68. An Appeal To The New Nature Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE 68 - AN APPEAL TO THE NEW NATURE

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

We have been looking at the subject of the law in relation to the development of spiritual maturity in God’s holy people.

• Last time we focused on the first of two points we need to bear in mind when Paul speaks about commandments and the law in the age of the New Covenant.

• These points are to address the seeming confusion and conflict regarding the law in the age of the New Covenant.

• This confusion was magnified in those areas where there was a mixture of both Jew and Gentile converts in the congregation.

• The apostle Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, was the one who had to manage the transition from the Old to the New Covenant.

• However, there are times where Paul himself speaks positively about the law and times when he speaks negatively about it.

So when we read Paul’s seemingly conflicting views about commandments and the law, we need to bear the following two points in mind.

• 1) When Paul speaks about the commandments of God, he is not trying to slide the old law in through the back door. Rather he is focusing on the need for believers to develop those characteristics which reflect the nature and character of their heavenly Father.

• New Covenant believers are the building blocks of the spiritual temple God the Father is going to inhabit and as He is going to share fellowship with them they have been given the resources through the Holy Spirit to develop the same godly characteristics of the godhead itself within the framework of grace.

• To summarize what we covered last time, when we consider Paul’s statements regarding the law or commandments, we need to make a distinction between those laws that were futuristic and ritualistic and those that are eternal and reflect the nature and character of God.

• Whereas in the past, the focus of worship centered on shadows such as sacrifices, locations, days, foods etc., now the emphasis is rightly focused on the One these rituals and laws pointed to, Jesus Christ.

• In addition, a New Covenant believer will strive to emulate the nature and character of their holy God and use those sections of scripture in both the Old and New Testaments which do this as their guide to develop God’s holiness in their own lives.

• 2) The instructions of holiness of the New Covenant are directed at those led by the Spirit, endowed with the new nature and have the mind of Christ.

• We saw back in 1 Tim 1:9-10 how the old law was directed at those with the fallen nature.

• 1 Timothy 1:9-10 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.

• You will remember the law was introduced to reveal and magnify the vast contrast between a holy God and sinful mankind with the aim of bringing us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:20).

• In contrast to the Torah, what we see with the New Covenant is what we have termed “instructions in holiness” are directed at those with the new nature to guide them into the good works God has prepared for them (Ephesians 2:10).

• The death and resurrection of Jesus along with the coming of the Holy Spirit has brought about a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), with a brand new nature under the control of the “Spirit” rather than the “flesh” (Romans 8:5-17).

• As mentioned earlier, the motivation to think and act as God’s holy people with the new nature comes from a deep gratitude for what God has done for us rather than one of dutiful obedience.