New Year - New You

[0:00] But if we could, with the Lord's help this evening, if we could for a short while turn back to that portion of scripture that we read in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and we'll take our text as verse 17.

[0:22] 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 17. Where Paul writes there, he says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

[0:35] The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away.

[0:47] Behold, the new has come. Now, at the start of a new year, I'm sure that we're all aware of the push that's made by advertisers and companies.

[1:02] They present all their products to us under the slogan, New Year, New You. New Year, New You.

[1:12] And there are shops promoting books and DVDs on how to exercise, how to cook low-calorie foods, how to think positively, how to give up smoking, how to have a good life, how to have a healthy lifestyle.

[1:29] And they're all presented and they're all promoted to us under the banner, New Year, New You. And each of these products, they promise to us at the start of a new year that they will change our appearance and they will renew our life.

[1:42] But the reality of all of these changes is that, although many of them are of great benefit to us, they're all superficial. They're all about the outward appearance.

[1:53] They're all about how you look and how you are perceived by other people. But the truth is, the promotion, New Year, New You, it goes no deeper than the surface.

[2:05] No deeper than the surface. But you know, when we come to this verse in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul reminds us that when the Lord works in our life, none of it is superficial.

[2:19] Because when the Lord works in our life, He works from the inside out. Not the outside in, but the inside out. When God works in our life, we become an entirely new person in Christ.

[2:33] But you know, what's interesting is that even though we're bombarded by the world and all their products and all that they're advertising to us, they're wanting us to adopt this superficial lifestyle of appearance and acceptance, even though that's what the world gives to us today.

[2:50] In Paul's day, when he wrote this letter, it was the church that was promoting the need to have this superficial religion of appearance and acceptance.

[3:03] Because when Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthians, the Corinthians, they were being overrun by false teachers and false teaching. And what the false teachers were teaching was that in order to be a Christian, you had to be of a certain class.

[3:19] And you had to have a certain amount of knowledge. And you had to possess a certain level of wealth. If you want to be a Christian, you have to be a certain kind of person. And at that time, Corinth, it was a wealthy seaport city.

[3:34] Corinth had made its fortune because it was a key trade route between the eastern and western cities along the Mediterranean Sea. And as with every wealthy city at the time, there were different classes of people.

[3:50] There were those who were rich and educated, and there were those who were poor and uneducated. And as you can expect, there was this divide between the classes. There was a divide that was superficial.

[4:02] It was based all upon appearance and acceptance. There was this divide. And you know, despite Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, a letter that addressed doctrinal and divisive issues in the church, despite that first letter, the false teachers, they had disregarded and undermined all of Paul's teaching.

[4:22] And instead of preaching Christ, they promoted this superficial Christianity. But as Paul continues to address the Corinthians and the false teaching that they were being bombarded with, he reminds them that when the Lord works in our life, his work doesn't depend upon what kind of person we are.

[4:44] It doesn't depend upon our wealth, or our class, or our education, or our upbringing, or our gender, or our appearance, or our race, or even our past.

[4:56] No, what Paul reminds us in this one verse is that the Lord is able to work in anyone's life. The Lord is able to work in anyone's life. The Lord is able to make anyone a new creation.

[5:10] No one is exempt for whatever reason, he says. No one is exempt. And that's what Paul says here in verse 17. Therefore, if anyone, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

[5:24] The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. If anyone is in Christ. And with this, Paul emphasizes that the Lord is able to work in the heart and life of anyone.

[5:38] And when the Lord works, let's say, in your heart. When the Lord works in your life, he gives you a new position. And he makes you a new person.

[5:52] And he assigns to you a new position, a new purpose. So when the Lord works in your life, these are the three headings. He gives to you a new position.

[6:04] He makes you a new person. And he assigns to you a new purpose. And this is for anyone, he says. Anyone. If anyone is in Christ.

[6:15] So we look, first of all, at a new position. A new position. He says in verse 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

[6:26] The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. If anyone is in Christ. And it's often said that large doors swing on small hinges.

[6:40] And I've said before that in the Bible, large theological truths, they swing on small words. And you can't get much smaller than the word in. What Paul says there in the beginning of verse 17.

[6:54] If anyone is in Christ. In Christ. But with this small word, Paul is reminding us that everything we are as a Christian.

[7:04] And everything we have as a Christian. Is because we are in Christ. We are in union with Christ. There is this union. This mystical union that the Bible speaks of.

