A New You For A New Year

Title: “A New You in 2023” Scripture: II Cor. 5:17

Type: Special Occasion Where: GNBC 1-1-23

Intro: Today is New Year’s Day 2023. I am glad that you were all very sensible and went to bed at a reasonable hour so you could be here this morning! This is from Barna research from about 10 years ago: “When it comes to the types of resolutions people make, Americans not surprisingly focus on self-oriented changes. Among those planning to make resolutions, the top pledges for 2011 relate to weight, diet and health (30%); money, debt and finances (15%); personal improvement (13%); addiction (12%); job and career (5%); spiritual or church-related (5%); and educational (4%). Personal improvement responses included being a better person; giving more; having more personal or leisure time; organizing their life or home; and having a better life in general. Hardly anyone polled spoke of wanting to improve relationships with others. There were virtually no mentions of volunteering or serving others; only a handful of comments about marriage or parenting; no responses focusing on being a better friend; and only a small fraction of people mentioned improving their connection with God. David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, explained these findings: "Only 9 out of more than 1,000 survey respondents -- that's not quite one percent -- mentioned that one of their objectives for next year was getting closer to God in some way. Even in the rare instance when people mention spiritual goals, it is often about activity undertaken for God, rather than a personal pursuit of God or an experience with God." Can I let you in on a little secret? You may change the outward shape of your body. May get healthier. May change your financial bottom line. May gain new hobby or cross an item off your “bucket list”. You may get into a self help progam. All of those are good. But won’t change YOU!

Prop: Examining II Cor. 5:17 we’ll realize 4 ways life in Christ offers us something “new”.

BG: 1. II Cor. was one of a series of 3 letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church.

2. Church was large and prosperous. Many new converts. Some trouble as well.

3. IN chapter 5 Paul speaks of the coming judgment but also assures of the transformation for all who are in Christ.

Prop: Let’s examine II Cor. 5:17 so as to realize 4 ways life in Christ offers us something “new”.

I. A New Opportunity: “If any man be in Christ”

A. New Year Affords Us the Impetus to Consider a New Opportunity.

1. A New Opportunity Awaits those who are “in Christ”.

a. Illust – At New Year many people reflect on a desire to change some perceived troubled area of their lives. We may be unsatisfied. We may want a challenge. The majority desire to lose some weight, others may want to learn a language, some focus on learning a new skill or hobby, some feel stifled in a career and looking for a new opportunity, some recognize their spiritual emptiness and resolve to attempt to “know God” or “become more spiritual” in the ensuing year.

b. The Good News of the Gospel is this: A free offer of the Gospel is available to you…right here, and right now! “”If any man…” Let those three words sink into your heart and soul. Any man, any woman. Christ has paid redemption’s price and offers it to you today.

2. The Exclusive Orientation of the Gospel must be noted: “in Christ”.

a. The effectual basis of the Gospel is conditional to our being “in Christ”. So maybe we should ask what, exactly, does it mean to be “in Christ”?

b. The believer’s union with Christ is one of the most important concepts we can grasp. Our justification is only possible because when we are united with Jesus by faith, we share in and possess His righteousness. Our continued walk in the Christian life, our sanctification, is dependent on that union’s continuation. Illust – Jn. 15:4-5 – Christ is like a vine. We are to abide in Him. By doing such we produce fruit. Apart from Him nothing.

B. Friend, do You Need an New Opportunity in Your Life Today?

1. Are you satisfied with where you are Spiritually, or are you looking for something more?

a. Many people falsely assume they must “get right” in their life (Whatever that means!) before they can come to Christ. This is NOT true. (Read Phil. 3:8-11). Paul made it very clear this righteousness is not based on my obedience to the Law, but rather thru “faith in Christ” – grace!

b. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scripture, that He was buried, and that He was raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3–4). The heart of the gospel is Jesus Christ Himself—the person and work of Christ, the sin-bearing work of Christ, as well as the perfection of His life that is imputed to those who believe.