"New Creation"

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Camp Walker, South Korea

BIG IDEA: AS GENUINE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS, with the status of new creation, WE receive permanent visits from God who CARES FOR US.

REFERENCES: Psalms 8:1-9; Genesis 1:1-2 (The creation of heaven and earth: In the beginning God created * the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.); Isaiah 40:28-29; Genesis 1:26 - Man supreme place at the climax of God’s creative work - (And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.); Proverbs 8:22-23,27 (… I was there from the beginning …); Matthew 21:16-19; Hebrews 11:12 ( … so many as the stars of the sky in multitude …); 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.); Galation 6:15 (For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. ); Psalms 144: 3-4 RSV (O Lord, what is man that thou dost regard him, or the son of man that thou dost think of him?);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Psalms 8:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17

II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:

Now, before we begin, allow me to share with you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding Psalms (or what is widely known in the theological community as THE PSALTER). For instance, in the Psalms we have a compilation of one hundred and fifty religious poems which makes it the l-o-n-g-e-s-t book in the Bible.

More specifically, the Psalter also divides easily into five different sections or books with each of the first four ending with a doxology (or a hymn of praise to God). For instance, Book 1 is Psalms 1 through Psalms 41 verse 13 is the doxology; Book 2 is Psalms 42 through Psalms 72 and verses 18-19 are the doxology. The fact of the matter is that all of the Psalms were compiled with a special purpose in mind. In fact, it has often been pointed out that the Psalters is the book of human emotions.

Because every emotion and experience of man’s heart is reflected in our Psalms.

For instance, if we’re fearful, we can read Psalm 91 or Psalm 23. If we’re happy and desire to express our happiness, read Psalm 92 or Psalm 66. If we feel forsaken, we can read Psalm 88. If we’re doubtful, because we sense that our faith is beginning to fail, we can read Psalm 119. Which says in part …

“ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word (119:7-9) …

III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:

Now, my brothers and sisters … most commentators recognized that the Psalter comprises of psalms of five different types:

Hymns, Laments of the Community, Royal Psalms, Individual Laments, and Individual Songs of Thanksgiving.

Therefore, … in our particular text, this afternoon, we find HYMNS of PRAISE. For King David designed this psalm … primarily for the choir members, and those that have a love and appreciation for music to sing praises to God …. during church services. For … the lyrics in this hymn reads: …

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Psalms 8:1-6 & 2 Corinthians 5:17

III. READ THE TEXT: Psalms 8:3-5 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars,which thou hast ordained; What is man,

that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor).

&

2 Corinthian 5:17: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the HEARERS to affirm to others that as God’s New Creation, we receive permanent visits from Him because He Cares for us.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “NEW CREATION”

VI. Proposition: … My brothers and sisters, … I submit to you this afternoon that God loves us SO MUCH … that He sent Jesus … to PERMANENTLY CARE for (or visit) His New Creation.

INTRODUCTION: … In my reading, I stumbled across an illustration by Reverend Doctor Jonathan Busch which I felt shared some insight about the “Creation “ itself … :