The Significance Of A New Creation-5 Series

The SIGNIFICANCE Of A NEW CREATION-V—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10

Attention:

A true Christian receives a new nature.

Will you avoid disaster with your new life?

Need:

My life seems hollow...I’m missing something. But I’m powerless to do more than what I can do on my own. It depends on my ability & energy & I just can’t do it anymore. I have no joy or love of what my future holds.

I can’t seem to rise above the sinful desires of my heart. What do I do?

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.

There is significance to being a new creation in Christ.

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

10+ 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/Risk(5:13)

6—A new creation is significant in its New...

LOVE(5:14-15)

Explanation:(5:14-15)Appreciation

5:14—“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;”

That “love” which every believer has thru & in Christ has a “compulsive” power. That same “love” which “compels” Paul & Timothy to do what they do is the same “love” that should & can compel every believer. Such “love” is manifest thru the Holy Spirit.

Thus our “love” is directed toward that life which is offered in Christ(Jn. 1:4-5).

Jn. 1:4, 5—“In Him was life, & the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, & the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Paul & Timothy’s pertinent & decisive “judgment” regards Christ’s “death for all.”

This is telling us indirectly that Jesus did in fact “die for all”...“all” mankind of every age— past, present, & future. This is why anything less than faith & trust in Christ is ludicrous!

The very fact that Jesus “died for all” mankind tells us that “all” did in fact “die”! That is, that “all” mankind is fallen & he can’t get up...by his own effort. Mankind has fallen to the lie/dupe of sin(Rom. 1:20-25), the wiles of the devil(Eph. 6:11-12).

Rom. 1:20-25—“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power & Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, & worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Eph. 6:11-12—“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Heb. 9:27-28—“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” “Love of Christ” “compels us” NEITHER to have a love of/for sin & death(Rom. 8:2), NOR does it compel us toward pride of life(1Jn. 2:15-17). But rather toward that which is of & for God.

Rom. 8:2—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death.”

1Jn. 2:15-17—“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, & the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Since Christ “died for all” —paying for everyone’s sin & thus redeeming all humanity received individually— then it is obvious that every person did indeed “die” because of sin’s inherent condemnation. All have sinned & fall short of God’s glory.