WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:01.439 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:03.580 It's great to see you this morning. 00:00:04.139 --> 00:00:05.700 Good to be here with you. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:08.220 If you don't know me, my name is Eric. 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:11.339 I'm one of the guys on staff here at Watermark Church. 00:00:11.859 --> 00:00:13.060 It's great to be with you today. 00:00:14.060 --> 00:00:19.120 About six years ago, I woke up one morning and I was frustrated. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:25.039 There was stuff happening at my school that I wasn't really a fan of, 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:27.060 and it left me frustrated. 00:00:27.059 --> 00:00:30.179 And as I reflected on the things that were happening, 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:35.659 I decided that the way to fix these frustrations was a change of scenery. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:39.239 I would get out of Dallas where I was going to school. 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:40.759 Things would be different. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:41.640 Things would be new. 00:00:41.899 --> 00:00:43.039 Things would be better. 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:48.159 At that same time, one of my friends had just come back from an internship 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:49.780 that he had done in Hong Kong. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:54.640 And he wouldn't stop talking about how amazing of a city Hong Kong is 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:57.520 and how great of a time he had had doing this internship. 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:00.679 And I thought, hey, I want to get out of Dallas. 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:03.020 He says Hong Kong is amazing. 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:04.439 Perfect combo. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:08.899 I applied for the same internship that he had had, and I got the job. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.359 And a couple months later, I was on the plane heading to Hong Kong. 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:18.560 I landed in the city, and everything was bright and shiny and new and amazing, 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:19.500 and I loved it. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:20.920 And everything felt better. 00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:22.539 All of my problems were gone. 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:24.039 Life was good. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:27.000 For a couple months. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:34.680 And then Hong Kong became the old, the normal, the standard, the regular. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:41.020 And as I got settled in here, I realized that the problems that I was running away from in Dallas 00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:43.280 weren't things that were specific to Dallas. 00:01:43.440 --> 00:01:45.340 They were things that were specific to me. 00:01:46.340 --> 00:01:51.140 And that by changing my scenery, that that wouldn't fix my problems. 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:56.400 There was something bigger and something deeper that needed to change inside me 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.719 than just my location for things to change. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.879 And we're just coming out of the Christmas season, or we're still sort of in it, 00:02:04.960 --> 00:02:06.960 but we're in that awkward in-between phase. 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:11.900 And I think for a lot of us, we have this type of attitude in this season, 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:13.060 especially for children. 00:02:14.020 --> 00:02:18.759 If I just get that one gift, my life will be better. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:23.579 If I just get the new iPhone, then everything will be fine. 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.799 Or if you have kids who are in maybe first or second grade, 00:02:28.399 --> 00:02:32.679 if I just get that cool water bottle that sprays the mist out of the top, 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.319 then I can be the cool kid in class. 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:40.560 Or maybe if my spouse gets me that new model of the Tesla, 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:43.000 then things will be good. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:47.400 And we laugh at this because we know none of these things 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:49.319 are really going to change our lives for the better. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.280 We're adults. 00:02:50.379 --> 00:02:52.360 We've gotten enough Christmas gifts over the year 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:56.099 that we know you open up the gift, it's really exciting and new, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:01.099 and by now, two days later, meh, it's just another toy that we have. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:03.120 It might make life a little more convenient, 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:07.000 but nothing is substantially changed in our lives. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:08.900 We're adults. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:10.860 We think bigger things will change our lives. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:15.020 We think, yeah, the Christmas gift won't make things new, 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.919 but my New Year's resolution next week, that's going to change things. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:20.240 Just wait until you see who I become 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:21.979 when I go to the gym three times a week. 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:28.020 Or we think, maybe if I just had a new job 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:31.920 and I wasn't stuck with this oppressive and terrible boss, 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:33.960 things would be different. 00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:35.340 I'd be a new person. 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:38.180 If I had a little bit bigger flat, 00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:40.800 I would be so much less stressed and more organized. 00:03:42.700 --> 00:03:44.199 Or maybe, like me, you thought, 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:45.939 a change of scenery is what I need. 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.360 I just need to get out of this city, go somewhere else, 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:51.719 go somewhere new, and everything will be okay. 00:03:52.099 --> 00:03:55.900 But the problem is, none of these things will fix us. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:59.580 All of these things are changing our circumstances 00:03:59.580 --> 00:04:01.159 and changing the things around us, 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:04.240 and the issue with each and every one of us 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.480 each and every one of us have issues, 00:04:07.480 --> 00:04:11.159 and they're issues that are much deeper than the circumstances around us. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:16.620 And if we want true, lasting, substantial change in our lives, 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:18.620 we don't need change of circumstances. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:21.620 we need a change of identity. 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:25.079 And so today, as we head into the new year, 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:27.480 I want to ask you a big question. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:29.480 Are you new? 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.959 Not are your circumstances new, but are you new? 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:39.480 And to help us answer this question, I have three diagnostic questions for us. 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.720 Number one, where are you? 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:45.480 Number two, what are you? 00:04:45.740 --> 00:04:47.980 And number three, what are you doing? 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:50.900 I know that's cryptic, intentionally. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:54.379 But follow along, and you'll find out what I'm talking about. 00:04:55.340 --> 00:04:59.379 So in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17, 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:00.580 it says, 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.480 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:06.780 And my first question for us is, where are you? 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:10.219 Are you in Christ or not? 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.979 And I know this phrase of being in Christ 00:05:13.979 --> 00:05:18.079 is not something that we talk about necessarily a whole lot 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.619 in the world at large today. 00:05:19.979 --> 00:05:21.639 Maybe we reference it in church, 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:25.279 but even then, we'll do it in a way that sort of assumes 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:26.899 that everyone knows what we're talking about 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:28.059 when no one actually does. 00:05:28.859 --> 00:05:31.119 And then everyone just nods along politely, 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:33.459 and then we move on to the next thing 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:36.539 because no one wants to ask the question and be that person. 00:05:37.579 --> 00:05:40.799 But what does it mean to be in Christ? 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:44.059 I think Jesus gives us a good picture, 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:45.239 a word picture of this, 00:05:45.299 --> 00:05:46.659 when he talks in John 15 00:05:46.659 --> 00:05:52.019 about being in him like branches are in a vine. 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.259 He says, I am like a plant, 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:59.019 and you guys are like branches that grow off of the plant, 00:05:59.179 --> 00:06:00.179 like this guy right here. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:06.699 And he says, you need to be in me. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:09.240 Now what does it mean for this little leaf right here 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:10.579 to be in this plant? 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.259 If I just set it right there. 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:13.100 Are we good? 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:13.780 It's in the plant? 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:17.879 Physically, it's located next to the plant, 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:18.740 inside the plant. 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:23.120 But no, it's not talking about just physically being located there. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.420 It's talking about having a life-giving, vital connection 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:29.279 where the plant is supplying all of the nutrients and needs 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.819 that this leaf needs for life. 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:36.240 That this leaf life comes from the plant. 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:39.399 That there is, it's not just proximity. 00:06:40.099 --> 00:06:41.620 It's not just, oh, we're touching now. 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:43.699 Tied it on there and it's going to stay. 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:47.120 But it's actually that there is a life-giving connection 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:50.539 where the nutrients for life that this leaf needs 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:51.620 come from the plant. 00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:53.500 And when we rip the leaf off from the plant, 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.120 like I just did, it's dead. 00:06:56.659 --> 00:07:00.219 It still looks alive, but it's dead. 00:07:00.599 --> 00:07:02.019 And it's only a matter of time 00:07:02.019 --> 00:07:05.519 until the symptoms of death start setting in on the leaf. 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:09.060 And when the Bible talks about us being in Christ, 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:12.560 what it means is that we have a vital, 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.280 life-giving connection with Christ 00:07:15.280 --> 00:07:19.680 where all of the sources and nutrients of our life, 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:22.600 not physically, but spiritually, come from him. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.560 So does that mean showing up in church? 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:29.759 Is that what it means to be in Christ? 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:33.000 I think using this analogy, showing up in church 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.240 is sort of like setting the leaf on top of the plant 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:36.560 and saying, there we go, we're good. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:43.040 But it's very easy to be in church and not be in Christ. 00:07:44.420 --> 00:07:46.480 Does it mean reading our Bibles every day? 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:49.939 Maybe that would be like taking some string 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:51.480 and tying this leaf back on here. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:53.079 It looks good. 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:55.779 Can't tell from the outside that anything's wrong. 00:07:56.819 --> 00:07:59.220 But it's only a matter of days or weeks 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:02.319 before the greenness starts to wear off the leaf 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:03.379 and it turns brown. 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:08.459 And the Bible says that we have a fundamental problem 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:10.879 because each and every one of us 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.980 is what the Bible calls a sinner. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:15.899 It means we've rebelled against God. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.420 We were created to have a perfect relationship with God, 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.740 to be connected to him, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:24.699 to have this relationship with him 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:26.980 be the source of life for us. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:30.720 And yet each and every one of us looked at God, 00:08:30.960 --> 00:08:32.259 looked at his commands and said, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:36.080 no God, I know better than you how life works. 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:38.399 I have a better understanding 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.379 of where I need to get my nutrients from. 00:08:42.420 --> 00:08:44.360 I'm going to tear myself off, 00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:45.680 separate myself, 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:49.879 and try and provide my own sustenance in life. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.899 I think that my job is going to give me meaning 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:54.980 more than you are. 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:00.519 And so I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep my job, 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.879 even if that means cutting corners 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.620 and lying on the accounting sheets for my boss, 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:08.399 because I need this job more than I need you. 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:13.799 And we go along throughout life, 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:16.279 and every time we disobey and rebel against God, 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.000 we separate ourselves from him a little bit further. 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:20.519 And like this leaf, 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:22.620 when we're cut off from that source, 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.299 we're dead, 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:25.360 and it's only a matter of time 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.179 until the symptoms start showing up. 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:29.879 And what the Bible says 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:31.679 is that Jesus came to the earth, 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:33.940 that he lived a perfect life 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:36.059 in this perfect connection with God, 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:40.460 and that he died the death that we deserve 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:44.899 so that we can be reconnected to God. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:46.700 In planting, in agriculture, 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:47.960 there's something called grafting, 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.360 where you take something from one plant, 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.700 and you cut it a certain way 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:53.019 and bind it to another plant, 00:09:53.280 --> 00:09:56.220 and actually they can become one plant again, 00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:57.600 even though they've been separated. 00:09:58.160 --> 00:10:00.540 And the Bible talks about our connection with Christ 00:10:00.540 --> 00:10:02.680 being like being grafted into a plant, 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:04.600 where even though we were separated, 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.960 even though we were far off 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.340 and weren't connected 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:09.220 and receiving this nutrition for life 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.139 that we need from him, 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:12.180 that he came and made a way 00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:14.700 for us to be connected to God again. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:16.759 And I don't know enough about grafting 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.500 to save this leaf, so sorry. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:24.800 But the Bible says that through Christ 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:26.640 and through the work that he has done, 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.220 we have an opportunity to be in him, 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.520 to be connected to him 00:10:30.520 --> 00:10:33.480 in this vital and life-giving way. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.040 And so there are two places today 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:37.820 as we gather here that we can be. 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:39.680 We can be in Christ, 00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:43.280 or we can be not in Christ. 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:45.700 And it's very important 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:47.100 that we answer this question. 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:48.660 Where are you? 00:10:49.260 --> 00:10:50.300 Are you in Christ? 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:52.320 Do you have this relationship with God 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.700 where you have been forgiven 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:56.240 for your rebellion against him, 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:58.160 where you have trusted in him, 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:00.180 and where you are now receiving the nutrients 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:01.760 for your spiritual life 00:11:01.760 --> 00:11:03.180 from him and his word? 00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:06.680 Or are you separated from him? 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:09.820 The Bible talks a lot about the benefits 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.440 of those who are in Christ. 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:13.500 It says that in Christ, 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:14.540 we have forgiveness. 00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:17.800 In Christ, we are made alive to God. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.180 In Christ, we have eternal life. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:21.600 In Christ, we have freedom. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.060 In Christ, we become the children of God. 00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:26.180 And the list goes on and on and on. 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:28.879 And what that means is that 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.500 if you are here today and you are in Christ, 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.360 then you have these things. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.600 And if you are here today 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.280 and you're not in Christ, 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:39.199 then you've cut yourself off 00:11:39.199 --> 00:11:40.199 from these things. 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:44.179 And so what difference does it make 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:45.519 whether we're in Christ or not? 00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:48.519 It makes a big difference. 00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.620 Because externally, 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:53.439 the actions can look the same 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:54.819 between people who are in Christ 00:11:54.819 --> 00:11:55.379 and who aren't. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.299 They can both go to church. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.279 They can both read their Bibles. 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:01.279 They can both do service 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.139 within the community. 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.620 But the difference is 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:06.019 the motivation behind these things 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:07.840 and the heart behind these things. 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:11.600 When someone is in Christ, 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:15.620 they're going to serve in the community 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.919 out of an overflow 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:19.600 of the love that they've received from God. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.299 They're receiving 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:23.559 all of this abundance of life from God. 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:26.299 And it's like a cup that's overflowing. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:28.059 They want to share 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:29.939 out of the excess of what they have. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.419 They have their identity secure 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:34.079 and they go out and they serve. 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:37.139 But someone who's not in Christ 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.819 on the outside can look the same. 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.299 They can go out, 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:42.219 do the exact same acts of service 00:12:42.219 --> 00:12:42.939 within the community. 00:12:44.359 --> 00:12:45.959 But they're like an empty cup 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:48.259 that's trying to fill themselves up 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.599 with meaning by what they're doing. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.779 So they go out and they work 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:52.699 and they work 00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.839 and they try really hard 00:12:53.839 --> 00:12:55.220 to build this identity 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.679 through their service. 00:12:58.079 --> 00:12:59.439 And it can work for a while 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.980 just like the leaf can stay green 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.639 for a while. 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:04.620 But eventually what happens is 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.659 your identity becomes so tied 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.779 to what you do 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:12.339 that you have to keep working 00:13:12.339 --> 00:13:13.679 even when you've worked yourself 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.240 to the bone 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.899 and you're tired 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.600 and you're exhausted 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.000 and you know that you need a break. 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:19.679 You have to keep going 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.699 because the moment you stop 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:23.560 you lose your identity 00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:24.360 because your identity 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.820 is tied up in what you're doing. 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:28.200 You've been working so hard 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:30.920 to build up an identity 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:32.940 through these acts of service 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:34.200 and through doing good things. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.480 You can't live without them. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.700 You become dependent on them. 