[7:16] Between Christ, Jesus Christ. And the Christian. And because of that union with Christ. Jesus Christ provides for us. Every spiritual blessing.

[7:28] In heavenly places. One theologian, he put it this way. He says, union with Christ. Is the fountainhead. And from that fountainhead. Flows to the Christian.

[7:40] Every spiritual blessing. Repentance and pardon. Faith. Faith. Justification. Adoption. Sanctification. Perseverance. And glorification.

[7:50] It all flows to the Christian. And this means because of our union with Christ. Every spiritual blessing. Is ours. Because of that union.

[8:03] And you know, Paul, he loves this concept of union with Christ. He talks about it in all of his letters. He keeps coming back to it. And he emphasizes how precious our salvation is.

[8:16] Because of our new position. Our union with Christ. Christ. But you know, we also have to remember what Paul doesn't say here. Because Paul doesn't say here in verse 17.

[8:29] That if anyone is in church. They are a new creation. He doesn't say if anyone reads their Bible. They are a new creation. If anyone went to Sunday school. They are a new creation.

[8:40] If anyone prays. If anyone's a minister. If anyone's an elder. If anyone's a deacon. If anyone is a church member. No, Paul says if anyone is in Christ.

[8:51] They are a new creation. It's a new position. Because to be in Christ. Is to believe in Jesus Christ. It's to be committed to Jesus Christ.

[9:02] To be in Christ. Is to have repented. And turned from your sin. And turned to Jesus. For your salvation. To be in Christ. Is to have your entire trust upon Jesus Christ.

[9:15] To be washed in his blood. And to be clothed in his righteousness. My friend. To be in union. That union with Christ. Is to be committed. And to be connected.

[9:27] To Jesus Christ. Now before you disqualify yourself. Remember. This is for anyone. This is for anyone.

[9:39] This new beginning. This new you. The true new you. This is for. As Paul says. Anyone. If anyone is in Christ. They are a new creation.

[9:52] But you know. Paul draws our attention. To our new position in Christ. Because. That wasn't always the case. We weren't always in Christ.

[10:05] None of us started out life. In Christ. Because the truth is. We all started out life. Life. In Adam. And when you look at Paul's letters.

[10:16] That's the teaching that he emphasizes. Over and over again. That everyone in the world. Is either in. One of two positions. You're either in Adam. Or you're in Christ.

[10:28] And what Paul teaches us. Is that there are only two types of people. That God can see. When God looks at us. There are only two types of people. That he sees. He sees those who are clothed.

[10:39] In the sin of Adam. Or those who are clothed. In the righteousness. Of Christ. There are only two types of people. Who come to church. Those who are in Adam.

[10:52] And those who are. In Christ. And of course. Paul teaches this. Because. We need to come to the realization. That being in Adam. It leads to death.

[11:03] Being in Adam. Leads to death. In 1 Corinthians 15. Paul puts it. Succinctly to us. As in Adam. All die. But in Christ.

[11:15] Shall all be made alive. As in Adam. All die. But in Christ. Shall all be made alive. And what Paul is showing us. Is that. When we are in union.

[11:26] With Adam. When we are in. Adam. We receive. Everything that Adam. Received at the fall. We receive. Physical death. Spiritual death.

[11:37] And separation from God. And that's our starting point. We are born. In Adam. Conceived in guiltiness. And sin. And all that was through of Adam.

[11:49] That's through of us. Because. When Adam sinned. We sinned. When Adam fell. We fell. When Adam was subjected to death. We were subjected. To death.

[11:59] When Adam was condemned. We were condemned. When Adam was cursed. We were cursed. Romans 5 verse 12 says. As by one man. Sin entered into the world.

[12:12] And death by sin. And so death passed upon all men. For all have sinned. And this is also the teaching of our catechism. All mankind.

[12:24] Descending from Adam. By ordinary generation. Sinned in him. In union with him. And fell with him. In union with him. We sinned in him. And fell with him.

[12:36] In his first transgression. We fell in Adam. Because we were in union with Adam. That was our starting position. But Paul says. When we repent of our sins.

[12:48] When we turn to the Lord. When we confess Jesus to be our Lord. When we commit our lives to Jesus Christ. We're given a new position. We're no longer in Adam.

[12:59] But we're now in Christ. We are in union with Christ. We're married. That's what the word union is. It's a marriage with Christ. And when we are in Christ. We receive everything that Christ has.

