1. Reality Church Curriculum The New Creation © 2015 Reality Church

2. Main Points People are born spiritually dead. People are born slaves of sin. When people believe in Jesus they are made new creations. Believers have a new nature. Believers struggle with sin and the flesh, NOT the “Old Man.” Believers live by the Spirit.

3. I. People are born spiritually dead A.“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” Ephesians 2:1 B. “When you were dead in your transgressions and the un-circumcision of your flesh…” Colossians 2:13 C. “There, just a through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” Romans 5:12 1. Adam’s sin brought physical death and spiritual death (Romans 5:18-19)

4. II. People are born slaves of sin A.“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” Romans 6:20 B. “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed…” Romans 6:17 1. Spiritual death means being drawn to sin or rebellion against God. 2. This does not mean that people only do bad things. It means that at our core we are at odds with God. 3. Sin is natural for us at before salvation.

5. III. When people believe in Jesus they are made new creations A. “When you were dead in your transgressions and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions…” Colossians 2:13 B. “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4

6. C.“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove for you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 D.D. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the hold things passed away, behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 1. Forgiveness is only half of the gospel. 2. God also brings us back to spiritual life with a new nature.

7. IV. Believers have a new nature A. “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18 1. Before Christ: predisposed to sin. After Christ: predisposed to righteousness. B. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3

8. C. “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:4 1. We have been raised with Christ. 2. God has given us His righteous nature.

9. V. Believers struggle with sin and the flesh, NOT the “Old Man.” A. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7 B. “Therefore do no let sin reign in your mortal body do that you obey its lusts…” Romans 6:12 1. Sin has its own lusts. 2. It is producing these lusts in all people. 3. Unbelievers are enslaved to its lusts, believers are not. 4. Believers have a choice, in the moment, to produce sin or righteousness.

10. C. “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Galatians 5:17 1. The flesh is an attitude of independence from God. It was birthed in Eden. 2. Sin and the flesh are inseparable.

11. D. “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 1. The flesh produces sin.

12. E. “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3 1. Fleshly behavior can also look good and holy. 2. In Galatians Paul was addressing a heretical group known as Judaizers that had infiltrated the Galatian church. 3. These teachers were promoting the belief that people needed faith in Jesus plus works of the Law to be saved, and that Christians needed to have relationship with the Law for righteous living. 4.The church had evidently begun adopting these beliefs. 5. Paul rebukes and reminds them of their life by the Spirit.

13. F. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin…”Romans 6:6 1. The “Old Man” is long gone. It has been crucified. Now, the “New Man” lives with Christ.

14. Believers live by the Spirit A. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 B. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

15. 1. Our new nature is compatible with the Spirit’s character. 2. In the moment we can choose to let Christ produce His life through us.

16. Discussion Questions 1. Do believers have a sin nature? 2. What is the real source of our battles with temptation? 3. What is the “second half” of the gospel? 4. How does being a new creation impact our Christian walk? 5. How does being a new creation impact your view of yourself? 6. Was it shocking to you to discover that believers no longer have a “sin nature”? Why or why not?