What A Wonderful Change!

“What a Wonderful Change!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Introduction: One of my favorite hymns was written by an Ohio minister Rufus Henry McDaniel; who penned the words to this hymn after the death of his year old son Herschel. He wrote this song to remind himself and others of the importance of faith, hope, and joy even in times of trial. Its message is clear. Jesus makes a difference in one’s life. Billy Sunday, the great evangelist used this song with its message in his crusades to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ. The first verse of the song states, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought Since Jesus came into my heart!” These words echo the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

When Jesus Christ comes into a life the Bible declares he is a new creature – literally he is a new unprecedented creation of God. The old, those things that characterized his pre-Christ life, have been shed for a new life in Christ. A new fresh beginning has begun. Let us consider that change.

I. A New Possessor - Change of Ownership

A. Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

B. Prior to coming to Jesus Christ man is under the ownership and control of Satan and sin.

C. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

D. “Under New Ownership.” Have you ever seen that sign on a storefront? It means that the business has been bought out by a new owner, that the old owner is no longer in charge. And the new owner may have a different way that he wants to run the business.

E. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

F. God has bought me, therefore God owns me. I am no longer owned, or bound by sin and the Devil. I have been set free from sin and Satan. But I have a new owner, God.

G. Romans 14:8 “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

II. A New Possession - Change of Relationship

A. Ephesians 2:12-13 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

B. Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

C. We are all accustomed to contracts. We are often required to sign them, whether with a builder to construct our house or with the department store when we purchase an appliance. Contracts, formal or informal, specify what happens if one of the parties fails to live up to an agreement. When we put our trust in Christ for salvation, however, we do more than sign a contract. We enter info a binding relationship with God whereby He makes us His children by the new birth and by adoption (1Peter 1:23; Ephesians 1:5). Because of this close family relationship, we are permanent heirs of an eternal inheritance reserved in heaven for us (1Peter 1:4). Contracts can be broken if one of the parties fails to keep his part of the promise. Fortunately for us, out eternal destiny is based on more than some legal agreement we make with God. Rather, we are secure because of our family relationship with Him. If a youngster fails to show up for dinner, the parent's obligation isn't canceled. The parent starts a search for the child. One member's failure doesn't cancel the relationship. How thankful we can be that eternal life is based on our relationship with God through Christ. -H W Robinson

D. Romans 8:15b-17a (LEB) “...you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ...”

E. We are heirs of God not merely by contract, but by birthright.