[13:13] Because. And you look at Paul's letters. He's always talking about it. When we're in Christ. We are made. As he says in Romans 8. We're joint heirs. With Christ. We have an inheritance.

[13:25] In Christ. We are accepted. Before God the Father. In Christ. We are righteous. In Christ. We are. There is no condemnation. To those who are in Christ Jesus.

[13:37] We are chosen in Christ. We are redeemed. In Christ. Our old self. Has died. In Christ. We are raised. With Christ. We are seated.

[13:48] In heavenly places. In Christ. We have a life. We have eternal life. In Jesus Christ. And because we are in Christ.

[14:00] His life. Is now. My life. Your life. Everything that he has. Is mine.

[14:12] All that belongs to Jesus. Is mine. Because of our new position. In Christ. Christ. And you know. There is no better position. To be in.

[14:23] Than to be in Christ. Because to be in union. With Christ. Is to. Have everything. Every spiritual blessing. In heavenly places. In Christ.

[14:35] But you know. To be outside of Christ. To be still in Adam. Is to have nothing. It's to have nothing. Except.

[14:46] Death. And condemnation. As in Adam. All die. But. In Christ. Shall all be made.

[14:57] Alive. And so Paul is reminding us here. That when. The Lord works. In. Your life. He gives to you. A new position. But secondly.

[15:08] We see that when the Lord works. In your life. He makes you. A new person. He makes you. A new person. Look at verse 17 again. Therefore if anyone is in Christ.

[15:20] He is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold. The new. Has come. And in this verse. Paul emphasizes that. The Lord is able to work.

[15:32] In the life and heart. Of. Of anyone. The Lord is able to give. Anyone. That new position. In Christ. And the Lord is able to make. Anyone.

[15:43] A new person. In Christ. But when. When Paul says. That the Lord is able to make. Anyone. This new person. Or this new creation. In Christ.

[15:54] He's emphasizing. That the work. Which the Lord does. And the change. Which the Lord. Performs. It's not superficial. It's not an exterior. And outward.

[16:05] Transformation. The change. And transformation. It's inward. And it's spiritual. Because. It's a transformation. Of our heart. Our mind. Our soul. Our will. Our character.

[16:17] And it's not a partial change. It's a complete change. It's a complete. Transformation. And what Paul is saying. Is that. When you are a new person. In Christ.

[16:28] It's not a renovation. Of the old person. It's not a reformation. Of. Your old heart. Mind. Soul. Will. And character. No.

[16:38] No. He says. It's a demolition. Of the old person. A demolition. And. It's a new build. A completely. New creation. You are a new creation.

[16:49] Not a. A renovation. You're a new creation. In. Christ. And this is what Paul is stressing to us. That. When we are a new person in Christ.

[17:01] We are made. New. And that word. New. It means. New. It means. New. New of a totally different kind. New of a totally different quality.

[17:13] New of a totally different value. You are a new creation. Not a renovation. And what Paul is emphasizing. Is that if. Anyone. That includes you.

[17:24] If anyone. Is in Christ. He or she. Is a brand new person. Yes. You'll have the same body. And the same family. And the same job.

[17:35] And the same home. But on the inside. On the inside. There is an entirely. New. You. And this is what it means.

[17:46] To be born again. This is what it means. To be born again. Paul is teaching here. About the new birth. And he's. Not only emphasizing. The need.

[17:56] To be born again. By saying. If anyone. Is in Christ. He's also reminding us. Of what happens. When you're born again. Because when you're born again.

[18:07] As Jesus says. You enter into the kingdom of God. That was the teaching of Jesus. In John 3. When he. Jesus met with Nicodemus. That night time.

[18:18] Meeting with. With Nicodemus. Jesus said to Nicodemus. That unless. Someone is born again. They cannot. Enter the kingdom. The kingdom. Of God.

[18:30] But like many people. Nicodemus. Struggled with this concept. Nicodemus. Couldn't understand. How someone. Could be born again. When they're old.

[18:41] Nicodemus. Couldn't understand. How someone. Could be made. A new person. When they're an old person. And of course. Nicodemus. Was only thinking. In physical terms. But. Jesus was speaking.

[18:53] About spiritual truths. And Jesus. Was speaking. About the need. To have a spiritual. Birth. Because when Nicodemus. Asked. How can a man. Be born.

