| | | | The Gift of New Life: Part 1 - John 10:10 Christmas is the season of giving gifts, and this week we're going to look at ten things that every Christian has been given as a result of the new life we have in Christ. In John 10:10 the Lord Jesus Christ made a very powerful statement:
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
This wasn't a reference to people just being "alive" (the Greek word bios), the Greek word translated here is "zoe," which is a word that is intended to capture the full essence of life. But I'm not convinced that the word zoe fully describes what Jesus was saying, as the new life that we have a Christians entails much, much more:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17
We could spend months delving into all that encompasses our new life in Christ, but this week we're going to look at ten new realities of our new life in Christ:
#10 - Forgiveness - Because of our new life in Christ, we have been granted forgiveness for our sins.
I know it might be a downer, but take a moment and think of the worst sin you've ever committed. You know, the one you hope no one ever finds out about! Got it? Then know this: If you've placed your faith in Jesus Christ, that sin, as well as all of the other sins you've ever committed or will commit, have been fully, completely, one hundred percent forgiven by God! And the bible teaches us that God has not only forgiven your sins, He's purposefully forgotten them:
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Heb 8:12
That means we no longer have to feel shame or condemnation, or worry that "our sins will catch up to us." They've been forgiven! Take a moment and consider the full weight of that statement.
Not only have we been forgiven, our new life in Christ brings us into a new relationship with God.
#9 - Relationship - Our new life that we have in Christ ushers us into a new relationship with God:
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
Our new life in Christ, His life in us, places us in the position of being sons and daughters of the true and living God, with all of the rights and privileges that go with being an heir.
Former president John F Kenney was a very popular man, with many friends and acquaintances, and being a friend of the president granted a person certain benefits. But Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, has much more than benefits; she's an heir. Being an heir of JFK presents her with vast rights and privileges. In the same manner, our new relationship with God goes beyond getting a few benefits, we are now considered to be joint-heirs with Christ:
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... Romans 8:17
That means that all that is Christ's is also ours. That's why 2 Timothy 2:12 and Revelation 5:10 tell us that we will "rule and reign with Christ."
Christian, if these two things were all that we were granted to us, it would be plenty. But... there is MORE! Tune in tomorrow and we'll cover two more gifts that we have as a result of our new life in Christ.
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment