A New You

[0:00] Open your Bibles then to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. We'll begin reading at verse 11.

[0:10] ! Amen.

[0:31] What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We're not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

[0:50] If we're out of our minds, it's for the sake of God. If we're in our right mind, it's for you. For Christ's love compels us. Because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

[1:05] And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

[1:21] Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

[1:32] The old is gone. The new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

[1:44] That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

[1:57] We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. As though God were making his appeal through us, we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

[2:10] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God's fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

[2:25] For he says, in the time of my favor, I heard you. And in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor.

[2:38] Now is the day of salvation. This is the word of God that lives and abides forever. Pastor Jason, come and preach the good news to us.

[2:49] We all like new things.

[3:04] Even if you like old things, like antiques, you like new, old things, don't you? We like New Year's Day, January 1st.

[3:15] The new has come, the old is gone, new possibilities. We can do things differently this year. Maybe a new car.

[3:28] I remember when we went from a sedan to a minivan. And you know you're getting old when you're excited about your minivan. We get into the van and we would say, look at this van.

[3:43] So much room. That's what my family is doing about new things all the time. About seven years ago, we redid our whole house. New doors, new floor, new paint, new trim.

[3:55] Top to bottom, new. And we'd walk in and we'd say, look at this house. There's a new bridge out on 106, almost to 6. They just put it in and we cross that bridge and we say, look at this bridge.

[4:11] So yeah, we have problems. Thursday was my son's birthday. He opened his presents in the morning.

[4:24] And he had Lego Avengers characters. In the afternoon, he busted into my study saying, Dad, look at this. And he had his little Lego Thor and Lego Iron Man and Lego Hawk.

[4:39] And he wanted to show me. He was so happy and they are so cool. When you're older, you like different new things. Maybe new hips.

[4:53] Or new knees. Well, why do we like those new things? Well, they promise us a fresh start. They promise us new life.

[5:05] They promise us new possibilities, new dreams, new hopes. The car doesn't have so many dents and dings. And there's not that gummy, cruddy stuff in the cracks that somehow got there.

[5:16] Or I could walk again without pain. New life. New possibilities. New possibilities. Better. The gospel is good news.

[5:29] That means it's good. And that means it's something about something new. Something good and new. I don't have bad news for you today.

[5:40] Not really. Not finally. I have good news. Exciting, happy news about something good. And about something new. It's a new you.

[5:51] A new you. That can begin today. Look at 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 17.

[6:02] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone.

[6:14] The new has come. A new creation. A new you. The old is gone. The new has come. So you were born one way. You were one you.

[6:26] Your life. Your person. Going the wrong way. The bad way. Away from God. That's the Bible's message. Right from Genesis chapter 3. That's the third chapter of the whole Bible. Men going astray.

[6:38] Something bad happened. And after that, we've all been born. And we're born not as neutral parties. But we're born opposed to God.

[6:48] So God is on one side. And we're over here facing each other on the battlefield. That's not the way it's supposed to be. That's not good.

[7:01] But that's how it is. This old you. This is how you're born. Broken. Falling apart. Guilty. Ashamed.

[7:14] With unease. Something is not right. Not right between you and God. And you know it. But you don't want to do anything about it.

[7:28] You can't do anything about it. Nothing seems to work. How can we fix ourselves when we are the problem?

[7:39] That's like having two dirty hands and trying to clean one hand with the other. And you're just spreading the dirt around. When you're the problem. It's not a very flattering illustration.

[7:53] But when you're the virus. How can you make anything healthy? When you yourself. Are the problem. But that's how we all think.

[8:06] I just need to try a bit harder. I need a little bit more. I need to do a little more good stuff. A little more religion. A little more church. But Jesus says you must be born again.

[8:17] That means this old you has to go. And there has to be a new you. A new you. The old has to go. This old you is the very thing that needs to be made new.

[8:29] The old you. This old creation. Well. What's everyday like when you're the old you? Well whether you feel it or not. This picture of you versus God is an accurate picture.

[8:44] And it's accurate on both sides. You have a problem with him. And he has a problem with you. He's not happy with you.

[8:55] Not because he's unreasonable. Or demanding. Or extremely demanding. Or just impossible to please. That's not what it is. It's because you've disobeyed. And you haven't done what you know is right.

[9:08] You shouldn't have said that. You shouldn't have said that to your mother. You should have said something when that little inner circle.

[9:20] That click. At school. Promised you entrance. You could be in the inner group. The cool kids.

[9:32] Just for a little cruelty. A little deceit. A little silence. And maybe you offered up. Your little cruelty. Your little silence.

[9:43] And you made yourself. You made your way into that group. And your conscience condemns you. Maybe it used to. But it doesn't anymore.

[9:56] That's really. Probably even more frightening than anything. Because now your conscience is hardened. And it's scarred. That sensitive conscience. That you used to really know right and wrong.

[10:06] And feel right and wrong. Is now something that's burned. And scarred. And insensitive. And you've forgotten all about so many things. But can I tell you. God hasn't forgotten.

[10:17] He doesn't suffer from a scarred conscience. He doesn't suffer from an insensitivity. His sense of right and wrong. Is exactly the way. It always has been.

[10:29] And really. It's his sense of right and wrong. That we all need to be most worried about. Because he will judge us. So God himself is standing behind that conscience.

[10:43] Saying. There is something wrong. Something wrong with you. If you've never felt that.

[10:55] If you've never seen that. Then what I'm going to have to say today. Won't really be that. Good of news for you. Because the gospel is about. A good news. About a chance. For a new.

[11:06] You. I've been talking about. The need for a new you. The gospel is about. A good. A chance for a new you. So are you there.

[11:18] Where you're saying. That is what I want. A new me. G.K. Chesterton. The English author. Was there. When an English newspaper wrote.

[11:29] You know. Posing this question of. What is wrong with the world today. A lot of people wrote in. And some people said this. And some people wrote another thing. And you can imagine. What they would.

[11:40] The kinds of things that would be said today. The Democrats. Are the problem. The Republicans. Are the problem.

[11:52] The rich people. The poor people. There are. All these other groups. It's all about this group. Or that problem. These people. Are out there. Doing this. And that is really.

[12:02] Fundamentally. What is wrong with our world today. Those people. People. And somehow. We are always. Not in that group. Are we. G.K.

[12:14] Chesterton. Saw all through that. And he simply wrote. What is the problem with today. I am. The seeds of all the world's problems.

[12:27] Aren't out there. They're in here. What. Refreshing. Honesty. We need someone to say things like that.

[12:42] In our. Partisan world today. Don't we. It's not all about them. It's. It's about me. That's honesty. And humility. And that's where the good news.

[12:54] That I have to tell you about. Meets us. When we've been honest enough. With ourselves. We realize that it's me. This old me. Fighting against God.

[13:07] The slippery. Deceitful me. That will remain silent. To get into the little. The inner group. So I'll.

[13:19] Do that little thing. I'll laugh. When they make fun. Or I'll offer up my. Little tease. I'll compromise my morals. To fit in.

[13:30] Christian. Christian. We aren't. Immune to that either. Peter played the hypocrite. In Antioch. He acted more scrupulous. More religious.

[13:41] Than really. He was. Just to get that feeling. Of belonging. To that inner group. And the people. Who were left out. You know. Those new. Gentile believers.

[13:53] The rough around the edges. New believers. Who. Weren't so. Bound up with. What. These. These. Jewish rules. Well. Forget them. Well.

[14:04] If you say. That's. Me. I do things. Like that. If that's. You. Then. I have good news.

[14:14] For you. God. God is offering. Exactly. What you are looking for. A new. You. A new. You. If anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation.

[14:25] The old is gone. The new has. Come. So God is making. These new creations. He is creating. New. Yous. So what is the offering?

[14:37] A new beginning. A new beginning. That's what's part. That's one part of this new. You. Is a fresh start. With him. A new relationship.

[14:49] A new standing. With him. A new beginning. A fresh start. With him. The forgiveness. Of all your sins. That's what's part of this new.

[14:59] You. All of that badness. All of that wrongness. Everything that we've. Done. And all the things that we haven't done. That we should have done. Completely. Forgiven.

[15:13] Completely. Forgiven. A new beginning. With him. I'm not a bankruptcy. Specialist. Or.

[15:24] But I think there's two kinds of personal bankruptcy. In America. There's chapter 13. Chapter 13. Chapter 13. Is where your debts are restructured. Put on a payment plan.

[15:36] Modified. Made manageable. So the court sets up this. This payment plan. Where you pay back your. Your creditors. And over time. You pay off your debts. Then there's chapter 7.

[15:48] Bankruptcy. In chapter 7. Bankruptcy. All of your debts. Are completely discharged. All your. Completely wiped out. There's no payback.

[16:00] What is God offering you? What is the gospel? What is the gospel? Is he offering a chapter 13? Or a chapter 7? A debt repayment plan?

[16:13] Made manageable? Brought down to where you can do it? Or a completely. Wiped out. No payback. What is God offering to you? Look at verse 19.

[16:26] That God. Was reconciling the world to himself in Christ. And look at this. Not. Counting. Men's.

[16:36] Sins. Against them. Now I've read this passage. More times than I can count. I have no idea. But as I was preparing this message. Which. I had to.

[16:48] Pump the brakes. And say. What did I just read? Because it. Honestly. I've read it a hundred times. But. Did it really just say that? It's almost. It's almost too good.

[17:00] Unimaginably good. God. Not. Counting. Men's. Sins. Against them. Not. Holding them. Against them. Not. Putting them. On them. Not. Demanding their payment.

[17:11] Back from them. Not. Counting men's. Sins. Against them. That's incredible news. That is incredible. News. Incredibly.

[17:22] Good news. I have sins. I have real sins. I have real. Bad. Sins. Sins that you would say.

[17:32] Well that's bad. That's wrong. And. I would agree. And that's you. Too. Sins that have separated me from God. And made me his enemy.

[17:44] We've already talked about that. And. And. This is what it says. In this new creation. In this new you. In this new me. God. Is not counting our sins.

[17:54] Against us. Not. Not. The debt. Is restructured. And I pay it back. I'm not a pastor. To pay back my sins.

[18:06] Not this really religious guy. To pay back my sins. Because there are no sins. To pay back. He's not counting them. Against me. I'm free.

[18:20] I'm free. I'm forgiven. Strike up the band. Leap for joy. He doesn't hold my sins.

[18:30] Against me. Hallelujah. So. Praise the Lord. My sins. Not in part. But the whole. Nailed to the cross. And I. Bear it.

[18:41] No more. I just can't help. But thinking of pilgrim's progress. When he. When Christian. Finally comes to the cross. His burden.

[18:52] Rolls away. Into that. Open tomb. And he. Sees it no more. And that. And. John Bunyan says. Christian. Leap for joy.

[19:04] Three times. Well. How can that be? Well. It's in Christ. That's. This context.

[19:15] It's not. God's not counting. Any men's sins. Against them. It's not just this. Total. Blanket statement. For all humanity. It says. Those who are in Christ.

[19:26] Because of Christ. Because God made him. Who had no sin. So. Jesus wasn't a sinner. Like me. Not.

[19:36] Not in the least. God didn't. God couldn't hold anything against him. Because he had done nothing. Wrong. He was spotless. Flawless. Perfect. Righteousness.

[19:47] And so. God made him. Who had no sin. To be sin. To take my sin. To pay for my sin. And death. Under God's curse.

[19:58] The curse for all my sin. The anger. The wrath. The malediction. Of God. Against that sin. It's put on Jesus. That we might become.

