Sermon Central
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A New Creation
Contributed by Anthony Stander on May 18, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: When we surrender our lives to Christ we are born again and given a brand new start with God and on this earth.
A NEW CREATION
2 Cor 5:17, 18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
When we surrender our lives to Christ we are born again and given a brand new start with God and on this earth. That is who we are – a new creation and now we by the power of Gods Spirit, help reconcile man to God through Jesus Christ
You and I have the wonderful privilege to make a positive difference in the world – a life is only effective when it touches the life of another. We can and must make an eternal difference!
WHAT DOES A CHRISTIAN LOOK LIKE?
Jesus calls us to be light
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
And that’s the light that we shine – the light of life- of God!
We take the light we receive from Christ and shine it in a dark world.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
A client who is a new ager called me a light bearer the other day!
The whole world lies in the darkness of sin, violence, wickedness, lies, slavery and sexual sin, but when we are born again we become a small light in the darkness and as we grow in Christ our light grows to become a raging fire and a beacon to the lost of this world.
Lights are for guidance – they guide us at night so we can find our way.
Lights are for warning –a lighthouse and shows rocks for ships in dangerous seas and warn ships don’t come near the rocks or you will sink.
Lights have a cheering influence- they comfort us especially when the darkness of our lives seems to overwhelm us.
No such thing as darkness – it’s just the absence of light.
There was a medieval lord who built a church for his peasants, but he made no windows in the church, but above every seat he placed a holder for a torch. If you were not at church your seat was dark. It is the same today, you may be no one in your own eyes, but when you come to church you bring light and your light will be a comfort to someone here.
We are a letter
“Clearly you are an epistle (letter) of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablet of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, on the heart.” 2 Cor. 3:3
Our lives tell a story. Before you were saved it was not a very good story - and it would have become worse. Since you were saved your life has begun to tell a very different story. This difference is called your testimony. It is the amount of change that has taken place in you since you were born again.
Paul says that our lives are like love letters written by Jesus to a dying world, a living letter, letting the world know what can happen when someone gives their heart to Him. We become walking sermons and the Hands and Feet of Christ to everyone we meet. People should get a glimpse of Christ by our example.
We are ambassadors ‘
Definition: a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one country to another as its resident representative and as such, has the full weight of that country behind him
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor 5:20
Daniel gave an interpretation of a dream King Nebuchadnezzar had and he said this about the Kingdom of God:
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces(the kingdoms) the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
