"What’s New?”

We read here the declaration of God the Father concerning His intent for all who would come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus. When one comes to God through faith in Christ, everything becomes new.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV)

Queen Victoria once visited a paper mill. During her tour, she was taken into the rag sorting shop where men were employed to pick out rags from the refuse of the city of London. When she asked what was done with these dirty rags, the queen was told they would be used to make the finest sort of white paper. Sometime after the tour, the queen received a package of white stationary, featuring the her likeness for a watermark, which, the accompanying letter explained, had been made from the very rags that she had seen on her tour of the paper mill.

That is what God has done for us through Christ. He takes us, as filthy as we are, cleans us up, stamps the likeness of His Son on us, and makes us brand new. Upon receiving Christ, we are as different from what we were before, as pure white paper is made from filthy rags.

What’s new about the one who comes to God through faith in Christ?

1. We have entered into a new relationship.

When Donna and I committed ourselves to each other in marriage, we entered into a new relationship which would forever change our lives. In much the same way, when we commit ourselves to Christ, we enter into a relationship which will forever change our lives. And what kind of relationship is that? A love relationship! God’s dealing with His children is on the basis of love.

God’s mercy is His forgiving love. God’s providential working is His caring love. God’s kindness is His understanding love. God’s will for our lives is His unerring love. Christ’s sacrifice for our sins is God’s proven love.

The hardest thing in the Bible to understand is not Daniel’s 70 weeks, or Ezekiel's prophecy about Gog & Magog, or the book of Revelation, but the message of John 3:16.

Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky! Oh, love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure the saints’ and angels’ song!

2. We have experienced new life. Without Jesus, we are dead.

“We were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses.” - Ephesians 2:5 (Amplified)

There is an old horror movie, “Night Of The Living Dead,” which pretty well illustrates how most people are going through life. Apart from Christ, like the zombies in that movie, people simply are mindlessly plodding along through life, moaning and groaning.

All kidding aside, apart from Christ, people may have the appearance of being alive, but the Bible tells us that they are really dead! Being separated from God by sin, we are spiritually dead, totally disconnected from the creator and source of all life, almighty God Himself! But through faith in Christ, we are brought into personal relationship with God, which results in our being spiritually alive! And it is only when I am spiritually alive, that I can truly be alive in every other way!

Acceptance of Christ brings life that is spiritual, eternal, and abundant!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.’ - John 5:24 (NASB)

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” - John 10:10 (Amplified)

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have his Son does not have life.” - 1 John 5:11-12 (NLT)

A young children’s Sunday School class was asked the question by their teacher, “Where is heaven?” One little boy answered, “Heaven is in our home, now that daddy has become a Christian.”

Indeed, salvation is not so much about me one day living in the presence of God; but about the presence of God living in me today! Through inviting Christ into my life, I have experienced new life!

3. We have received a new name.

When one gives their life to Christ, the sinner becomes a saint. He is no longer a child of the Devil, but a child of God. Once described as an “alien,” he is now called a “citizen.” once he was at odds with God, now he is a fellow laborer, and a servant of God.