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.960 Where someone who is in Christ 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.680 who has that identity secure 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.640 before they start 00:13:44.640 --> 00:13:47.440 is able to go 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.259 and to serve 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.960 and to love 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.879 and to rest 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.559 and to not fear 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.840 losing their identity 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.580 in that process 00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.899 of rest. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.059 And so 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:01.279 as we start out today 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.679 where are you? 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.939 Are you in Christ 00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:07.200 or are you not? 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.559 The verse continues. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:10.919 It says 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:12.139 if anyone is in Christ 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.460 he is a new creation. 00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:15.299 The old has passed away. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.159 Behold 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.919 the new has come. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.819 It brings us 00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:20.939 to our second question. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.639 What are you? 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.240 Are you new 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.559 or are you old? 00:14:29.819 --> 00:14:30.959 The verse is very clear 00:14:30.959 --> 00:14:32.479 that when someone is in Christ 00:14:32.479 --> 00:14:34.519 they are a new creation. 00:14:35.839 --> 00:14:37.559 And the new has come 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.000 and the old has passed away 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.819 and there has been 00:14:39.819 --> 00:14:40.899 a transformation 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.199 that has happened 00:14:42.199 --> 00:14:43.399 in their lives. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.039 And this transformation 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.120 isn't just 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.379 okay 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.939 God's given you 00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.659 a second chance 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.039 time to go 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:51.199 try harder this time. 00:14:52.719 --> 00:14:54.120 It's not extra effort. 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:56.019 It's not extra exertion. 00:14:56.219 --> 00:14:57.559 But it's a fundamental 00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:59.120 change of identity. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.559 They cease to be 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.480 the old person 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.219 and become 00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:03.980 someone new. 00:15:04.099 --> 00:15:04.639 And I think 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:06.299 that for those of us 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.399 who are in Christ 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.459 this is something 00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:09.379 that a lot of us 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:11.099 have a very hard time 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:11.719 understanding. 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:14.000 because 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.040 we become a Christian 00:15:16.040 --> 00:15:18.080 and we look up 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.560 and the world 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:19.600 is exactly the same. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.460 And we don't feel 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:21.940 any different. 00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:24.060 And we look around 00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:24.740 and we're like 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.920 what has changed? 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.080 And we think 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.899 well since I'm a Christian 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.500 I should be reading 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:29.960 my Bible 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.139 and we get to this verse 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.300 and we think 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:32.620 oh 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.420 well that's supposed 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:35.360 to be true about me 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.080 but I don't necessarily 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:38.300 feel like it's true. 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:40.539 And so I think 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.199 a lot of people 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:41.759 in the church 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.539 when they have 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.199 that experience 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:43.839 say alright 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:44.919 this is supposed 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:45.620 to be true of me 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.659 I don't feel 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.299 like it's true 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:48.740 so I have to 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.839 go out there 00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:50.479 and try and make 00:15:50.479 --> 00:15:51.000 it be true. 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.159 We go put out 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.759 this effort 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.779 to make this idea 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.500 of being new 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.599 true because we feel 00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:58.579 like it's not 00:15:58.579 --> 00:15:59.599 already true 00:15:59.599 --> 00:16:00.659 in our lives. 00:16:02.359 --> 00:16:03.099 It's sort of like 00:16:03.099 --> 00:16:04.479 imagine this scenario 00:16:04.479 --> 00:16:04.939 with me. 00:16:05.859 --> 00:16:06.639 When I was a kid 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.399 my grandfather 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.399 had a crabapple tree 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.120 in his front yard. 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.419 Now crabapples 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.759 aren't really edible 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.319 they're like 00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:16.319 mini super sour apples 00:16:16.319 --> 00:16:17.799 that apparently 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.580 can be used 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.259 in certain dishes 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:21.259 but even then 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.720 his was an old 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.679 sick crabapple tree 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.720 so the apples 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.319 that it would grow 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.080 not only were they 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:29.120 tiny and really sour 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.799 but they were also 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:30.199 rotten. 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.080 You weren't going 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.939 to eat the apples 00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:33.980 that grew on this tree 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.820 and it wasn't 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.580 the prettiest tree 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:36.820 ever 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.440 and then it would 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.500 leave these little 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.960 apples scattered 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.840 all over the lawn 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.460 every fall. 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.519 So imagine that 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.560 one day my grandmother 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.379 had said hey 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:47.440 I want that tree 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.120 out of our yard. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.440 I want a nice 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.200 new good apple tree 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.360 there so we can 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.139 enjoy the fruit 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:53.659 from the apple. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.659 And my grandfather 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.200 says alright 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.000 I got this 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.080 and he goes out 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.740 to the garage 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.840 and he grabs 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.420 a huge piece 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:00.899 of plywood 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.759 and some paint 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.879 and he sets 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.500 up his shop 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.980 and he paints 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.359 a picture 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:06.980 of a nice 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.940 new beautiful tree 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.400 and he carries 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.000 this big piece 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.960 of plywood outside 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.680 and he sets it 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.359 down on the ground 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.160 in front of the tree 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.819 and he walks 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.559 inside and he says 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.940 hey there it is 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.879 new tree. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.160 Now is my grandmother 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.839 going to be fooled 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.379 by that? 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.059 Of course not. 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.619 Is anyone 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.220 going to be fooled 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.720 by that? 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.859 No. 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.979 And even if she 00:17:30.979 --> 00:17:31.740 was fooled 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.819 by that temporarily 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:35.119 the next moment 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.740 that she goes 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.479 outside to the 00:17:36.479 --> 00:17:37.019 front yard 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.959 my grandfather 00:17:37.959 --> 00:17:38.919 has to scramble 00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:39.659 because the picture 00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:40.379 is obviously 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.179 only going to 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:41.959 cover one side 00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:42.359 of the tree. 00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:43.779 So he's got 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.500 to run out there 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.679 and pick up 00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:46.059 the picture 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.519 and just 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.619 constantly move 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.659 it around the tree 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:49.799 as she's moving 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.599 around the yard 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.299 so that he doesn't 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:52.839 get busted 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.179 for what he's done. 00:17:56.439 --> 00:17:57.399 What he's done 00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:57.959 is not going 00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:58.519 to be effective 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.519 at giving 00:17:59.519 --> 00:17:59.940 new life 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.400 to the tree. 