[20:11] The righteousness of God. And so. Do you see this new beginning? God. Not. Counting. Your sins against you. Do you need that?

[20:26] Do you want that? Well you can have it. It can be yours. So imagine living without that.

[20:37] Gnawing. Burden. Imagine living without that shame. Imagine living without. God against you. Imagine living forgiven. And at peace with God.

[20:48] You can have that. Imagine not having sins. Hanging over your head. That's the new you. That's the new life.

[21:00] That God is giving. In Jesus Christ. That's the part of the gospel. But it's even better than that. It's not just that your sins are forgiven. And your debts are repaid. It's not just that all the debts are discharged.

[21:11] And now I don't carry them anymore. He makes us. This is what it says. To become the righteousness of God. Verse 21. So you read it there. He removes all of our sins. And where our sins was.

[21:22] Were. He. He puts the righteousness of. Of God. Of Jesus Christ. And so it's not just that I've never sinned. It's that I've.

[21:33] Always obeyed. So my standing. My account. My record. All the righteousness of Christ. As if I. As if I.

[21:45] I. Lived. And died. As if I. Said. Father. Take this cup away from me.

[21:57] If at all possible. But nevertheless. Not my will. But your will be done. That righteousness. Of Jesus Christ. That he. Did. That he showed.

[22:08] That he. Performed. In that prayer. In that garden. Is on my account. Those words. That humility.

[22:19] That righteousness. Is mine. When he was on the cross. And he said. Father. Forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. Those words. Are so different.

[22:31] From what I have said. From what I have felt. But that righteousness. And that goodness. So different from mine. Is now mine.

[22:43] In this new you. This new me. And that can be yours. That's. That's this good news. A new beginning. A new standing. With God. Where he's not holding your sins against you.

[22:56] Now he's not counting them against you. And you can have it. You can have it. And this is.

[23:06] This is really part of the good news too. Is. You. You don't. It's not a chapter. Chapter. Thirteen. Where you restructure. And you pay this back. And at the end of your life. If you've been a good. Person.

[23:18] And your family loves you. And they talk good enough. About you at your funeral. Then. You get in. Then you have this righteousness. No. It's. It's something better than all of that. You just come bankrupt.

[23:30] What qualifies you. Is your poverty. You know what qualifies you. For a chapter seven. Bankruptcy. In the United States. Just. Not having enough money. Not being able to pay.

[23:41] And so. If you can say. You know what. I can't pay you back. God. I can't do this. I am broke. I don't have any goodness. What's wrong with the world. Me. I am.

[23:54] And that's the offer of the gospel. That's what God is offering you. Right. And now. A new beginning. A new standing. Where. You come broke. And he fills you up. With the righteousness. Of Jesus Christ. So what else is in this new creation.

[24:07] Well. It's a new relationship. With God. You see it there. He's reconciling us. Through. Christ. Reconciling.

[24:18] So now. That we're not standing apart. From each other. Jesus Christ. Brings us together. He changes that relationship. That we've had with him. So that old. That old relationship.

[24:29] That old you. Where you're an enemy of God. And God is saying. I have a problem with you. The good. The news is. Instead of enemy. You can call him father. Father. And I'm his dearly loved.

[24:43] Child. Hear me for the first time. Or. Hear me for the. Hundredth time. Not barely loved.

[24:55] Not hardly loved. Dearly loved. Greatly loved. Reconciled. On. Good.

[25:06] Terms. You can be on good terms. With God. Today. He can become your father. And you can become his child. Today. Listen. Listen to what the Bible says.

[25:20] You're all sons of God. Through faith. In Jesus Christ. God sent. His son. Born of a woman. Born under law. To redeem those under law.

[25:31] That we might receive. The full. Rights. All the authority. All the privileges. The full rights of sons. And so we're sons. We're daughters.

[25:43] Christian. Listen to me. You're a son. You're a daughter. With full rights. Full privileges. All the standing. All the joy. We're not orphans. We're children.

