[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 14th of January, 2018, celebrating the New Year. Technical difficulties kept us from recording this morning's service, but look for videos of our other services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Our Gospel writers tell us all about who Jesus is and the wondrous things He did and taught while He walked this earth, and of the great sacrifice He made on our behalf. Paul never knew Jesus personally, not during our Lord’s ministry, but Jesus made Himself known to Paul in a special way.
I think it is Paul that gives us the clearest picture of how we who profess to be Christians should live, for we should live differently than the rest of the world. Our lives should be more, should mean more, should show more. Jesus Himself calls us to love everyone, not just our friends – a concept the world simply cannot get its hands on.
Why should we live so differently? Paul tells us why. Listen and follow along as I read from his 2nd letter to the church in Corinth, chapter 5, verses 14 through 21, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
I think it is Paul that gives us the clearest picture of how we who profess to be Christians should live, for we should live differently than the rest of the world. Our lives should be more, should mean more, should show more. Jesus Himself calls us to love everyone, not just our friends – a concept the world simply cannot get its hands on.
Why should we live so differently? Paul tells us why. Listen and follow along as I read from his 2nd letter to the church in Corinth, chapter 5, verses 14 through 21, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, Your Son Jesus died for us just so we might have the chance to live differently, to be made new by Your grace and mercy. Help us to understand just what it means to be a new creation. Speak to us now, Father, that we might better hear Your voice and discern Your will for our lives. In the blessed name of Your Son Jesus we pray. Amen.
A man's dog chewed up the tongue on one of his new, very expensive running shoes. He hoped to salvage his investment, so he took the sneakers to a shoe repair shop. He placed them on the counter and told the cobbler, "My dog got hold of this."
The repairman picked up the damaged shoe, looked it over, and placed it back down on the counter.
"Well, what do you recommend?", the man asked.
The cobbler looked at him and replied, "Give your dog the other shoe."
Sometimes we just need to start all over, get something new rather than try to keep the old going a little longer. Sometimes the old thing can’t be repaired - we just need to start over from scratch. It sure is a good thing God doesn’t look at us that way!
And speaking of running and running shoes, how many of you made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more or diet or just get in better physical shape? Those and to quit smoking are usually at the top of the list for resolutions made… and broken. It’s easier to make a resolution than to keep it.
Everyone has problems keeping their New Year’s resolutions - everyone. But the Apostle Paul tells us not to be like everyone else, and not just when it comes to resolutions. We should be different, new, unlike the rest of the world. Listen to what he wrote to the Ephesians, from chapter 4 verses 17 through 24 of his letter to the church…
People know they are weak and unable to keep New Year’s resolutions, but they make them anyway. Worse yet, they don’t understand the Good News that is Jesus. If they did, they could become a whole new person with this New Year. They could get an entirely new beginning just by accepting Jesus as Lord and by recognizing Him as the one true Son of God! But they are ignorant and blind.
Not us, though, for we have learned Christ and know the truth of Him. We can be renewed in our spirit, putting on the new person created by God, in righteousness and holiness. And we can do this every second of every day, not just at New Year’s.
Paul has one more thing to say about this special gift from God, in his letter to the Galatians, chapter 6 verses 14 and 15…
When we accept Jesus as Lord, His death on the cross marks our being crucified from the world. We are separated from the world, a new creation, and nothing else matters!
This is the beginning of a new year, and many see that as a new chance to do things right, to better themselves, to make a change. But family, every person in this world has the chance of becoming a new person! Everyone can be given a completely new beginning! All it takes is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and accept Him as Lord. That’s it – that’s all - just surrender to Jesus and let Him take over.
Our scripture reading this morning starts out with Paul telling us that the love of Jesus Christ compels us to live for Him. To live differently from the rest of the world. To not look at others in their flesh but to look at their spirits, at their hearts, the way Jesus does. To love them, unconditionally, without regard for what we might or might not receive in return. To reconcile ourselves with God and do right by Him in our dealings with others. To be a new creation others can look at and marvel, to be the role model they so desperately need to see.
We who believe have experienced a new beginning, and we can enjoy that feeling over and over as we renew our relationship with Jesus. One way we do so is by sharing Holy Communion, as we will in just a few moments. Paul warns us not to come to our Lord’s table unless we are right with God, so take a moment during our prayer to repent of any sins and seek His forgiveness.
