1. Part 1 – The Meaning of the New Creation

2. The Meaning of the New Creation
The “good news” of Christianity is not centered on forgiveness of sins
Forgiveness of sins through repentance and immersion into Christ simply takes care of the past
The Christian’s challenge is to live today for Christ, without sin
As Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:5)
The Meaning of the New Creation

3. The Meaning of the New Creation
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)
The essence of Christianity
Unless we understand what it means to be a new creature, Christianity becomes a set of extremely burdensome rules
This attitude of burden will result in death
Understanding the New Creation
The Meaning of the New Creation

4. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Birth
“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We know that a person enters into Christ through immersion in water (cf. Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, John 3:5)
The Meaning of the New Creation

5. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Birth
In this new birth, the past is buried with Jesus in immersion – see Romans 6:4
Even more importantly, the Christian shares in Jesus’ resurrection
“Behold, new things have come!”
What is this new creature?
What are the old things that have passed away?
Most importantly, what are the new things that have come?
The Meaning of the New Creation

6. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Potential
Sermon on the Mount – “Therefore you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Jesus is clear – we are to be like our heavenly Father in all respects
The Meaning of the New Creation

7. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Potential
This same thought is emphasized in the epistles
“conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29)
“Be imitators of me [Paul], just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Speaking of Christ, Peter says, “leaving an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21)
The Meaning of the New Creation

8. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Potential
In simple terms, we as Christians are to be like Christ
Is this possible?
Has God set for us a task impossible to complete?
The process of becoming like Christ is much like the process of picture taking
It must be “snapped,” “developed,” and “gazed” at
Yes!
No!
The Meaning of the New Creation

9. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Picture
Taking the picture – understanding that we can be perfect
How can that be?
“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Immerser; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)
The Meaning of the New Creation

10. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Picture
John is described as the greatest “born of women”
The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John
The least Christian is greater than John
The Meaning of the New Creation

11. The Meaning of the New Creation
The New Picture
In being born of women, we were born with limited potential
“…who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13)
John was born of women; the Christian is born of God
We have a new Father; our old limitations are gone
The Meaning of the New Creation

12. The Meaning of the New Creation
Dead to sin
Read Romans 6:3-7
We are immersed into Christ’s death
We have been buried with Him through immersion into death
Our old self was crucified with Him
Our body of sin is done away with
He who has died is freed from sin
The Meaning of the New Creation

13. The Meaning of the New Creation
Dead to sin
Let’s visit the morgue
Lift the sheet from one of the corpses
Try to tempt him
What images can you flash in front of him that would generate sinful thoughts?
None
Because he’s dead!
The Meaning of the New Creation

14. The Meaning of the New Creation
Dead to sin
This is how the Christian is to view himself
“he who has died is freed from sin”
Self-image – “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7)
The key to change in behavior is to change the inner picture
God buried the failure
The old things have truly passed away!
The Meaning of the New Creation

15. The Meaning of the New Creation
Alive to God
Read Romans 6:8-11
We shall also live with Christ
Death no longer is master over Christ
Consider yourselves the same way – dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus
We are to view ourselves as Jesus was when He came out of the tomb
The Meaning of the New Creation

16. The Meaning of the New Creation
Alive to God
The significance of this resurrection cannot be overstressed
A person who views himself as a sinner will continue to act that way
God commands us to view ourselves as resurrected, beyond the temptation of Satan
If temptation and fear have no effect upon a dead man, how much less on a resurrected man?
The Meaning of the New Creation

17. The Meaning of the New Creation
Alive to God
These same points are stressed throughout the New Testament
Colossians 3:1-11
Raised up with Christ
You have died
Dead to deeds of the flesh
Laid aside the old self
Have put on the new self
The Meaning of the New Creation

18. The Meaning of the New Creation
Alive to God
Ephesians 4:20-24
Lay aside the old self
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind
Put on the new self
New things have come!
It is possible for the Christian, because he is a new creation following his new birth, to become like Christ
The Meaning of the New Creation

19. Part 2 – Developing the New Creature
The New Creation
Part 2 – Developing the New Creature