Our Hallway

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Cor 5:17 - ESV

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

2 Cor 5:17 - LB

Question: Does anyone remember what it was like the moment after they got saved. The moment you realised you were a Christian, that Jesus had come into your heart and you were a new person, what did that feel like?

Pauls Mysteries

1. The mystery of Jew and Gentiles are made one.

2. The second was the mystery of the New Creation message.

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—

the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 1:24-27 - NIV

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. …Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Cor 5:17-19 - NIV

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Lao-tzu

Salvation

Salvation involves two things: It is the act of turning from one’s sin in repentance and turning to Christ in faith.

SalvationWe confess our sins - If we tell Him our sins, He is faithful and we can depend on Him to forgive us of our sins. He will make our lives clean from all sin. 1 John 1:9 - NLT

SalvationThen by faith we believe - Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ… Gal 2:16 - NLT

We receive something that Jesus has done

FOR us

But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favour, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].

It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favour with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favour).

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

2 Cor 5:18-19;21 - AMP

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 - AMP

Jesus also does something IN us

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

Gal 5:16 - AMP

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 14:20 - ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5 - ESV

US IN CHRIST: this is often called our LEGAL STANDINGRomans 8:11 Corinthians 1:30Ephesians 1:3Colossians 1:21-22

JUSTIFICATIONOur Righteousness in Jesus Message

CHRIST IN US: this is called our

LITERAL STATE

Galatians 3:20Ephesians 3:17

Colossians 1:271 John 4:4

REGENERATIONNew Creation Message

I am a Saint: I am right with God

through my faith in what Jesus Christ has done FOR

ME. This is US IN CHRIST.

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Romans 3:21-25 - NLT

I am in the process of being changed by the Holy

Spirit’s influence in me:Jesus Christ working IN ME

This is CHRIST IN ME.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 1So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Cor 3:16-18 - NLT

Homework: Read the book of Ephesians:

Chapters 1 to 3 - talks about our position in Christ: seated with Christ

Chapters 4 to 6:9 - talks about our life in the world: walking with Christ

Chapter 6:10-24 - talks about our attitude to the enemy: our standing in Christ

Glory to you, O Lord our God, Your love call us to be your people.

By sharing our many and diverse gifts we share in your mission. We ask you, Lord, to shape us into a community of faith.

Help us to throw off and stop anything that hinders us becoming more like you. Nourish us by your word that we may grow into the image of Jesus.

Through the power of your Holy Spirit, heal us that we, in turn, may heal the wounded. Form us to be instruments of love, justice, and peace in our land, and send us to creatively proclaim your saving work.

Renew us, Lord, that we may in turn renew the face of the earth.

Amen