New In Christ – What Have You Resolved?

New Years is barely behind us, yet many have already forgotten about their resolutions. The monthly bill for the health club continues, but workouts are fading. Why is it that we have so little willpower when it comes to self improvement? Perhaps the loss of motivation comes because we focus on self, and then rely on self for fulfillment. Maybe we need to focus on God and His resources to help us really become new!

What we really need is to: Resolve to be Renewed and Reconciled in Christ. The apostle Paul describes this type of resolving in 2 Corinthians 5:14, 16 -21. From this section of scripture we find three things to help us.

I. New Creation in Christ – We need to Remember that we were Re-Created in Christ. 2 Cor 5:16, 17 “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view … 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is come!”

We are made new in Christ. Not the same old worldly point of view. We now have the gift of being Re-Created in Christ. But, this truth needs to be remembered daily.

II. New Righteousness in Christ – Christ’s Righteousness must be Received. 2 Cor. 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

We’ve seen that God has Re-Created us in Christ. Now we’ll see that we need to receive His Righteousness.Even though we’ve been Re-Created, God sees that we are still immature. The word is immature, or not yet fully developed. It’s not that we are wrong. It’s not that we need to do more and more good stuff, and less and less bad stuff to meet God’s criteria: like striving to be more acceptable. We need to receive His righteousness.

But, how do we Receive more righteousness each day you ask? This is in the biblical concept of putting off and putting on. Like clothing, we put off the old man with its sins and lusts by consciously turning from sin, repenting and confessing to God.That gets rid of all the old, messed up stuff.Then we put on the righteousness of Christ. We invite God to lead us into the righteous life He desires by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:22-24 says: “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; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Isaiah 61 and Job 29 also speak of being clothed by God in Robes of Righteousness. This is how we put on Christ’s Righteousness.

III. New Reconciliation Through Christ – We get to Respond to the Reconciliation we have Received. 2 Cor. 5:18 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

We have received the gift of Reconciliation and love from God through Jesus Christ. We are the ones who have been Reconciled to Him. We have been forgiven through the blood of Christ. The one who had no sin was made sin for us. Remember, verse 21? We have received and experienced the love of God.

So, we are also the ones who are called to Respond to this Reconciliation. Paul reminds us that as the ones who have received the gift, we have the privilege of Responding by dispensing the very gift we have received. The gift of the love and reconciliation of God.

Now, in light of this can you Resolve to be Renewed and Reconciled in Christ? I’ve given you some very tangible steps. 1. Remember that we were Re-Created in Christ 2. Receive the Righteousness of Christ by putting off and putting on 3. Respond to the Reconciliation we ourselves have received

You may say, this all sounds good, but where is the motivator.What will keep me going, keep me from quitting like most resolutions? Verse 14 is the answer: Let the love of Christ compel you. That is your ace in the hole. Let Christ’s love compel you, drive you forward. Like an orange seed between your fingers.It flies forth with great speed. Let His love for you, in you, and for others be the driver and you will not quit. Now you really can: Resolve to be Renewed and Reconciled in Christ

This message was recored live at Kanata Baptist Church. To listen just click on the link below New In Christ Sermon