WHAT'S
DIFFERENT?
Now
that I'm a Christian
This
lesson is intended primarily for those who have
recently been baptized into Christ
-for
those who are very young
in the faith
- But beneficial for
all
who are in Christ as areminder
to us that we are to be different
than we once were.
Jn.
11:1-44 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead
(proof of His power over death -
physically)
vs.
11 "...I
go that I may wake him up."
vs.
25-26 "I
am the resurrection and the life...though
he may die, he shall live"
(Jesus'
rising from the dead proved His
power over spiritual
death)
vs.
39 By
this time, Lazarus would be decaying
(4 days) &
stink.
NOW
CONSIDER JESUS' ENCOUNTER WITH NICODEMUS
Jn.
3:1-8 Jesus teaches about the new
birth.
A
spiritual
newborn
Physically
- newborns are a marvel of God's creation
Psm.
139:13-14 "For
You have formed my inward
parts; You have covered me in my
mother's
womb. (14) I will praise
You, for I
am fearfully and
wonderfully made;
Marvelous are
Your works, and that my soul
knows very
well."
CONSIDER
HOW DIFFERENT THEY LOOK - the dead & new born
Eph.
2:1-10 We were spiritually dead - now alive
We
are a product of God's handiwork - physically & spiritually
WHEN
GOD CREATED MAN - IT WAS VERY GOOD
(previously
it was said 6 times that what He had made was good - only once, after
making man, it is described as very
good)
Gen.
1:31 "Then
God saw everything that He had
made, and
indeed it was very
good.
So
the evening and the morning were the
sixth day."
WE
ARE SPIRITUALLY A NEW CREATION:
2
Cor. 5:17 "Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new
creation;
old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become
new."
NOW
THAT I'M A CHRISTIAN
Now
what? What's different? - I don't feel
any different.
1. INITIALLY
we experienced a clearing of our conscience:
1
Pet. 3:21 "There
is also an antitype (true
likeness)
which now saves us, namely baptism
(not the removal of the filth of the flesh,
but
the answer of a good conscience
toward
God),
through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ"
2.
We
change our RELATIONSHIP
- with His help we change our CONDUCT
1
Jn. 2:3-6 Obedience is our assurance of being
in
Christ - thus
walk in Him.
In
physical birth, we receive our parents' genetic looks without
choice
- But
we do
choose our course in life which gives us our spiritual
looks.
My
mother said:
"Who
you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to Him."
My
dad said: "Remember whose name you wear." (Physically
& spiritually)
3. May
not feel
different but - NOW WE HAVE A CHANGE IN ALLEGIANCE:
2
Cor. 5:15 "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.
Gal.
2:20 "I
have been crucified
with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me;
and the
life which I now live in
the flesh
I
live by faith
in the Son
of God,
who loved
me and gave Himself for me."
4. May
not feel
different but - NOW WE CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR
1
Pet. 4:3-4 "For
we have spent enough of our past
lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles
- when we walked in licentiousness
(unrestrained),
lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries. (4)
In regard to
these, they think it strange that you do
not
run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking
evil of you."
Some
might say, "I never did those things." The
very young may not have lived
long enough to be involved in those things. Did you ever disobey
your parents, or tell a lie, or treat someone unkindly?
those
are things of our past.
5. May
not feel
different but - FRIENDS SHOULD SEE A DIFFERENCE
2
Cor. 6:14-18 We may have to change some of
our friends
if they don't change.
Remember
- Our outward
changes start in
the heart
"You
can change the man's clothes, but the clothes don't change the man"
Paul
spoke of those "who
glory in appearance
and not in
heart"
(1
Cor. 5:12)
2
Cor. 5:14 "For
the
love of Christ constrains
us,
because we judge thus: that if One
died for all, then all died."
6. May
not feel
different but - OUR OUTLOOK (PURPOSE)
CHANGES
ALL
THINGS ARE NEW - New purpose,
new meaning,
new reason
to live.
2
Cor. 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old
things have passed
away; behold, all things have become
new."
Eph.
5:17-24 We are a new person - so we
live
as
a new person.
We
now have a new
motivation
for all that we do.
WHY
DO WE NOT LIE, HATE, STEAL, OR USE FILTHY LANGUAGE?:
Eph.
5:25-5:7 It is not "fitting"
behavior for
saints (vs.
3)
(does
not fit
us)
WHY
DO WE DO A GOOD JOB AT WORK?
Eph.
6:5-9 Whether an employee or an employer.
WHY
DO WE OBEY CIVIL LAWS - not to get caught or because it is right?
Rom.
13:1-5 Being subject
to civil authority is
being subject
to God.
7. DON'T
RELY ON FEELINGS
- BUT CONCENTRATE ON GOOD WORKS
It
is my responsibility to remind
you of these things:
Tit.
3:1-8 (vs.
8)
"This
is a faithful saying, and
these things I want you to
affirm constantly,
that those
who have believed in God
should be careful to
maintain
good works.
These things are
good and profitable to men."
INVITATION:
To those who have not
been born
again
Jn.
3:1-8 Nicodemus hears about the new birth -
BUT
Jn.
3:9-21 (vs.
21)"...he
who does
the truth
comes to the light..."
Mk.
16:16 "He
who believes
and
is baptized
will be
saved; but he who does not believe
will
be condemned."