An Experience That Manifest Evidence

An Experience That Manifest Evidence

2 Corinthians 5:17

I once heard about an old country fellow and his son that went to the big city for the first time. They had never been off the farm and were amazed at all the things they saw.

The thing that amazed the old farmer the most was an elevator. They were standing in the lobby of this building when they saw this old woman with wrinkled skin with a walker step into the elevator. The door closed and in a few minutes opened and out stepped this beautiful young blonde lady.

The farmer said to his son, "Wait right here. I’m going home to get your mamma and run her through that thing."

Though the farmer did not understand what happened, he did know there had been a change.

Our text verse declares to us once a person has enjoyed the experience of the saving grace of God that person is forever changed.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this, I imagine he was thinking of himself.

I. THE MESSAGE WHICH IS INCLUSIVE – “If any man be in Christ ”

These words speak of impartiality. Salvation is for anyone and everyone who will repent and receive Christ by faith. In others words, it is

A. Universal in its appeal

It is for all men. None are excluded but all are invited.

“Whosever will” let him come!

B. Individual in its application

I cannot come to Christ for you. It is an

individual matter.

This message is sufficient for all but only

efficient for those who come.

During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanting to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds.

When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood -- the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.

II. THE MIRACLE THAT IS CREATIVE “…he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new”

When a man gets saved by the grace of God, he becomes a new creature in Christ.

The American Red Cross was gathering supplies, medicine, clothing, food and the like for the suffering people of west coast of Africa Inside one of the boxes that showed up at the collecting station one day was a letter. It said, "We have recently been converted and because of our conversion we want to try to help. We won’t ever need these again. Can you use them for something?"

Inside the box were several Ku Klux Klan sheets. The sheets were cut down to strips and eventually used to bandage the wounds of black persons in Africa.

From symbols of hatred to bandages of love all because of the new creation.

A. The difference Christ will make in a life

“…old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

1. Visible change – to others and to ourselves

2. Thorough change – “all things are become new”

3. Radical change – “new creature”

B. The relevance Christ will manifest in a life

We are now under new management.

The story is told of a poor couple that got saved through the ministry of the Salvation Army. Neither one could read or write. But both were so happy that they had been saved. A revival meeting was going on and when the husband came home he seemed so depressed. His wife asked him what was wrong. He said, "Everyone at the meeting has a coat with nice letters on it. I wish I had a coat like that."

His wife said, "I believe I can do something about that. I will put you some letters on your coat." Since she couldn’t read or write, she wondered what she would do. She looked out the window and saw a sign in the store across the street. She copied the letters on that sign and sewed them on her husband’s coat.

The next night her husband came home so happy. She asked, "How did everyone like the letters on your coat?"

He said, "They all said I had the best coat of them all." The wife had sewed the letters on his coat that read: "Under new management."

1. The new creature serves a new master.

a. He’ll serve Him Faithfully.

b. He’ll serve Him Fervently. (with all his heart)

2. The new creature speaks a new message.