[19:04] When he is old. Can he enter. A second time. Into his mother's womb. And be born. And the answer. Is of course not. Jesus answers. Nicodemus. Saying. Unless someone. Is born of water.

[19:15] And of the spirit. They cannot enter. The kingdom of God. That which is born. Of the flesh. Is flesh. But that which is born. Of the spirit. Is spirit. And Jesus's point.

[19:28] Was that. When we're born again. We're made a new person. In Christ. We're made brand new. We experience. A new birth. And a new beginning. By the work.

[19:38] Of the Holy Spirit. It's a spiritual birth. And that's what Paul is saying here. In verse 17. That our spiritual birth. Begins. It brings about.

[19:50] This radical change. In our life. Our spiritual birth. Makes us. A new person. And this change. You could say.

[20:01] Is so dramatic. So powerful. So radical. So fundamental. That without it. We cannot be saved. Now this change. Might have been a gradual change.

[20:12] In your experience. But it's a definite change. It's a radical change. It's a spiritual birth. It's a new birth.

[20:23] It's a new you. Because it's from. It's from death. To life. From darkness. To light. From. From the old. To the new. From in Adam.

[20:34] To being in Christ. And that's what Paul says. The old is passing away. All is becoming new. And you know.

[20:45] When we experience. The new birth. It doesn't just affect. Certain compartments. And certain areas. Of our life. It should affect. Every area. Of our life.

[20:56] When we are birthed. Into the kingdom. That new birth. Doesn't just affect. Our little. Religion box. It doesn't just. Reschedule. Our timetable.

[21:07] To include. Well. Church twice. On the Lord's Day. And the prayer meeting. During the week. No. When we are in Christ. When we are. A new creation.

[21:18] When we experience. A new birth. When we are birthed. Into the kingdom of God. That new birth. Should affect. Every area. Of our lives. Because when everything.

[21:29] Is made new. On the inside. It should affect us. Personally. It should affect. Our heart. Our mind. Our soul.

[21:40] Our feelings. Our will. Our affections. There should be. A hunger. For the things of God. A desire. To be in the Lord's house. Wanting to be. With the Lord's people.

[21:51] These things. Should. Should change. It should affect us. Personally. And when we're birthed. Into the kingdom. It should affect. Every area. Of our life. It should affect. Our relationships. Our marriage.

[22:01] Our friendships. Our home. Our family. Our children. Our job. Our conversations. Our money. Our lifestyle. Our new birth.

[22:11] Should affect. Where we go. What we do. What we say. How we think. How we act. It should affect. Every area of our life. And when we are in Christ.

[22:23] Everything should be. About Christ. He must be first. We should be last. He must increase. We must decrease.

[22:35] He must have. The supremacy. We must have. Submission. He must have. All the honor. And the glory. And the praise. We have to have. Humility.

[22:46] We have to have. Humility. We have to take. Up our cross. Daily. And follow after him. Because when we are. In Christ. It's not about us. It's all about him.

[22:58] It's all about Jesus. When we are in Christ. We are confessing. That we've died. To sin. We've died. To self. We have submitted. Our lives.

[23:09] To him. We're following. After him. We're taking. Up our cross. And we are living. Under his. Lordship. He is king. He's in control.

[23:20] He is sovereign. And this is what. Paul means. When he says. That the old things. Have passed away. The old has passed away. Because when we are. A new person. It's not. That.

[23:32] We're. A new. New person. Once. When we're a new person. In Christ. It means that the old person. Has died. The old man. Is dead.

[23:43] The old self. Is dead. The old Adam. In you. Is dead. The old things. They've passed away. And this word. Old. It's amazing. What you can get out of one verse.

[23:54] This word. Old. It's the word. Where we get the word. Archaeology. From. It's the word. Archaia. So. Archaeology. You can see where it comes from.

[24:04] And as you know. An archaeologist. Is someone who digs up things. From. The past. They dig up. Fragments of history. And. Bones. From long ago. And with this one word.

[24:16] Paul is saying that. When we are. In Christ. Our old. Life. Is. Ancient history. Ancient history. It's in the past. It's gone.

[24:26] It's dead. It died with Christ. It's buried. And in order to stress. The deadness of the old things. And the old person. And the old life. Paul says the old things.

[24:37] They have. Passed away. Which means. To die. That's the phrase. We often use to describe someone. Who has died. We say.