[25:54] We're not homeless. On the road of life. He's brought you in. Part of the family. Be imitators of God. Therefore.

[26:04] As dearly. Love children. How great. Is the love. The father. Has lavished on us. That we should be called. The children of God. And that. Is what we are.

[26:18] That's what can be yours. Christian. That's what is yours. In this new you. And so you come right now. And you say to God.

[26:28] That's what I want. That's what I want. More than anything else. For you to be my father. For me to be your child. I don't want to be enemies anymore.

[26:39] I want to be reconciled. And if you do that. And if you come. Just as you are. Filled with just your need. Your desire. Your hope. Your expectation. Your need for him.

[26:51] Right now. Today. You can become a child of God. God. I do want to win you. If you're not in Christ.

[27:01] I want to win you. Because. You don't know. What it's like. To be a child of God. God. It's beyond words. To know that he loves me.

[27:16] My God. Is my father. And he loves me. That his heart is filled. To overflowing with love. That he is full of tenderness. For me. Full of compassion.

[27:27] For me. That. Maybe some of you have a hard time. Thinking that way. Because your father wasn't like that. And I want to say.

[27:39] Okay. Maybe that's never something. You have associated. With a father figure. But let me say that. Put aside. Your broken. Earthly father. God is not like that.

[27:57] He is love. In him. There is no darkness. He delights. In his children.

[28:08] He loves to see his children. Thriving. He loves. To share his life. With his children. He is. Filling all. All the corners. Of our hearts.

[28:18] With his love. He's so serious. About us. Knowing his fatherly love. That he gives us. The third person. Of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit. To come into our heart. And to shed abroad.

[28:29] The love of God. There in our hearts. To testify. To our own hearts. To know that love. To feel that love. So do you know.

[28:40] What that's like. To live surrounded. With love. To be able to wake up. In the morning. And say. Abba father.

[28:51] I am with you. And you are with me. To have peace with God. Well that can be yours. So many of the parables.

[29:01] Were stories about. Open houses. And people trying to. Get. Get in. And. Because the father's house. Is open. The father's house.

[29:12] Is open. The father's arms. Are open. And so just come as you are. We're just saying that. You just come as you are. You get up off the. Out of the street. And you go into the father's house.

[29:26] And I guess I'm. I'm here to push you in there. And let me tell you. When you. When you get into that house. One of the first things. That you're going to see. Is that you have a new family. So.

[29:37] A new beginning. A new. A new father. And a new family. The old family. The old family. That this old you.

[29:49] Lives in. The Bible says. Hating. And being hated. That's the old family. This new family.

[30:06] It's not about. This exhausting battle. For rank. Maybe you've seen that. In your life. At school. At work. This exhausting battle. For the first place.

[30:17] Or for any place. This old family. Here's how Paul put it. They are gossips. Slanderers. God haters. Insolent. Arrogant. And boastful.

[30:27] They invent ways of doing evil. They disobey their parents. They are senseless. Faithless. That means you can't trust them. They are heartless.

[30:39] Ruthless. What a miserable family to live in. Hating and being hated. Heartless.

[30:50] Ruthless. I'm beat up. And do they help? I'm hurt. And do they care? No. Like animals. They just are glad to see me injured. Because now they can put me down lower. They can marginalize me even more.

[31:02] So I'm struggling at work. And now all they can think about is. Now this is my chance for a promotion. Now this is a chance for me to prove myself more valuable. And them less valuable. That's the old family.

[31:12] Well the new family is different. The new family is different. One of the mottos of the new family is. Rejoice with those who rejoice.

[31:22] And mourn with those who mourn. We actually. Celebrate each other's successes. Because we're not rivals.

[31:35] Sometimes brothers and sisters are rivals. In this life. But in the family of God. We're not rivals. We celebrate each other's successes. And mourn each other's losses.

[31:47] Jesus said in this family. You might lose. What you have. But just in this life. You get a hundred brothers and sisters.