Another way we strengthen our relationship with Jesus is by doing as He commands, by loving others and spreading the Gospel. Let’s help others start their own new beginning by sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of His love for them.
In the blessed name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your Son Jesus to the world to offer mankind salvation. And when we accept Jesus as our Lord, You make of us a new creation. The person we were, and all the sins we carried around, are gone and forgotten. We become a new person on the inside, and completely different from the world. You make us new so we can glorify You and Jesus, and so that all the world might see and be saved. Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful grace and this beautiful gift of a new beginning. Help us to share all this with others, so that they too might become new.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, repenting of our disobedience, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You allowed Yourself to be beaten in our place. You shed Your own blood to seal a new covenant between mankind and our Creator, if we would only believe in You. Help us, Lord, to remain strong in our faith and our belief. Help us to show the world how much we have changed, what a new creation looks like, so that they too might desire to know You and to become new themselves. Help us help them to a new beginning.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
A man's dog chewed up the tongue on one of his new, very expensive running shoes. He hoped to salvage his investment, so he took the sneakers to a shoe repair shop. He placed them on the counter and told the cobbler, "My dog got hold of this."
The repairman picked up the damaged shoe, looked it over, and placed it back down on the counter.
"Well, what do you recommend?", the man asked.
The cobbler looked at him and replied, "Give your dog the other shoe."
Sometimes we just need to start all over, get something new rather than try to keep the old going a little longer. Sometimes the old thing can’t be repaired - we just need to start over from scratch. It sure is a good thing God doesn’t look at us that way!
And speaking of running and running shoes, how many of you made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more or diet or just get in better physical shape? Those and to quit smoking are usually at the top of the list for resolutions made… and broken. It’s easier to make a resolution than to keep it.
Everyone has problems keeping their New Year’s resolutions - everyone. But the Apostle Paul tells us not to be like everyone else, and not just when it comes to resolutions. We should be different, new, unlike the rest of the world. Listen to what he wrote to the Ephesians, from chapter 4 verses 17 through 24 of his letter to the church…
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
--Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)
Not us, though, for we have learned Christ and know the truth of Him. We can be renewed in our spirit, putting on the new person created by God, in righteousness and holiness. And we can do this every second of every day, not just at New Year’s.
Paul has one more thing to say about this special gift from God, in his letter to the Galatians, chapter 6 verses 14 and 15…
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
--Galatians 6:14-15 (NKJV)
This is the beginning of a new year, and many see that as a new chance to do things right, to better themselves, to make a change. But family, every person in this world has the chance of becoming a new person! Everyone can be given a completely new beginning! All it takes is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and accept Him as Lord. That’s it – that’s all - just surrender to Jesus and let Him take over.
Our scripture reading this morning starts out with Paul telling us that the love of Jesus Christ compels us to live for Him. To live differently from the rest of the world. To not look at others in their flesh but to look at their spirits, at their hearts, the way Jesus does. To love them, unconditionally, without regard for what we might or might not receive in return. To reconcile ourselves with God and do right by Him in our dealings with others. To be a new creation others can look at and marvel, to be the role model they so desperately need to see.
We who believe have experienced a new beginning, and we can enjoy that feeling over and over as we renew our relationship with Jesus. One way we do so is by sharing Holy Communion, as we will in just a few moments. Paul warns us not to come to our Lord’s table unless we are right with God, so take a moment during our prayer to repent of any sins and seek His forgiveness.
Another way we strengthen our relationship with Jesus is by doing as He commands, by loving others and spreading the Gospel. Let’s help others start their own new beginning by sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of His love for them.
In the blessed name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your Son Jesus to the world to offer mankind salvation. And when we accept Jesus as our Lord, You make of us a new creation. The person we were, and all the sins we carried around, are gone and forgotten. We become a new person on the inside, and completely different from the world. You make us new so we can glorify You and Jesus, and so that all the world might see and be saved. Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful grace and this beautiful gift of a new beginning. Help us to share all this with others, so that they too might become new.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, repenting of our disobedience, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You allowed Yourself to be beaten in our place. You shed Your own blood to seal a new covenant between mankind and our Creator, if we would only believe in You. Help us, Lord, to remain strong in our faith and our belief. Help us to show the world how much we have changed, what a new creation looks like, so that they too might desire to know You and to become new themselves. Help us help them to a new beginning.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
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