[24:48] That person. Passed away. And that's what Paul is saying. That happens when. We become a Christian. The old self. The old man. The old life. The old person. They pass away.

[24:59] They die. It perishes. It vanishes. It's buried. Because. When someone. When anyone. Is born again. When you're born.

[25:10] Again. The old person. Dies. Your old heart. Is. Is taken away. The old heart. Of stone. Is changed. To a heart of flesh. Your old values. Are gone.

[25:20] Your old pursuits. They perish. Your old loves. And desires. Are there. No longer. Dominant. Your old beliefs. They're buried. Your old passions. Are gone. Your old priorities.

[25:32] They're gone. Your old practices. Are gone. Your old plans. They're all gone. You now live. In Christ. And everything.

[25:42] Is about. Christ. All the things. That you once. Clung to. It's all. In the past. It's all. Ancient history. That doesn't mean. That you're now sinless.

[25:53] Of course it doesn't. But it does mean. That the desire. For all these things. Has changed. It's a conversion. It's turning around. But you know.

[26:07] You always wish. That it was as simple. As that. Don't you? The reality is. That these things. Never go away. There's always.

[26:17] These temptations. That's why. The Christian life. Is a battle. It's a conflict. It's a struggle. But Jesus said.

[26:30] Through much tribulation. You'll enter the kingdom. And it was the great apologist. C.S. Lewis. He once said. That the devil. He's a grave digger.

[26:41] The devil is a grave digger. And the devil. Will dig up your past. And he will dig up. What you once were. But you must remember. He says.

[26:52] That God. Has buried. What you once were. In. Adam. The old man. Is dead. And as a Christian.

[27:03] You are now. Alive. In Christ. Yes. There's temptations. Yes. There's struggles. But this is what Paul. Wants us to see. This is. It's a glorious thing.

[27:14] To be a new creation. In Christ. But what Paul makes clear. Is that. To be a new creation. Both the old things. Have to pass away. And all things.

[27:24] Have to become new. Two things. Have to happen. Not just the old dying. It has to be the new coming. Because. If the new things. Came. But the old things.

[27:36] Didn't pass away. There would be a contradiction. It would be like driving. With. Your foot on the accelerator. And on the brake. You'd immediately stall.

[27:48] You'd be contradicting yourself. You'd be a hypocrite. But that's not what the Bible teaches. The Bible doesn't teach the Christian. To be a hypocrite. The Bible doesn't teach the Christian.

[28:00] To live. As if the new things have come. While still holding on. To the old life. In Adam. The Bible doesn't teach us. To love God. And then do as you please. Because when you're in Christ.

[28:12] You're. A Christian. A Christian. And there must be. This passing away. Of the old things. And the coming. Of the new. And the interest. And the desire. For the new.

[28:22] Must far outweigh. The interest. And the desire. For the old. And that's why Paul says. He uses another little word. Behold. Behold.

[28:35] If anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation. The old has. Passed away. Behold. All things. Have become new. And. Paul uses the word.

[28:46] Behold. Because. It. It. It means. Paul. He's trying to stop us. And say. Look. This is amazing. What is offered to you. In Christ. Is wonderful.

[28:57] This is. This is stunning. He's saying. This is amazing. When the Lord works. In your life. The. It's not only the old things. That pass away. But new things. Come as well.

[29:09] New things. Also come. And these new things. When he says. These things. He says. They're not only. New. When it comes. They're not only.

[29:20] New. On the day of your. Conversion. This is the wonderful thing. They're new. Every day. These new things. They're new. Every day.

[29:31] This is what's wonderful. About being a Christian. That. When you're a Christian. You don't get tired. Of following Christ. You don't get bored.

[29:42] Of Jesus. You don't get fed up. Of this. Same old. Savior. No. He's new. Every day.

[29:53] He welcomes you. Every day. His mercies. Are new to you. Every morning. And when you read. Your Bible. His words. To us. Yes.

[30:03] They're old. Thousands of years old. But they're ever. New. And the wonder of it all. Is that. When we are made. New in Christ. We're not only new.

[30:14] The day of our conversion. But we're being. Renewed. Every. Single. Day. And this renewing. It will continue. It will continue. Not only in this world.

[30:26] But also in the world. To come. What does Jesus say. In the book of Revelation. The bride comes. Jesus says. Behold.

[30:38] I am making. All things. New. That's his role. He makes. All things new. And he starts here. And he continues.