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:01.980 He's going 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.480 to be living 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.319 in fear 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.000 and anxiety 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.460 of getting 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:04.920 caught 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.519 the entire 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:05.940 time 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.279 and he's 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:06.819 going to be 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.599 exerting 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.099 himself 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.639 and putting 00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:09.599 out insane 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.099 amounts of 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:10.460 effort 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.119 to keep 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:11.960 up the lie 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.920 and all the 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.559 while there's 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.500 still a dead 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.400 tree behind 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:16.960 the pretty 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.379 mask. 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:19.740 I think a lot 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.319 of us think 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.980 this is what 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.660 happens when 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.339 God makes us 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:22.500 new. 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.119 He just paints 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.759 a new sign 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.539 he puts it 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:24.859 out there 00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:25.379 and then we 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.099 are responsible 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.920 from now on 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:27.660 for carrying 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.279 around this 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.039 sign to cover 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.539 up who we 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.060 really are. 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.580 We're afraid 00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.279 and anxious 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:32.860 that we're 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.220 going to get 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:33.680 busted 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.840 and we're 00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:36.220 exerting 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.800 ourselves 00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:37.740 and exhausting 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.420 ourselves 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.220 because we 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.860 know that 00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:41.440 what we're 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:41.940 showing to 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.500 everyone else 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.160 is not the 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.519 truth 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.340 and at the 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:45.960 same time 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.480 we feel 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.140 like we're 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.620 dying 00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.360 inside. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:48.439 God. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.819 And guys 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.240 I have 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.019 good news 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.379 for you. 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.079 That type 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.579 of change 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.159 is not 00:18:59.159 --> 00:18:59.599 what this 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.000 verse is 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.619 talking about 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.119 when it 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:01.979 says that 00:19:01.979 --> 00:19:02.679 anyone who's 00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.240 in Christ 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.199 is a new 00:19:04.199 --> 00:19:04.899 creation. 00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:07.059 No this 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.500 verse is 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.240 talking about 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.979 something 00:19:08.979 --> 00:19:09.759 radically 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.359 totally 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:10.839 different. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.439 It's like 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:13.679 if my 00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:14.059 grandfather 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.519 had gone 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.199 out there 00:19:15.199 --> 00:19:15.599 and he 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.119 had dug 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.459 up the 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:16.879 old tree 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:17.240 he had 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.599 thrown it 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:17.819 out and 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.059 he had 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.419 put a 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:18.879 new tree 00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.399 in its 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:19.839 place. 00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:21.199 And the 00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.559 new tree 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.219 may look 00:19:22.219 --> 00:19:23.000 very similar 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.399 on the 00:19:23.399 --> 00:19:24.059 outside to 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.379 the old 00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:24.699 tree that 00:19:24.699 --> 00:19:25.000 was there 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.359 before. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.579 My 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.119 grandmother 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.539 might even 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:28.939 go out 00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:29.159 and be 00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:29.459 like is 00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:30.039 this really 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.599 a different 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:30.980 tree? 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:31.459 Because it 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:33.039 looks very 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.599 similar to 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:33.819 the one 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.079 that was 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.599 here before. 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.219 But at 00:19:36.219 --> 00:19:37.000 harvest season 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.579 when the 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.319 fruit grows 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.619 on the 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.059 new tree 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.740 they will 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.379 see a 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:41.819 difference 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.039 because the 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.699 healthy tree 00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:44.240 is going 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.839 to grow 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.519 healthy 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:45.959 fruit. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.879 And when 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.839 the fruit 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.399 grows 00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:50.839 they're going 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.319 to see 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:51.879 these are 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:52.639 not rotten 00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.919 sour crab 00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.279 apples 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.219 but these 00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:56.079 are real 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.500 apples. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:58.579 And the 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.079 Bible says 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.559 that that 00:19:59.559 --> 00:19:59.879 is the 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.219 type of 00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:00.559 change 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.279 that God 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.639 affects 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:01.939 in our 00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:02.299 lives. 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.740 Even though 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.019 we may 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.000 not subjectively 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.959 feel like 00:20:05.959 --> 00:20:06.299 that is 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.639 true the 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.259 Bible says 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.179 the moment 00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:08.919 that we 00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:09.899 trust in 00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.519 Jesus for 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.059 salvation 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.339 God affects 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.199 that change 00:20:13.199 --> 00:20:13.719 in our 00:20:13.719 --> 00:20:14.219 lives. 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.819 objectively 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.500 true whether 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:16.980 we feel 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.339 it or 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.680 not. 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:18.980 And so 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.500 our job 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.000 is not 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.559 to go 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.880 out and 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.240 hold up 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:21.640 a sign 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.220 to hide 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:22.500 what's 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:22.819 behind 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.240 us 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:25.980 but rather 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.220 to live 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.460 the reality 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.759 that we 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.779 have a 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.100 new 00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:31.779 identity. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:33.960 And I 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.339 know the 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.900 feeling of 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.420 being that 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:36.100 person who's 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:36.539 holding up 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:36.960 the sign 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.579 running around 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:37.960 while you 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.400 feel like 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.740 you're dead 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.120 inside. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.579 I know 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.259 from experience 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.920 it is 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.519 exhausting. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.319 It is 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.100 not fun. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.420 It is 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:44.640 not 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.660 where I 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.039 would want 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.480 any of 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.839 us to 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.059 be. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.720 And if 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.100 you are 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:51.019 here today 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.319 and you 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.740 feel like 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.120 you're in 00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:52.759 that place 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.640 where you're 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.299 just trying 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.900 so hard 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.259 and you 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.680 feel like 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:56.940 you can 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.339 never get 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.740 it right 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:59.380 I would 00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.860 encourage you 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.400 to find 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.559 me or 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.220 Chris or 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.920 Jeremy and 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.380 talk with 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:03.759 one of us 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.360 after service 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:04.700 and we'd 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.039 love to 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.420 pray with 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.799 you about 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.140 that. 00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:07.980 Because the 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.799 reality is 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.420 that Christ 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.680 came not 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.500 to give 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:11.920 us a new 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.100 facade so 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:13.279 that we 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.620 can put 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.000 an effort 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.619 to make 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:14.859 everyone 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:15.279 else think 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.439 we're 00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:15.639 new. 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.099 But Christ 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.479 came to 00:21:18.479 --> 00:21:19.339 transform us 00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.759 from the 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.859 inside and 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.339 to make 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.339 us new. 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.639 Like the 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.099 new tree 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.359 in the 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.619 yard. 00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.579 It may 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.199 look similar 00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:28.479 on the 00:21:28.479 --> 00:21:28.899 outside. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.959 The harvest 00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:30.699 is going 00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:32.199 to show 00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.019 the reality 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.939 that there 00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:34.879 is something 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.199 new. 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.659 The old 00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.239 isn't just 00:21:36.239 --> 00:21:36.659 hiding, 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.319 waiting to 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.139 be discovered 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.659 behind the 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:40.359 new face. 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:42.219 the old 00:21:42.219 --> 00:21:42.799 has been 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.619 completely 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.559 uprooted 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.599 and replaced 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:47.000 by the 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.179 new. 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.199 So where 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:49.619 are you? 00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:49.939 Are you 00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.559 in Christ 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.159 or not? 00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:52.500 What are 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:52.740 you? 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.479 Are you 00:21:53.479 --> 00:21:53.740 new? 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.299 Are you 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.639 old? 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.599 Are you 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.119 old but 00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:58.599 holding up 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.059 a mask 00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.699 that says 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.059 that you're 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.399 new to 00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:00.759 the world? 00:22:02.719 --> 00:22:03.319 And then 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.699 my third 00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:04.319 question for 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.799 us today, 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:05.979 what do 00:22:05.979 --> 00:22:06.559 you do? 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:09.319 we've 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.579 already 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.500 mentioned 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.960 the old 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.480 person and 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.740 the new 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.039 person, 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.460 the person 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.000 who's not 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.500 in Christ 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:14.839 and the 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.299 person who 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:15.679 is in 00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:15.980 Christ, 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.500 can live 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.419 lives that 00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:17.679 on the 00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:18.539 outside look 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.460 very similar. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.119 But the 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.759 heart behind 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.419 it is very 00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:22.700 different. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.359 The motivation 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.159 behind that 00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:25.000 life is 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.599 very different. 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.259 And so the 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.759 fruit that 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.379 comes out of 00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:27.879 that life 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:28.579 will be 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.259 very different. 00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:29.940 Just as 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.139 the old 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:32.119 apple tree 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.440 and the 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:32.839 new apple 00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.339 tree can 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.980 look similar, 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.619 but at 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.220 harvest time, 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.579 the old 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.000 tree is 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.339 going to 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.100 grow rotten, 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.519 bad apples. 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.360 And the 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.000 new tree is 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.460 going to 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.600 bear new, 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.279 fresh, 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.039 beautiful, 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.559 delicious apples. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.380 The old 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.360 man, the 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:48.920 old person, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.519 is going to 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.240 grow fruit or 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.559 produce results 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.519 in their lives 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.519 that are in 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:54.920 line with 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.360 their old 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:55.839 identity. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.019 And the 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.559 new person 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.180 is going to 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.200 produce results 00:22:59.200 --> 00:22:59.740 in their 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:01.140 lives that 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.400 are in 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.079 line with 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.680 their new 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.500 identity. 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:03.559 reality. 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:05.759 And so 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.839 how does 00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.920 a new 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.900 creation live? 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.200 If you 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:10.799 read through 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.339 these verses 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:12.880 that we have 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.240 right here, 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:13.680 there's a 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.079 list. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.180 And the 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.839 list is too 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.460 big for us 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.099 to go through 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.920 entirely with 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.460 the time that 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.019 we have left 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.339 today. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.460 But there's 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.279 two things 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.700 that I want 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.200 to hit on, 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.220 two things I 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.940 want to talk 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.500 about from 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.259 this list 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.119 that are 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.880 major markers 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.259 of the fact 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.819 that we are 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.099 new, 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.019 that we are 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.539 changed, 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.480 that we are 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.859 different. 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:33.419 And the 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.919 first is 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:36.339 in verse 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:38.159 20, 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.240 slash 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:41.339 18 through 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:41.679 20, 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.079 I'll read 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.339 it all. 00:23:42.719 --> 00:23:42.919 It says, 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.519 All this 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.039 is from 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.419 God, 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.199 who through 00:23:45.199 --> 00:23:45.659 Christ 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.539 reconciled 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.139 us to 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:47.539 himself, 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.559 and gave 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.119 us the 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:49.919 ministry of 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:50.519 reconciliation. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.779 That is, 00:23:51.859 --> 00:23:52.439 in Christ, 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.059 God was 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.979 reconciling the 00:23:53.979 --> 00:23:54.519 world to 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.000 himself, 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.119 not counting 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.899 their trespasses 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.679 against them, 00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:58.879 and entrusting 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.839 to us the 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.519 message of 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.139 reconciliation. 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.619 Therefore, 00:24:02.979 --> 00:24:03.459 we are 00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.519 ambassadors for 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.939 Christ, 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.240 God making 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.839 his appeal 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.859 through us. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.919 We implore 00:24:08.919 --> 00:24:09.339 you on 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.039 behalf of 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.439 Christ, 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:12.199 be reconciled 00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:13.019 to God. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.399 And what 00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:14.759 it's saying 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.319 here is that 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.099 if we are 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:16.759 the new 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.319 creation, 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.539 then one 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.059 way that 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.699 our lives 00:24:19.699 --> 00:24:20.240 are to be 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.799 fundamentally 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.839 different is 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.459 that we are 00:24:22.459 --> 00:24:23.459 to be what 00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:23.919 he calls 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.500 ministers of 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.139 reconciliation, 00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.839 or ambassadors 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.059 for Christ. 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.179 Christ. 00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:30.980 If you think 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.339 about what 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.980 an ambassador 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.419 does, 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.539 they're a 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:33.819 foreigner. 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.179 They come 00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:35.819 in from 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.500 an outside 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.339 country to 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.859 a foreign 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:39.019 land as a 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.359 representative of 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.139 their government. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.339 The Bible 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.139 says that when 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.639 we become 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.099 Christians, 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.000 we are made 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.599 new. 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.179 We're not the 00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:50.019 same old people 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.259 as we were 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.619 before. 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.200 We're something 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.740 different. 00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:54.359 We no longer 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.740 represent just 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.159 humanity, 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.540 but we 00:24:56.540 --> 00:24:57.400 represent a 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.100 new king, 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.779 Christ. 00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.200 And Christ, 00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:00.820 our king, 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.680 has sent us 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.600 to the world 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:04.019 as his 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.900 ambassadors to 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.960 deliver a 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.040 very, very 00:25:08.040 --> 00:25:09.040 important message 00:25:09.040 --> 00:25:10.140 to everyone 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.880 around us. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.300 And that 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.940 message is that 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.420 we are alienated 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.080 from God, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.800 but God, 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.800 in his great 00:25:17.800 --> 00:25:18.160 love, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.680 wants us to 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.740 be reconciled 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.100 to him. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.220 Now, 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.720 this is something 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.060 that is unique 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.960 to people 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.759 who are in 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.279 Christ and 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.579 who have 00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.220 been made 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.000 new creations 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.139 because if 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.599 you haven't 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.539 experienced this 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.460 reconciliation with 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.079 God yourself, 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.220 it's very, very 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.960 difficult to 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.659 invite others 00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.480 to experience 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.379 that reconciliation 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.119 and new 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.619 relationship. 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.059 But if we are 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.819 new creations 00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:44.039 and we've 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.960 experienced this 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.039 reconciliation with 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.359 God, 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.639 and we have 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.779 this new 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.659 relationship with 00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.139 him and we 00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:50.779 are new 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.419 creations, 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.759 then he says 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.220 that's not 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.799 something that's 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.200 supposed to 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.240 stay with us. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.000 It's something 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.420 that we're 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:56.819 supposed to 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.299 take and 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.860 spread to 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.259 the world 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.819 as his 00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.519 ambassadors. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.120 We are 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:03.100 God's primary 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:03.700 means of 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.259 taking this 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.960 message into 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.400 the world 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.180 if we are 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.860 his people. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.180 Which means 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.799 that ministry 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.539 is actually 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.299 not just the 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.779 job of the 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.240 people on 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.640 staff at 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.080 the church. 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.160 It's the 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.779 job of 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.080 everyone who 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.380 is in 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:18.740 Christ. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.279 People think 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.059 of me as 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.559 the student 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.399 minister or 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:24.919 something along 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.480 those lines, 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:26.819 but actually 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.179 there are way 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:28.919 more students 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:29.339 here who 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:29.599 should be 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.119 doing student 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:30.679 ministry than 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:30.919 me. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.159 Because there 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:32.579 are way more 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.159 students here 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:33.980 than there are 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.259 of me. 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.200 And every 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.940 student who is 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.440 in Christ 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.099 should be a 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.639 minister to 00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:37.980 the other 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.519 students in 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.940 their school. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.279 If you are 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.039 working in a 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.779 business place, 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:43.980 then you should 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.359 be in business 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.159 place ministry. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.899 Because that is 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.619 what Christ has 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.539 called every 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.599 Christian in the 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.399 business place to 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:51.620 be. 00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:53.240 A minister of 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.400 reconciliation who 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.620 as an ambassador 00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.840 of God goes out 00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.800 and tells the 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.460 world around them 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:00.019 that God wants 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.980 a relationship 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.000 with you. 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.440 And this is a 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.580 distinctive mark of 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:06.259 someone who is a 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.820 new creation. 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:08.460 So how do we do 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:08.640 that? 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.060 What does that 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:09.560 look like? 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.380 Maybe if you are 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.500 a parent, you have 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.340 kids, they are 00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:15.600 fighting, and you 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:17.340 talk to them about 00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:17.860 the need to 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.759 reconcile with each 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.620 other, but also at 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.259 the same time 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.040 mention the fact 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.279 that even more 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.019 important than 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.740 needing to reconcile 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.519 with each other, 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.279 they are alienated 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:28.220 from God, and 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.960 they need to be 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.240 reconciled in that 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.859 relationship. 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.519 Maybe if you have 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.399 a disagreement with 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:36.240 someone, something 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.839 that you really 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:40.579 want to win, that 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.980 you learn to 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.839 swallow your pride 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:44.539 and let the other 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.099 person win. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.299 That's weird. 00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.379 People in the 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.119 world won't get 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.319 it. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.859 Maybe they'll even 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.659 ask you questions. 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.059 Why? 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.559 When you had the 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.480 right to win that 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.000 argument, your 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.920 arguments were good. 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.440 The other person 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.279 had no ground to 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.779 stand on. 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.299 If you had pressed 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.000 hard enough, you 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.579 could have won it. 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.659 But it will open up 00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:07.779 opportunities to share 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.019 with them that I 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:11.619 serve a God who, 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.740 when we had wronged 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:16.399 him, came and took 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.700 the initiative to be 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:19.700 reconciled to us. 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:21.440 And I want to 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.500 emulate that to the 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.100 world around me and 00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:26.960 show examples of 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.840 even when I'm right, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:30.519 even when I can get 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.420 my way and I have the 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:34.200 right to do it, that I 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.340 give it up and I serve 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.620 for the sake of 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.600 reconciliation, for the 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.420 sake of maintaining 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.360 that relationship. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.559 relationship. 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.139 And I do it so that you 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.339 can see how amazing of 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.439 an experience it is and 00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:45.299 so that hopefully you 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.779 will want to be 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.219 reconciled to God. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:54.019 And so God calls us to 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.100 be these ministers of 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.240 reconciliation, people 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:58.420 who go out and show 00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:59.380 the world the wonders 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.440 and joys of being 00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:02.579 reconciled to him and 00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:04.460 who call people to be 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.759 reconciled to God. 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.500 So if you're here today 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:09.000 and you haven't yet 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.140 entered into this 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:11.000 relationship with God, 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.940 if you haven't gotten 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:14.360 to the point where you 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:16.480 are now in Christ, I 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.380 would encourage you to 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.860 be reconciled to God. 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.500 And if you're here 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.780 today and you are in 00:29:21.780 --> 00:29:22.660 that relationship with 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.560 Christ and you have 00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:24.760 been reconciled to him, 00:29:25.260 --> 00:29:26.120 my encouragement to 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.560 you is to be a minister 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:28.380 of reconciliation. 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:30.140 Be someone who goes 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:30.860 into the world and 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:32.220 calls others to join in 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.220 that relationship as 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.420 well. 00:29:34.760 --> 00:29:35.700 The second thing I want 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:37.100 us to see about the 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:38.240 way that new creation 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.740 lives differently is in 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.300 verse 21. 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:40.740 It says, 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:42.060 For our sake he made 00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:43.400 him to be sin who knew 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.100 no sin, so that in him 00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:46.520 we might become the 00:29:46.520 --> 00:29:47.360 righteousness of God. 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:47.700 God. 00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.740 Righteousness is a big 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.540 word that we don't 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:51.700 really use today, but it 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:53.020 means having a right 00:29:53.020 --> 00:29:54.140 relationship or a right 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.420 standing with God. 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.140 It says that when we 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.940 were sinners, when we 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.020 were separated from God 00:29:59.020 --> 00:30:00.260 and alienated from him, 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:03.180 Christ came in, even 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:04.000 though he was perfect, 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.940 and took on that 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.460 separation and alienation 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.280 so that we can have a 00:30:08.280 --> 00:30:09.480 new right standing and 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.520 right relationship with 00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:10.800 God. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.000 God. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:14.079 If you are a new creation, 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:17.299 you have a new standing 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.579 and a new relationship 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.240 with God. 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.680 The wording of this 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:22.000 verse is huge. 