“All Things New”
Part 2 of “Start with Identity: Rooted in Christ”
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person isa new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. – II Corinthians 5:16-19 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
What does it look like for you to live as a new human? What would society look like if people could hit reset and start living differently? We are something completely new and different from the rest of humanity.
ILLUSTRATION: Highly valued baseball cards
For the follower of Jesus, what makes us valuable is that the image of Christ is stamped upon each follower.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. – Romans 12:1-3 (NASB)
The challenge of humanity is not a “poor self-image.”
Whatever we depend on for our identity and meaning and purpose in life will control us.
Our relationship with God carries over directly into our human relationships.
The identity we choose is of foundational importance for our growth.
Followers of Jesus need an identity based on truth.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. – Ephesians 1:17 (NASB)
When our identity is transformed by Jesus, we are indeed “NEW” creations!
New creations see people differently. We see people the way God sees them.
God makes us new for a purpose. Our new identity will always lead to action.
When we are transformed by Christ, we will be an effective witness in reconciling people to God.
Newness is attractive.
ILLUSTRATION: The “new car” smell
We have the aroma of Christ and can bring a transformed freshness into the lives of others.
But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. – II Corinthians 3:18 (NASB)
What the world says is valuable will never have any real value in the end.
Satan wants to identify us by our scars, but Jesus wants to identify us by His scars.
ILLUSTRATION: “Do They See Jesus in Me?”
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think people are naturally attracted to what is new in this temporary life?
How should followers of Jesus be different from the world?
What are some of the ways we should be different from the world?
Why does it matter that followers of Jesus are new creations and different from their old selves?
What does it look like for you to live as a new human?
What would society look like if people could hit reset and start living differently?
Where are you in your understanding of who you are as you stand before a holy Creator God?
As a result of God’s grace and unconditional love through Jesus, do you understand that you are acceptable to God no matter what has happened or what you have done in your life?
Do you choose to identify yourself by your life scars or by the scars of Jesus?
The BIG Idea:
What does it look like for you to live as a new human? What would society look like if people could hit reset and start living differently? We are something completely new and different from the rest of humanity.
ILLUSTRATION: Highly valued baseball cards
For the follower of Jesus, what makes us valuable is that the image of Christ is stamped upon each follower.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. – Romans 12:1-3 (NASB)
The challenge of humanity is not a “poor self-image.”
Whatever we depend on for our identity and meaning and purpose in life will control us.
Our relationship with God carries over directly into our human relationships.
The identity we choose is of foundational importance for our growth.
Followers of Jesus need an identity based on truth.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. – Ephesians 1:17 (NASB)
When our identity is transformed by Jesus, we are indeed “NEW” creations!
New creations see people differently. We see people the way God sees them.
God makes us new for a purpose. Our new identity will always lead to action.
When we are transformed by Christ, we will be an effective witness in reconciling people to God.
Newness is attractive.
ILLUSTRATION: The “new car” smell
We have the aroma of Christ and can bring a transformed freshness into the lives of others.
But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. – II Corinthians 3:18 (NASB)
What the world says is valuable will never have any real value in the end.
Satan wants to identify us by our scars, but Jesus wants to identify us by His scars.
ILLUSTRATION: “Do They See Jesus in Me?”
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think people are naturally attracted to what is new in this temporary life?
How should followers of Jesus be different from the world?
What are some of the ways we should be different from the world?
Why does it matter that followers of Jesus are new creations and different from their old selves?
What does it look like for you to live as a new human?
What would society look like if people could hit reset and start living differently?
Where are you in your understanding of who you are as you stand before a holy Creator God?
As a result of God’s grace and unconditional love through Jesus, do you understand that you are acceptable to God no matter what has happened or what you have done in your life?
Do you choose to identify yourself by your life scars or by the scars of Jesus?