[30:48] In glory. New in Christ. We're being renewed. And so when the Lord. Works. In your life. He not only gives you. A new position. And he makes you.

[30:58] A new person. But he also assigns. To you. A new purpose. And that's what I'd like. Us to consider lastly. A new position. A new person. And a new purpose.

[31:09] A new purpose. Look again. At verse 17. Therefore. If anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold. The new has come. All this is from God.

[31:21] Who through Christ. Reconciled us to himself. And gave us. The ministry. Of reconciliation. And so Paul reminds us. In the following verse. That when we are.

[31:32] When the Lord works. In our life. We are a new creation. In Christ. And when we're a new creation. We've been given this. New position. We are in Christ. And we are made. A new person.

[31:43] We're a new creation. And then in verse 18. Our new position. And the fact that we're a new person. Paul tells us. That all. That we're given.

[31:54] This new purpose. Paul says. That we have received. The ministry. Of reconciliation. That's our new purpose. Christ has reconciled us.

[32:06] To himself. God has reconciled us. To himself. Through Jesus Christ. We're no longer. Living in Adam. We are now. In Christ. And we've given this new. Purpose.

[32:17] The ministry. Of reconciliation. And in verse 19. Paul explains. Exactly what this means. He says. That is. The ministry. Of reconciliation. That is. In Christ.

[32:28] God. Was reconciling. The world. To himself. Not counting. Their trespasses. Against them. And entrusting. To us. The message. Of reconciliation. And so.

[32:39] As those. With a new position. And as those. With a new person. We are. As made a new person. We have a new purpose. We have been entrusted. With the ministry. And message.

[32:50] Of reconciliation. Therefore. Verse 20. Therefore. We are ambassadors. For Christ. God. Making his appeal. Through us. We implore you.

[33:01] On behalf of Christ. Be reconciled. To God. And with that. Paul says. That those. Who are. Now in Christ. Their purpose. Is that.

[33:13] We are to be. Ambassadors. For Christ. We are to be. Representatives. Of Christ. We are to be. Ambassadors. Of the king. Wherever we go. We are an ambassador.

[33:24] Of Christ. That's our new purpose. That's our ministry. And our message. In which God. Is making his appeal. Through us. Our message.

[33:34] To those. Who are. Still in Adam. Is. Our message. To those of you. Here. Who are still in Adam. We implore you.

[33:44] We encourage you. We beg you. Be. Reconciled. To God. Be reconciled.

[33:55] To God. And that's. And why does he say this? Verse 21. For our sake. He made him to be sin. Who knew no sin. So that in him. We might become.

[34:06] The righteousness. Of God. And so as a Christian. That's our new purpose. That's our ministry. That's our message. Be reconciled.

[34:17] To God. But our ministry. And our message. Is not to be delivered. Just by the pulpit. It's to be delivered. By person.

[34:29] Because our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. That's to be the means. By which we fulfill. Our new purpose. That's how we fulfill.

[34:40] Our ministry. And deliver our message. By our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. Because as those. With a new position. We're in Christ.

[34:51] Having been made. A new person. We're a new creation. Because of that. We have a new heart. We have a heart. That loves God. A heart.

[35:01] That beats. For the things of God. We have a new mind. We have the mind of Christ. That's what Paul says. In Colossians. We think like Christ. And because. We do.

[35:11] We look at the world. Differently. To the way we once did. We have a new perspective. We have an eternal perspective. On life. We know that our life. Is going to end. We live.

[35:22] For eternity. And that's because. We have new eyes. Eyes that were once. Blind and closed. To the truth. And the gospel. But now we see. Just like John Newton said.

[35:33] Amazing grace. How sweet the sound. That saved. A wretch like me. I once was lost. But now. I'm found. Was blind. But now I see. More than that. We have new ears. Ears that were once closed.

[35:46] And deaf. To the sound of the gospel. And the preaching of God's word. It had no penetration. Upon our soul. It was penetrating. No deeper than the surface. But now. As a new creation.

[35:57] In Christ. We have. Heard the voice of Jesus. Jesus say. Come unto me and rest. We hear. And our soul now lives. We have a new mouth.

[36:08] We were singing about that. Again and again. In our psalms this evening. A mouth that once had. Curshings and blasphemies. And vanities. But now the Lord. Has put a new song. In our mouth.

[36:19] In order to magnify our God. And bear witness to Christ. We have new feet. Feet that once walked. According to the course of this world. We were heading.

