Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen, 01 Jan 2016
2Cor 5:16-21
“16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 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. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
God’s words are living words. To some they bring life but to others death.
God’s word says that He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Is 65:17-19; Rev 21:1-4), where there will be no more weeping or crying, sin or death. How will that world be like? If sin or death is present in that world then that world will be the same as this one. But there will be no sin or death.
Now our word says that if anyone is in Christ Jesus he is a new creation. God says that He makes everything new. The old is gone the new has come. Does your life testify to this word that everything has become new?
We’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation from God. Is that true in your life that there is nothing between you and your neighbour? It’s a disgrace if you call yourself a Christian but things of the old life is found in your life.
There was a missionary who lived in a foreign land, learning their language and living among them. As time passed, he eventually passed away. Another missionary heard that this missionary has passed away and decided to go and continue the work. As he told them about the life and work of Jesus the people said to him that they know the man he spoke about and they could even take him to his grave. They referred to that missionary that lived among them.
If your life is not like Jesus, cry to God to change your life that you’re no longer lukewarm, for He said that He will spew out the one that’s lukewarm.
Although people speak all manner of evil against God, if they see your faithfulness year after year, they will be ashamed and lose their strength and acknowledge that indeed God is with you, and God’s Name will be glorified.
The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. They wanted to stone her according to the law of Moses and asked Jesus about it. He answered them that the one without sin should cast the first stone, and then He stooped down and wrote in the sand. They all left ashamed, and only the woman remained. He asked her if no one condemned her. He then told her that He also doesn’t condemn her but that she must sin no more. That which Jesus said to her was crystal clear. She had to stop with her sin.
In Ezekiel and Revelations we read of the river of the water of life, where the fruit trees grow at its banks and bear fruit all the year. Jesus expects fruit from your life whether in season or out of season. Don’t make a compromise with this world. Jesus will have none of that and you will be thrown out. There are good and bad seasons. You must bear fruit in both. You can’t blame the next person. God works in your life and you’re responsible for your own life.
If you claim to be in Christ but the old things are still found in your life you’re a liar. Let God be true and every man a liar. Let the old things pass away. Woe to you if the old is not passed away.
German translation