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.500 Notice it doesn't just 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.399 say we have the 00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:25.299 righteousness of God. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.059 It says we become the 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.139 righteousness of God. 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.039 There's a big difference 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.099 between having something 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.079 and being something. 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:34.099 If I want to go to China, 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.019 I have to go and apply 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:37.779 at the office and then 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:39.899 pay lots of money and I 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:41.000 get a China visa. 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.339 And when I have this 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.079 China visa, if I 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.359 accidentally forget it 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.039 when I'm going to the 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.919 border, they won't let me 00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:47.399 into the country. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.439 If I go into the country 00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.439 and I break the law, they 00:30:50.439 --> 00:30:51.639 can take away the visa. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.000 And even if I follow all 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.099 of the rules perfectly, 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.059 eventually the visa expires 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.159 and I have to put in more 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.500 effort of applying again 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.040 and paying again to get 00:31:01.040 --> 00:31:01.779 another visa. 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.019 In contrast, I was born 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:07.160 in America and I am an 00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:07.519 American. 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:10.380 Unless the USA ceases to 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:11.400 be a country or they 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.720 severely change their 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.620 citizenship laws, I am an 00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:15.940 American. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:18.060 If I lose all of my 00:31:18.060 --> 00:31:20.640 identification, I can go to 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:22.080 the American consulate and 00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:23.420 they will work with me to 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.580 get me a new identification 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:26.300 to prove that I am an 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.660 American. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.960 because it's part of my 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.480 identity. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.380 When you have something, 00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.580 it's like the China visa. 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.720 It can easily be taken 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.040 away. 00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:35.480 You have to put in effort 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.460 to maintain it. 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.660 But when something is part 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:40.600 of your identity, it's part 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.100 of who you are and it can't 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:42.940 be taken away. 00:31:43.800 --> 00:31:45.000 If we have the righteousness 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.620 of God, we have to work. 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.519 We have to try. 00:31:47.800 --> 00:31:48.860 We have to hold on to it 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.640 to maintain it. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.800 But if we are the 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:53.259 righteousness of God, then 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.400 it's something that God has 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.960 implanted in us as part of 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.779 our new identity. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.779 When he makes us new, that 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.880 is part of our new 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.360 identity. 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:02.100 Something that can't be 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:03.700 ripped away from us unless 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:05.880 God ceases to exist or God 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:07.360 changes his rules about how 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.360 to get into his family, 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.680 which the Bible is very 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:11.100 clear will not happen. 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.860 And so when it says that we 00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:15.039 have become the righteousness 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:17.039 of God, we have a new 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.500 identity implanted in us. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:21.400 And if you have that identity, 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:25.279 I encourage you this week to 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:27.180 live in obedience to God and 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:29.779 to avoid sin completely, not 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:31.619 even to flirt with it. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.579 Because the Bible is clear that 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:35.299 as part of our new identity, as 00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:38.319 being in Christ, sin is 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.180 fundamentally opposed to that 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:40.680 new identity. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:42.920 It rips us apart from him. 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:46.360 And if we have been reunited, 00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:50.000 sin is now opposed to our 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.400 identity. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.860 Rebellion against God is now 00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:54.480 fundamentally opposed to who 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.200 we are. 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.140 It's not something that we do 00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.380 to try and earn God's favor. 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.380 It's not something we do, 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.340 obedience isn't something we do 00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:02.600 to try and make God love us 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:02.900 more. 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:05.039 Obedience is something that we 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.640 do because it's part of who we 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:09.140 are now if we are in Christ. 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:14.040 And so my challenge to you, if 00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:15.520 you are new, if you are in 00:33:15.520 --> 00:33:18.259 Christ this week, be a minister 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:22.200 of reconciliation and live as 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.460 the righteousness of God, 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.500 walking in obedience to him, 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:28.580 not even coming close to sin, 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.280 even though it can be so 00:33:30.280 --> 00:33:32.100 appealing and hold out so many 00:33:32.100 --> 00:33:33.140 promises to us. 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:35.440 Remember that if you are a new 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:37.960 creation, sin is fundamentally 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:39.660 opposed to your new identity. 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:43.420 So the big question overarching, 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.460 are you new? 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:47.259 Where are you? 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:48.740 Are you in Christ or not? 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.539 What are you? 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:53.240 Are you a new creation? 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.259 Or are you simply an old 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:57.120 creation holding up a mask, 00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:58.579 trying to make everyone think 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.220 that you're okay? 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:02.200 And if you are a new creation, 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.400 what do you do? 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.120 Are you living in line with your 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:05.680 new identity? 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:12.280 God came to make us new. 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:14.699 God came not to give us the 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:17.059 appearance of life, but to give 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:19.119 us life and life abundantly. 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:22.039 And as we enter into this new 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:24.139 year, I pray that each of us would 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:26.519 see that and experience it and 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.480 live that new life that we've been 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.099 given in Christ. 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:32.599 Or accept the new life that we've 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:34.099 been offered in Christ, if we 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.960 haven't done that yet. 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:36.320 Let's pray. 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:39.500 Father, we thank you for your love 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:39.880 for us. 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:42.519 We thank you for this promise that 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:45.079 if anyone is in Christ, we are new 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.599 creations. 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.860 That it's not something that we have 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:49.920 to earn on our own. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.480 It's not something we have to fake to 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.720 keep up appearances of. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.599 But it's something that you have made 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.699 objectively real in our lives. 00:34:58.619 --> 00:35:00.980 God, I pray that we would recognize 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.740 that reality. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:05.699 That we wouldn't be shaped by what 00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:07.460 we think of ourselves on a 00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:08.780 subjective level, but that we would 00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:12.199 remember the objective truth of the 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:13.579 change that you have brought in our 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:13.940 lives. 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.599 I pray that if anyone's here who 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:17.820 hasn't yet had that change, that 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:20.320 they would see your beauty today and 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.960 fall in love with you and trust in 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.159 you. 00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.920 And I pray that each of us this week 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:27.119 would live in line with who we are in 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.360 you. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:29.740 And in Jesus' name, amen. 00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.979 Amen.