[31:58] A hundred houses and lands. And what Jesus was just saying. Let me tell you what it means. It means this. If I lose everything. If I lose everything. If I lose everything for the sake of Christ.

[32:09] These people. Will throw open their houses. Throw open their bank accounts. And give to me. Why? Because they love me.

[32:22] And I would do the very same for them. That's what it's like to live in this new family. It isn't dog eat dog. It's a family filled with love for each other. Of support.

[32:33] And encouragement. And so. Do you want that? It's not a trick. It's not a deceit. It's true. And it's all part of this new you.

[32:44] It means a new family. So a new beginning. A new standing. A new relationship with God. A new family. But. How can all this be? Well again.

[32:55] Here. This is. This is more good news. Here's more good news. Because you don't have to make it happen. I want to be very careful about what I say.

[33:08] But. Finally. The weight. Isn't on your shoulders. To create this. To make this. It's on someone else's shoulders. Paul.

[33:19] Paul. Repeatedly. Talks about. How this happened. Well. God was doing it. Through Jesus Christ. If anyone is in Christ. He's a new creation.

[33:30] God. Who was reconciling us. To himself. Through Christ. God made him. Who had no sin. To be sin for us. God was doing this. Through Jesus Christ. The.

[33:40] The. The weight. The. The full weight of this. Is on Jesus. The. All the hope is in Jesus. And so you come. Confessing your need. You come. Confessing your desire.

[33:51] And you say. Lord. I need that. I. I want that. I want that to be true of me. I want in this new family. I want this new you. And God says. For Jesus Christ's sake.

[34:04] It can be yours. It's all in Christ. And when can you have this? Look at.

[34:17] Chapter 6. In verse 2. I tell you. Now. Is the time. Of God's favor. Now's the time.

[34:28] Of God's grace. Now's the time. When he's. His arms are open. His house is open. And he's saying. Come in. Come in. And this will. This can be yours. Now is the day of salvation. So when. Now. When.

[34:39] Today. Today. Today. You can have it today. Now. If you don't go to bed. Forgiven. With all your sins.

[34:52] Nailed to the cross. With God. Holding your sins. Not counting them against you. Anymore. If you go to bed. Forgiven. A new you. A forgiven you. A reconciled you.

[35:03] A new child. With a new family. A new family. If you don't. Go to bed. That way. It's because you sat there.

[35:14] And did nothing. The full weight is on Jesus Christ. But you have to get up. And get to him. Trusting in him. And so you can go to bed.

[35:26] Forgiven. A new you. A new family. Forgiveness. A reconciled you. A new child. Today. Today. Is the day of salvation. What I'm saying is.

[35:38] Make this. Your day of salvation. Make it. Your day of salvation. Get to Christ. Get in the door.

[35:48] Open your mouth. And talk. And ask. And plead. And get in. Don't sit there. And do nothing. Run into the father's arms.

[36:01] Throw your arms around Jesus. And say. I'm empty. Poor. Poor. And hurt. And I want. A new start. I want a new me.

[36:13] I need forgiveness. I want to stop being your enemy. I need you. To pray. and today if you do that it will be yours do it with all your heart it will be yours let's pray oh god you are so full and rich and grace and mercy that you would call enemies to yourself and welcome them without money without cost coming by and so we come just as we are we sang it not waiting to clean ourselves up not waiting till all the doubt and the fears and the fightings are gone not waiting for anything but we come oh lamb of god we come to you holy spirit put your arms and your hands around some sinner sinners today and draw them into the father's house robe them in a robe of righteousness show them their new brothers and sisters show them their their deed of forgiveness forgiveness win them to jesus today and i pray for my brothers and sisters who who needed and need and we all need to hear about these things again that our sins are forgiven that god is our father that we're part of this family i pray that you would make those things holy spirit real and precious to us help us to celebrate them and rejoice in them and be strong in the lord and in his grace so bring salvation for today is the day of salvation so bring salvation to this place and to our hearts pray this in jesus mighty name the name of the risen king amen amen