The Significance Of A New Creation-12 Series

‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XII—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10...

14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-A—2Corinthians 6:3-10...

Part A of point 14 in the series, ‘The Significance Of A New Creation’

Attention:

Ask the congregation, “What did you want to be when you grew up?”

Field answers from the congregation. Repeat them for all to hear. Some are actually livin’ the dream!

One joking response from an older man in his 70’s was, “I wanted to be an adult!? Of course the obvious question came, “Was your dream fulfilled?!”

No matter what we dreamed of being or doing, much more was required to bring about the actuality or to live out the dream, than was considered/grasped at its origin.

A true Christian receives a new nature.

Need:

*The key to our verses is 2Cor. 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Paul clarified the significance of being a new creation in Christ to the Corinthian church.

But what is significant about being a new creation in Christ?

14 significations/signifiers of being a new creation in Christ.

Previously we have found that A new creation is significant in its New...

1. PLEASUREs(5:9)

2. RECEPTION(5:10)

3. PERSUASION(5:11)

4. OPPORTUNITY(5:12)

5. SOUND INSANITY(5:13)Risk

6. LOVE(5:14-15)

7. CONSIDERATIONS(5:16)

8. NEWNESS/Creativeness(5:17)

9. RELATIONSHIP--Reconciliation(5:18-19)

10. INSTRUMENTATION/Mediation(5:20)

11. RIGHTEOUSNESS(5:21)

12. VIEW Of VANITY(6:1)

13. URGENCY(6:2)

Today we will see that Paul commended his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a list of Practical Realities within which he operated.

The significance of being a new creation in Christ is played out in the Practical Realities of Ministry.

We are going to examine the significance of these Practical Realities one-by-one.

14—A new creation is significant in the...

PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-A(6:3-10)

No OFFENSE & BLAME(6:3)

Explanation:(6:3-10)

6:3—“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”

Any “offense” brought to apostolic “ministry” would mean a loss of souls FROM the kingdom of heaven & thus a loss of souls TO hell.

Likewise, any “offense” brought to my “ministry” or your “ministry” would mean a loss of souls FROM the kingdom of heaven & thus a loss of souls TO hell.

No “ministry” of God itself should ever be able to be held “blameworthy”—that an accusation would ‘stick’ or be deserved in actuality—as being unusable by God to accomplish what is stated in word & lived out—in what one’s hands are put to & the manner in which they are employed. Thereby the minister of one’s particular “ministry” must be “blameless,” for the sake of the Good News.

No true God-ordained “ministry” is to be held as ‘inconsequential’ by others. And it won’t be if we are faithful! “Ministry” effectiveness as well as Loss of effectiveness must be correctly construed.

Most of what a church member would call “offensive” is merely based upon ‘personal preference’ rather than upon the reality of God’s truth. Such “blame” may be wielded like a club—destructively—but is not valid.

Rom. 15:1—“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples[infirmities] of the weak, & not to please ourselves.”

1Cor. 8:9—“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours[in Christ] become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

*ATTENTION—Sadly, some may take this very verse & console themselves, condoning their own sinful actions by viewing themselves as in a position of “strength” & thus vaunting themselves above those they may personally consider “weak.”

Churches beware!: A church which has previously thrived but has now lost relationships in treasured members, is ripe fodder for the devil/enemy! The gifts which were once present & supplied certain ministries are gone. So that those remaining(without those gifts) tend toward continuing as before the loss—same programs, events, etc. with one huge, gaping disadvantage...they are maintained WITHOUT the Holy Spirit & the power of God!

The result—Frustration, blame, offense abound...& for no ‘good’ reason.

That’s another reason why it is so vital to proactively share Jesus! To allow God to actually constantly replenish those gifts, eliminating true “offense” & “blame.” The only “blame” which the Good News of Jesus should ever receive, is that such a treasure as the Gospel is granted to the world thru weak vessels(Ps. 103:14; 2Cor. 4:7).

Ps. 103:8-16—“The LORD is merciful & gracious, Slow to anger, & abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, & it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.”