Thrive: Old or New

Fourth and last topic on the VCF preaching series entitled Thrive.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

What does it really mean to be a new creation? It means:

1) New standing.  There is no more condemnation because we have been liberated by Jesus.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.  And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

2) New power.  We are led by the Spirit. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. (Romans 8: 15)

3) New relationship.  We are loved by God.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35,37-39)

In practical terms, how do we determine if the old has gone and the new has come?
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 

It's all about mindset.  What are the things that occupy our thoughts everyday?  What do we think about when we wake up in the morning or when we go to sleep at night?  Food for thought....

Pastor Paulo Punzalan. VCF Fort
January 29, 2012

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