The New Year, the New Me, But the Same God
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
With the New Year rapidly approaching and people prepare themselves for their New Year resolutions. Some plan on going on losing weight, some plan on helping more in there communities, there are some students striving for better grades in school, some are hoping to stop smoking, and some are just happy to see another day.
But as Christians what is our resolution fore the New Year what are our goals for the next year. And for the people are on the outside looking in where do you plan on being this time next year in Christ. Are you going to be still on the outside again or are you going to be on the inside looking out telling someone to come in and fellowship with us.
The text says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. And with all this in mind about the New Year and carefully considering the words in this text. If I were to pick a topic it would be “The New Year, the New Me, But the Same God”.
My study text tells me that because believers are united with Jesus both in his death and resurrection; they participate in the new creation. That is we receive the benefits of being restored by Christ to what God had originally created us to be. And Genesis tells us what he originally created us to be He said “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth”. God gave us dominion over all things the fish of the sea, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps. But notice God did not give us dominion over ourselves for there is only one power that leads the human race and his name is God. The lord must have seen this day coming when our Godly image would change our missions would cease and we would stop realizing that he’s still the same God.
So going into the New Year we are going to observe three things our New Image, Starting the New Mission and He’s still the same God.
I. A new Image
2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer.
God is saying our Image has been lost because we examine the flesh to much instead of the spiritual body. So in this metamorphosis we have to get a new image.
With this new image we are not looking at the physical but the spiritual. If you had a mirror that only saw the spirit, what would you see? Would you see beauty boldness and honor, or hatred sadness and disgrace?
2 Corinthians 3:18 says But we all, with unveiled face, beholding a in a mirror the glory of the lord, are being transformed in the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the lord.
All believers behold the glory of the Lord in the Scripture and are transformed into the image of God. Christ is the image of God (4:4). Glory To Glory: an ever-growing glory. As believers behold the glory of God in the word of God, the spirit of God transforms them into the likeness of Jess Christ. This is a description of the gradual process of sanctification.
And what I got out of this was study your word. Read the word of God, indulge yourself in the word of God, because the more of the word you know the more your going to understand how to be Christ Like. See when you’re in the word you can, fill your spirit up with the word of God and use it to fight off the Devil. Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings (Psalm 17:8). Like some of us for our physical benefit take self-defense classes……Well God gave us a whole manual on self-defense on moves and techniques we can use to stop the devil. And just as those who are in self-defense classes need to know their technique to survive. We as Christians need to know our technique in order to survive. The bible says our people perish because a lack of knowledge. With this image we must have knowledge of the word to build up our spiritual physique (muscle). So when the devils demons come around you can flex your knowledge.
Therefore in this Christian metamorphosis we must have that image……….with the knowledge. Also God has as understood that many have ceased to spread the Gospel and lost sight of the mission.
II. A new mission
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Because of Christ’s propitiation, His satisfaction of God’s righteous demands, God is now able to turn toward us. God has made us new creatures in Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, a word meaning “a change of relation from hostility to peace.” So if you’re on the board of the do nothing you know now that God has put us in the ministry of reconciliation. Because we who have been reconciled to God have the privilege of telling others that they can be reconciled to him as well. Matthew 28:20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing tem in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…or Mark 16:15 Go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature…God is simply commanding us to Wittiness…….You don’t have to be a preacher to spread the good news…….Like I said “ We who have been reconciled to God have the privilege of telling others that they can be reconciled to him as well.
Isaiah 43:10 says, “You are my witness,” says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after me.
Which gets me started on my Last Subtopic?
III. He’s still the same God
Yes he is still the same God who love’s……Gods love is not restricted to any one nation or to any spiritual elite, but, to all creation…..John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should no Perish but have everlasting life.
Yes he is still the same God who heals……Yes he’s still that same God who brings Joy after sorrow for the bible says weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning…….Yes he’s still that same God that makes you sing that same song but in a new way……Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a reach like me I once was lost but know I am found was blind but now I see………..
But as I conclude my message here today….Why would Lord ever have to Change…? How can you improve perfection…? How could anybody ever improve that which is already and absolutely holy, and pure, and righteous, and godly, and perfect, and sinless, and is without any flaw, without and contamination, without any blemish, without any defilement, without and filthiness, without any shortcomings, and is without any limitations….Because with God all things are possibel? Although many have tried to change Him, he doesn’t change. He didn’t change……In order to suit the Pharisees…in order to satisfy the Sadducees…in order to win the rich young ruler…in order to please His disciples…in order to gratify the religious ruler of his day……and he didn’t change…to appease even his enemies…..and He’s not going to change in order to please you or me either…..!And since He doesn’t change, and he won’t change…..his word won’t change either……..His commandments won’t change…….His standards won’t change……His will wont change….His promises won’t change……His Power won’t change…..and by all means his love will never change.
