “new creation 4. all this is from God” 2Cor. 5:19 |
III. THEREFORE… BE RECONCILED
2Cor.5:20
A. Message to Christians 1.
“Reconciled” = “mutual
change” 2.
His children, our Father C.
What is a son, daughter? 1.
Parents only legally. 2.
Children are motivated D.
No change, no child. 1. Spirit of sonship Rom 8:13-15 |
A.
Know, believe what God
is doing
1. a righteousness that is by faith Rom 1:16-17 2. God's workmanship Ephes. 2:8-10 |
IV. “sons and daughters”
A. Two perceptions of good 1. Child, just be good 2. Not trouble 3. Stay out of their hair 4. Don’t embarrass 5. (That may be true of some parents) B. Parents want more
1. Maturity 2. Good person 3. Responsible 4. Loving, caring, 5. Able to cope. |
Conclusion: Think of the wonderful opportunity we have through Christ to actually be God’s children. Not having to cower before Him in fear and endless guilt. Rather being compelled by the love of the one who died for us and by the love of the Father who is not counting our sins against us, we are free to serve the living God by every good things that pleases Him.