A Specific Request Text: II Cor. 5:14-17 IN CHRIST… Text: II Cor. 5:14-17 Happiness In Life Hope In Death Salvation In Eternity By Nathan L Morrison All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated For further study, or if questions, please Call: 907-252-3708, or visit www.frr-churchofchrist-ak.org Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro Jn. 3:14-15 Jn. 12:32 All men have been bitten by the A Specific Request Intro Jn. 3:14-15 14. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15. so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. Jn. 12:32 32. "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." All men have been bitten by the viper of sin, and the only cure is to look in obedient faith to the cross of Calvary where the Son of God died and shed His blood for our sins! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro A Specific Request II Cor. 5:14-17 14. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15. and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 16. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Emphasis in Scripture mine! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro There are only two spiritual realms: Christ or Satan (Mt. 12:30) A Specific Request Intro In Christ: Happiness In Life Hope In Death Salvation In Eternity There are only two spiritual realms: Christ or Satan (Mt. 12:30) In Christ are found the blessings of God! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Happiness In Life A Specific Request In Christ: Happiness In Life II Cor. 5:17: If in Christ, one is a “new creature, the old things passed away” How does one get “into Christ” to become a “new creature?” Gal. 3:27 27. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Rom. 6:3-7 Baptism crucifies the “old self” with Christ, so that one comes up out of the waters of baptism to “walk in newness of life.” Emphasis in Scripture mine! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Happiness In Life A Specific Request In Christ: Happiness In Life Many teach that “faith only” or “repentance” is all that is needed to put a sinner into Christ If so, why didn’t Paul say: “For all of you who believed into Christ,” or “For all of you who repented into Christ?” In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Happiness In Life A Specific Request In Christ: Happiness In Life Gal. 3:26-27 explains the relationship of faith and baptism in a clear manner How are we no longer under the law? (Gal. 3:22-25) Gal. 3:26 26. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. How are we sons of God through faith in Christ? Gal. 3:27 27. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Emphasis in Scripture mine! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Happiness In Life A Specific Request In Christ: Happiness In Life Once in Christ one can truly enjoy and have happiness in life (both here and the one to come!) Col. 3:15 15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. In Christ there is peace (Phil. 4:6-9) and salvation (Eph. 5:23) of the body (church – Col. 1:18) – Can love life (I Pet. 3:10-12)! If one is “in Christ” they have been baptized and became a “new creature!” In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Hope In Death A Specific Request In Christ: Hope In Death II Cor. 5:17: If in Christ, one is a “new creature, the old things passed away” and “new things have come” Jn. 15:1-6: Jesus used the figure of the vine and branches to teach faithfulness Jn. 8:31: Must “continue” in Christ’s word to truly be His disciple. Jn. 15:4 4. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. Why abide? (Continue in Christ) “TO BEAR FRUIT!” In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Hope In Death A Specific Request In Christ: Hope In Death Examples of those who do not “abide” in Christ: Some fall from grace – Gal. 5:4 Some depart from the faith – I Tim. 4:1 Some deny the faith – I Tim. 5:8 Some overthrow the faith – II Tim. 2:18 What it truly means to “abide” in Christ: To abide the doctrine (teaching) of Christ – II Jn. 9 To abide in holiness and purity – Rom. 12:1-2; I Jn. 3:3 To abide in faithful obedience to Christ’s commands – Jn. 15:14; I Jn. 3:24 In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Hope In Death A Specific Request In Christ: Hope In Death Once in Christ and having continued (abided) in His word one has hope in death! II Tim. 4:6-8 6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8. in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Death has no power over one who has “kept the faith” as they will be rewarded by Christ! (I Jn. 2:25: The promise is eternal life!) If one is “in Christ” they must abide in Christ to remain faithful! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Salvation In Eternity A Specific Request In Christ: Salvation In Eternity Rev. 14:13 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." Faithfulness till death is necessary to have the hope of Heaven! (Rev. 2:10) Emphasis in Scripture mine! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Salvation In Eternity A Specific Request In Christ: Salvation In Eternity The apostle Paul was able to say: Phil. 1:21 21. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Why could he make such a statement? He had been baptized into Christ (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3) He served a life abiding in Christ (II Tim. 4:6-8) In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

In Christ: Salvation In Eternity A Specific Request In Christ: Salvation In Eternity Once in Christ and after living a faithful life, when one dies “in the Lord” they will inherit their reward of Heaven! I Pet. 1:3-4 (Rev. 21:7) 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, Heaven is reserved for the faithful and if they overcome the trials and storms of life they will inherit the home of God! (Rev. 21:7) If one is “in Christ” and remains faithful till death they will inherit Heaven, the home of God Almighty! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion Jesus said He would draw all men to Himself in His A Specific Request Jesus said He would draw all men to Himself in His sacrifice on the cross! (Jn. 12:32) In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion The apostle Paul said we get “into Christ” through faith in A Specific Request The apostle Paul said we get “into Christ” through faith in baptism! (Gal. 3:26-27) Paul also says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:5-6) In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Only in Christ are found the blessings of God… A Specific Request Conclusion Only in Christ are found the blessings of God… Happiness In Life Hope In Death Salvation In Eternity Blessed is the one who gets into Christ, abides in Christ, and dies in Christ! In Christ… Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion Are you “in Christ?” A Specific Request Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)