I Am a New Creation

I. New Creation not Remodeled Creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs.

Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.

As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.

“Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.

Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17).

He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build. (Ian L. Wilson. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.)

II. New Owner- Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV) Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Before salvation we were under the control/ownership of the enemy.  When we came to Christ we become the possession of God. 

A. “Under New Ownership” - When we see this sign it means that the business is now owned by a new owner.  The old owner no longer has authority to say how the business is run.  He is no longer in charge.  The new owner now dictates how the business is handled, how the money is spent, and which employees are retained; he is now in complete control of the business. The same is true when our lives are transferred from the enemy to God through salvation.  Satan will put up a fight and try to convince us that he is still in control; however, this is not true.  God is now in control of our lives.  The enemy has no say.  We are “under new ownership.”  Romans 14:8 (NIV) If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

B. Bought with a price -1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

God paid a high price to purchase our freedom from the enemy.  He is now the owner of our lives.  We are no longer bound to sin or the enemy.  We are free from the law of sin and death.  Free to live as new creations.

III. New Relationship - Ephesians 2:12-13 (NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

A. Peace with God - Romans 5:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

B. Adopted into God’s Family - Romans 8:15-17a (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

IV. New Direction – Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT) “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

A. Our destiny is heaven - John 14:1-3 (NIV) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

B. We receive eternal life - John 10:28 (NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

V. New Desires - Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

A. Saint Augustine - There is a story about Saint Augustine following his conversion where he passed by one of his former mistresses on the street.    Seeing him walk by she yelled after him, “Augustine, it is I!”    Without turning back Augustine replied, “Yes, but it is no longer I!” (https://desiremercy.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/no-longer-i/)

B. John Wesley - John Wesley said, “When a person comes to Christ for salvation there ought to be a very present, visible, undeniable change!” (Copied from Sermon Central)

C. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Our desires will change when we become new creations.  The things that once drew our attention and our hearts will change.  We will now desire to please and serve God rather than the enemy and our flesh. 

VI. New Behavior - Ephesians 5:8 (NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

A. Put off old self – Ephesians 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

B. Put on a new attitude – Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

C. Put on a new self – Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

D. Put off falsehood – Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

E. Put off bitterness (anger unchecked and unresolved leads to bitterness) – Ephesians 4:26-27, 31 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

F. Put off stealing – Ephesians 4:28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

G. Put off unwholesome talk – Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

H. Put on kindness and compassion – Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

VII. Conclusion

God does not remodel our lives.  When we come to Christ, God doesn’t just sweep up the dirt, pull down the cob webs, paint the walls, and wash the windows; He completely tears down our old life and creates an entirely new one.  We are now living as new creatures.  Let us not allow the enemy to lie and deceive us into thinking that we are still our “old” self.  Our old man will try to rise again and lead us into sin, however, God is now the owner of our lives and His Word is Law!  If we listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, God’s property manager, we will be able to overcome the lies of the enemy and of our flesh.  We will be able to walk as new creations.  Everything God creates He pronounces as Good! (Genesis 1) You are a good creation!!!