Consider This
January 19, 2025 Speaker: John Schwartz Series: A New Creation
Topic: New Testament Passage: Matthew 16:24
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Two weeks ago, in the spirit of the New Year and New Year’s resolutions, we began a short series centered on being transformed into a new creation in Christ. This Sunday is the third and final week of this series. Since Christ is the centerpiece of lives being transformed, it was necessary to answer the question of who Jesus Christ was. Jesus Christ lived an impeccable life, taught profound things, performed miracles, and has been the most significant figure in human history. What made him that way was that he rose from the dead, which verified his deity as the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then we have good reason to renew our lives in him. Last week, we saw what it is to be born again, or a new creation in Christ. Paul tells us, “...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, our life is new, and the old life has passed away. This new life does not come from incrementally washing off bad behaviors and replacing them with good ones. It is about a complete transformation of the heart, making us a new person, from within. It is about being “born again,” or being “born from above.” This week, we’ll look at what a person must consider to become that new creation.
Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then we have good reason to renew our lives in him. Last week, we saw what it is to be born again, or a new creation in Christ. Paul tells us, “...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, our life is new, and the old life has passed away. This new life does not come from incrementally washing off bad behaviors and replacing them with good ones. It is about a complete transformation of the heart, making us a new person, from within. It is about being “born again,” or being “born from above.” This week, we’ll look at what a person must consider to become that new creation.
Pastor John