[36:29] We were heading. In the wrong direction. Heading away from. From Jesus. But now we walk. Towards God. Towards the things of God. And the house of God. And the people of God. And the word of God.

[36:40] Our direction. We have a new direction. We have a new purpose. A new purpose. We have a ministry. And a message. And that ministry.

[36:51] And message. Is to be delivered. By our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. Because when the Lord. Gives to us. A new position. When he makes us.

[37:02] A new person. There is a new product. There is fruit. In our lives. And that fruit. Is to be obvious.

[37:13] To others. There to see. The new position. There to see. And witness. The new person. There to see. The change.

[37:24] In our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. And because of that. Change. They will know. That our message. To them. Is we beg you.

[37:36] We implore you. We plead with you. On behalf of Christ. Be reconciled. To God. Be reconciled.

[37:47] To God. My friend. If any of you. Are in Christ. This. Is the new. You. This is the new.

[37:59] You. And this is what the Lord. Has done in your life. He has given you. A new position. He has made you. A new person. And he has assigned.

[38:09] To you. A new purpose. And in this. New year. Whatever the year. Has for us. Our ministry. And our message. Is to make sure.

[38:20] That people know. The new you. That everyone knows. The new you. As someone who is in Christ. Because. The Christian's message.

[38:31] To all those. Who are still in Adam. To those of you here tonight. Who are still in Adam. The message. For you. As someone who is unconverted. And uncommitted. Is this message.

[38:43] Be reconciled. To God. Be reconciled. To God. Therefore.

[38:54] If anyone. Is in Christ. He is a new creation. The old. Has passed away. Behold. The new. Has come. May the Lord.

[39:06] Bless these thoughts. To us. Let us pray. Oh Lord. Our gracious God. We marvel. At the work. That thou dost do. In the life.

[39:16] Of a sinner. We marvel. Lord. That thou art one. Who would work at all. Who would even look upon us. In mercy. But we bless. And we praise thee. That. That when thou dost work.

[39:29] That work. Is one. That is all together. Lovely. Help us then. We pray. To. Or to be found. In Christ. To have that. New position. To be made.

[39:41] That new person. And to hear. The assignment. To. Of the new purpose. To tell others. To remind them. That they need. To be reconciled. To God.

[39:52] Oh Lord. We. We realize. That. We are those. Who were created. And we are. We were born. In enmity. Against thee. But we bless thee. For Jesus. That he is the one.

[40:03] Who is able. To reconcile us. That he is the mediator. Between God and men. The man. Christ Jesus. Help us. To look to him then. Help us. To trust in him.

[40:13] Help us. To lean upon him. And to know. That every spiritual blessing. In heavenly places. Is ours. In Christ. Bless us. In the week. That lies ahead.

[40:24] Go before us. And do us good. For Jesus sake. Amen. We are going to conclude. Our service this evening. By singing to God's praise.

[40:35] In Psalm 40. Psalm 40. Page 259.

[40:48] We are singing from the beginning. Down to the verse marked 4. This is another psalm. That emphasizes the new song. That the Lord puts in our mouth.

[41:02] Because that's what happens when you're a new person. You have a new song. I waited for the Lord my God. And patiently did bear. At length to me. He did incline.

[41:12] My voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit. And from the miry clay. And on a rock. He set my feet. Establishing my way. It's just basically saying.

[41:23] He took me out of Adam. And he made me. Put me in Christ. And what did he do? He put a new song in my mouth. Our God to magnify. Many shall see it and shall fear.

[41:35] And on the Lord rely. And here's the new purpose. Oh blessed is the man whose trust. Upon the Lord relies. Respecting not the proud nor such. As turn aside to lies.

[41:47] These verses of Psalm 40. To God's praise. I waited for the Lord my God.

[42:02] And patiently did bear. And patiently did bear.

[42:13] He took me from my fearful pit.

[42:34] And from the mighty clay. And on the rock.

[42:48] He set my feet. He's outfishing my way.

[42:59] He put a new song in my mouth.

[43:09] Our God to magnify. Many shall see it and shall fear.

[43:27] Upon the Lord rely. O blessed is the man whose trust.

[43:45] Upon the Lord relies. Respecting not the proud.

[44:01] Nor such. As turn aside to lies.

[44:12] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God the Father. And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Be with you all. Now and forevermore. Amen.