New Life From The Inside Out
God is working in our lives from the inside out, not the outside in. And that is a major problem for many people who want to find God.
Many believe that God works from the outside in - if we do the right things then God will go into action. Which raises a lot of questions.
*What are the right things we have to do so God will accept us?
*How many of the right things do we have to do to make the cut?
*What if we just look like we're doing the right things - is that enough?
Such is the web of religion...it's all about what we do.
The good news of the resurrection is that having a new life is not about what we do - it's about what He is doing.
The Apostles were put in jail but "...during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." (Acts 5)
We rejoice today because of the new life that God brings about through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What is the "message of this new life"?
PROOF: The Resurrection declares Jesus to be the Son of God.
Romans 1:3-5 regarding his Son ... who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is something we can set our faith firmly upon.
PROMISE: New Life Can Be Ours
Romans 6:3-5 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you...
We can put our faith in God's promise of new life now, and resurrection after we die.
PLEDGE: 1 Peter 3:20-22 ....God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body [RELIGION]but the pledge of a good conscience toward God [RELATIONSHIP]. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
John 11:24-26 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
God isn't working from the outside in.
God is working from the inside out.
- he settles the questions of your heart
- he promises new life that never goes away
- he cleanses the conscience and places you in his powerful arms
When we put our faith in those truths, God will be transforming us inwardly in amazing ways.
