A New Life for A New Year
Galatians 2:20
December 30, 2001
Introduction
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and it is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. After this year we have seen that some things have stayed the same while many, many things have changed. New Year’s Eve is a time to usher out the old and bring in the new. It is a time of freshness. It is a time of beginnings. It is a time of new starts.
Now is the time of resolutions and changes to life. Now is the time to seize opportunities and move forward. This morning I want to take a few moments to look at an old truth that could bring some fresh air to your new life in Christ.
Read Text
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
I. The Surrendered Life
I have been crucified with Christ
A. Christ died for you
1. Christ was crucified
The most horrid execution created by the Roman government was without a doubt crucifixion. Crucifixion was a long and painful death that caused the person being executed hours of torment. Christ was crucified and died a miserable death but he was completely innocent. He did no wrong. He committed no crime. He caused no insurrection (This was the charge against Jesus). He was without fault. He was without blemish of character. He was without sin. So why did He die?
2. Christ took your place
Most of you already know but let me take a moment to remind you. He died for you. Yes, he died for you. He died because you have broken the Law. He died because you are guilty. He died because you have rebelled. He died, so that, you with all of your guilt, all of your mistakes, all of your sins; wouldn’t have to die. One the cross, Christ took your place and died the death you deserved.
B. You have been called to die
1. By faith in Christ, you accept His death
During the Civil War in the United States, a farmer named Blake was drafted as a soldier. He was deeply concerned about leaving his family, because his wife had died and there would be no one to support and take care of his children in his absence. The day before he was to leave for the army, his neighbor Charlie Durham came to visit him. "Blake," he said, "I’ve been thinking. You’re needed here at home, so I’ve decided to go in your place." The farmer was so overwhelmed that a few moments he was speechless. The offer seemed too good to be true. He grasped the hand of the young man and praised God for this one who was willing to go as his substitute. Charlie went to the front-lines and performed his duties nobly. But sad to say, he was shot and killed in the first battle. When the farmer heard the news, he immediately saddled his horse and rode out to the battlefield. After searching for some time, he found the body of his friend. He arranged to have it buried in the churchyard near the spot where they had often stopped to talk after the services. On a piece of marble he carved an inscription with his own hands. It was roughly done, but with every blow of the hammer on the chisel tears fell from his eyes. He placed the marker on the grave of his devoted substitute. Many villagers wept as they read the brief but touching inscription: HE DIED FOR ME.
When you accept Christ, you are accepting his death. The punishment for your misdeeds and your sins has already been carried out on Christ. So, you have died with Christ.
2. You are called to die yourself
By faith, you have been granted a new life. You have been called to give up the things of the “old life,” these are the things that sentenced you to death, and live a new life through Christ. What does the comparison look like?
The Old Life The New Life
Death Life
Darkness Light
Despair Hope
Bondage Freedom
Weakness Strength
II. The Strengthened Life
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
A. Christ has become your strength
1. Christ lives in you
This is simply amazing! When you place your faith in Christ, he lives within you. John records these words of Jesus: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Think of it this way. The same Christ who loved you enough to die for you, now loves you enough to live within your life, by the power of the resurrection. The power of Christ now becomes your strength.
2. Christ gives you strength
The power in Christ’s possession is now within your life. Christ’s strength to resist temptation is now within your life. Christ’s strength to love people. Christ’s strength to forgive others is within you. This list goes on but you get the point. All that is Christ’s is now yours.
B. You are strengthened by Christ
1. Christ can be your strength
You and I are pretty weak when we really think about it. We struggle with daily pressures of life, day in and day out. We allow minor things to become major problems and drain us of what little strength we have in life. There is good news for us and the apostle Paul gave it to us from Christ Himself: Christ said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” The only way that we can really access the strength of Christ is to admit that we are weak and there is our problem we don’t want to admit the simple fact that we cannot make it through life on our own.
2. The choice is yours
When we try to live life in our own strength we will always fail. There are so many Christians who resist the fact that they are weak and that they need Christ’s strength to get them through life. This is like flying a glider when you’ve been offered a jet or like driving a 1980 Pinto when you’ve been offered a 2002 Rolls Royce with a chauffeur. These are somewhat ridiculous examples. But the point is that we choose to be powerless when all the strength that we need has been given to us by Christ.
III. The Secured Life
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
A. Christ is your security
1. The reality of security
This year we have seen our security greatly shaken and in some cases shattered. The events of September 11th revealed that our airport security was faulty, our intellegence security flawed, our financial security unstable and personal security in question. New threats have created new challenges and new fears. Security is now relative rather than absolute.
2. The absolute security
One thing will always remain the same no matter how dark the world becomes, no matter how difficult the days are and no matter how desperate you become. This one thing is the love of Christ. Why is this our absolute security? Because it never changes. The same love that motivated Christ to come to earth can be yours. The same love that healed the sick can be yours. The same love that suffered a miserable death and rose again can be yours. All you need to do is accept it.
B. You are offered grace
1. The definition of grace
Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is getting what you need and not what you deserve. Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace is what you need most in your life and what God most willingly offers to you.
2. The offer you can’t refuse
However, some of you are thinking this is too good to be true. This is just too easy. This is completely unrealistic. To a degree you are right. Christ dying in your place does seem too good to be true but doesn’t that also make it too good to resist? Christ offering you grace by asking only for your belief in Him does seem fairly easy but if it weren’t easy than it wouldn’t be grace. Christ making a supply of all of our needs just doesn’t seem real but then again our making ourselves right with God on our own doesn’t seem realistic either.
Conclusion
This New Year’s I would like to make a spiritual resolution. Take this verse and keep it in a place where you will remember to see it each day and let it be a reminder to you. Let it remind you that you have to surrender to find strength and security for this life. Each day ask yourself the simple question, “Am I living the new life in the power of Christ?” May you find a refreshing new air in your routine new life.
