INTRODUCTION
About three years ago Bon Jovi had a huge hit song titled “It’s My Life.” Some of the lyrics go like this:
This ain’t a song for the broken hearted
No silent prayer for the faith departed
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd
You’re gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
Chorus:
It’s my life, it‘s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive (It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, “I did it my way”
I just wanna live while I’m alive (it’s my life)
This is the song the world sings today. Whether it’s Frank Sinatra or Bon Jovi, everyone wants their own way in life. But, for the believer there is a different tune. We march to the sound of a different drummer. Why is this? Because we are dead (3:3) and the life we live is new. That’s what I want to speak about, “New Life.”
I. THE REALITY OF NEW LIFE (3:1a)
“If then you were raised with Christ”
This speaks of identification with Christ. Have you identified with Christ?
A. The Symbol – Baptism (2:12; Rom.6:4)
Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. NKJV
B. The Signal – Brand new life (Rom.6:4; 2Cor.5:17)
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV
Notice the first word in verse 1, “IF”
II. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NEW LIFE (3:1b-9a)
A. We Are to Look Up (3:1b-2)
1. Higher Ambition (3:1b; Matt.6:33)
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
2. Higher Attention (3:2; Matt.6:19-21; Phil.4:8)
B. We Are to Look Out (3:5-8)
1. Put to Death (die to) Sensual Sins (3:5)
- Fornication (sexual immorality) Before marriage, fornication; after marriage, adultery
- Uncleanness (impurity, dirty mindedness, perverted forms of sex, e.g. homosexuality, paedophilia)
- Passion (lust, inordinate affection, pornography)
- Evil desire (foul cravings)
Note – The warning for these sins in verses 6-7. The Bible says we should flee from sexual immorality. “All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…honor God with your body.” (1Cor.6:18-20)
2. Put to Death (die to) Selfish Sins (3:5b)
- Covetousness (greed, always wanting more)
- Idolatry (putting things in the place of God) It is the last of the Ten Commandments but it can make us break the other nine! A covetous person will dishonor God, take God’s name in vain, lie, steal, and commit every other sin to satisfy his greed.
3. Put Off Social Sins (3:8-9a)
- Anger (long nourished)
- Wrath (rage, blaze of temper)
- Malice (ill-will, spitefulness)
- Blasphemy (slander, insults)
- Filthy language (abusive speech, foul mouthing, dirty jokes, see 4:6)
- Lying
III. REASONS FOR THE NEW LIFE (3:10-11)
Two reasons given here. As Christians:
A. We Have a New Image (3:10)
It should be growing on us. It is renewed (or being renewed) in knowledge.
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
B. We Have a New Identity (3:11)
- National differences don’t matter (Jew nor Greek)
- Former religious backgrounds don’t matter (circumcised nor uncircumcised)
- Cultural differences don’t matter (barbarian, Scythian)
- Economic status doesn’t matter (slave nor free)
IV. REWARDS FOR THE NEW LIFE (3:3-4)
A. Grace in this Life (3)
“Your life is hidden with Christ in God”
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NKJV
B. Glory in the Next Life (4)
“You also will appear with Him in glory”
1 Thess. 4:16-17
CLOSE
Back to the first word, “IF.” Have you been raised with Christ? Are you sure about salvation?
Instead of the Bon Jovi song, “It’s My Life,” can you sing, “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to Thee?”
