Part 1 – The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The “good news” of Christianity is not centered on forgiveness of sins Forgiveness of sins through repentance and immersion into Christ simply takes care of the past The Christian’s challenge is to live today for Christ, without sin As Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:5) The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15) The essence of Christianity Unless we understand what it means to be a new creature, Christianity becomes a set of extremely burdensome rules This attitude of burden will result in death Understanding the New Creation The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Birth “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) We know that a person enters into Christ through immersion in water (cf. Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, John 3:5) The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Birth In this new birth, the past is buried with Jesus in immersion – see Romans 6:4 Even more importantly, the Christian shares in Jesus’ resurrection “Behold, new things have come!” What is this new creature? What are the old things that have passed away? Most importantly, what are the new things that have come? The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Potential Sermon on the Mount – “Therefore you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Jesus is clear – we are to be like our heavenly Father in all respects The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Potential This same thought is emphasized in the epistles “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29) “Be imitators of me [Paul], just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Speaking of Christ, Peter says, “leaving an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21) The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Potential In simple terms, we as Christians are to be like Christ Is this possible? Has God set for us a task impossible to complete? The process of becoming like Christ is much like the process of picture taking It must be “snapped,” “developed,” and “gazed” at Yes! No! The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Picture Taking the picture – understanding that we can be perfect How can that be? “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Immerser; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11) The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Picture John is described as the greatest “born of women” The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John The least Christian is greater than John The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation The New Picture In being born of women, we were born with limited potential “…who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13) John was born of women; the Christian is born of God We have a new Father; our old limitations are gone The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Dead to sin Read Romans 6:3-7 We are immersed into Christ’s death We have been buried with Him through immersion into death Our old self was crucified with Him Our body of sin is done away with He who has died is freed from sin The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Dead to sin Let’s visit the morgue Lift the sheet from one of the corpses Try to tempt him What images can you flash in front of him that would generate sinful thoughts? None Because he’s dead! The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Dead to sin This is how the Christian is to view himself “he who has died is freed from sin” Self-image – “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7) The key to change in behavior is to change the inner picture God buried the failure The old things have truly passed away! The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Alive to God Read Romans 6:8-11 We shall also live with Christ Death no longer is master over Christ Consider yourselves the same way – dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus We are to view ourselves as Jesus was when He came out of the tomb The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Alive to God The significance of this resurrection cannot be overstressed A person who views himself as a sinner will continue to act that way God commands us to view ourselves as resurrected, beyond the temptation of Satan If temptation and fear have no effect upon a dead man, how much less on a resurrected man? The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Alive to God These same points are stressed throughout the New Testament Colossians 3:1-11 Raised up with Christ You have died Dead to deeds of the flesh Laid aside the old self Have put on the new self The Meaning of the New Creation

The Meaning of the New Creation Alive to God Ephesians 4:20-24 Lay aside the old self Be renewed in the spirit of your mind Put on the new self New things have come! It is possible for the Christian, because he is a new creation following his new birth, to become like Christ The Meaning of the New Creation

Part 2 – Developing the New Creature The New Creation Part 2 – Developing the New Creature