A New Life

Intro: Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthians due to the apparent influence of worldly values on the congregation. The worldly values that are seeping in due to teaching of rival missionaries are affecting their judgment 5.12, and behavior 12.20-21.

Paul tells the corinthians their way of looking at the world is outdated, old-fashioned, worn out. He tells them there is a new and a better way. Paul uses the Greek word kainos. It carries the idea of better quality than what was before.

Our life if it is “in Chirst” can and should be of better quality than it was before we met Christ.

Why? If we are “in Christ” we have a New Outlook, a New Outpost, and a New Outcry.

NRSV 2 Cor 5.16 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view.” (Nasb recognize) (according to the flesh)

I. A new outlook

Remember last week? What type of outlook do you have, Rosy or rotten?

A) Deformed nature

Sin is like a disease that deforms us and makes us unacceptable to God.

Man was originally created in the image of God. (Genesis 1.26, Gen 5.1-2, Gen 9.6)

Through sin that image became deformed and distorted.

The children of Adam did not reflect the Glory of God they showed the sin of man.

Genesis 5.3 “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”

What image was Seth made in?

Seth was the image of his fallen sinful earthly father not his Heavenly Father.

Romans 8.7 “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself so the law of God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.

1) Sin made man unacceptable to god

Habakkuk 1.13 “Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing.”

Isaiah 59.2 “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

a) It made us Hostile toward God

b) It made us His bitter enemies

2) Sin made God inaccessible to man

a) By our nature we were children of wrath (Ephesians 2.3)

b) By our nature we were strangers (Ephesians 2.12)

c) By our nature we were separate (Ephesians 2.12)

d) By our nature we were hopeless (Ephesians 2.12)

2 Cor 5.15 “and He died for all,”

Have you ever heard anyone say I had an experience and it changed my whole outlook on life?

Paul had that experience with Christ on the road to Damascus. It led to a changed outlook and attitudes.

B) Transformed nature

When we receive the new nature “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creature,” we receive a new outlook. We receive a whole a new view of the world through God’s “eyes.”

· This happens when we are reconciled to God.

· Reconciliation is a process that God uses to make man (all of us) acceptable to Him. It also makes God accessible to us.

· Why do we need to be reconciled?

o All men need to be reconciled due to their sin or deformed nature.

o That nature alienated us from God due to God’s holiness and human sinfulness.

o Because of Gods Holiness He must judge sin. (Heb 10.27) Even though He loves the sinner (Romans 5.8) God hates sin.

Reconciliation

1) Initiated by God

It is a complete work of God there is nothing we can contribute to take away our old deformed nature.

God’s plan depends solely on what Jesus did on the cross.

1) In Christ – As Noah in the ark = security

2) In Christ – As Stones in a building = stability

3) In Christ – As a branch in a vine = vitality

The new outlook helps us realize that we have a new outpost.

2 Corinthians 5.20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,”

II. A new outpost

God so cared for us that he not only reconciled us as individuals and the church to himself. But he stepped out even further. He uses us as a means to reconcile others.

A) God entrusted ministry 2 Cor 5.18

Why trust this to former enemies that were hostile to him.

1) Because God chose to work through us

2) Because Romans 8.28 says we are to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. We are thus displays of God’s reconciliation. Who could tell about being made right with God better than those made right!!