December 5, 2017. 2 Corinthians 5-9.

 

If all things were equal (cost, insurance, depreciation) most of us would choose a new car over a used car.  The same would be true for pretty much anything in our life.  Instead of something that is used and restored, we would prefer something that is new. Today’s passage is about “newness.” Not used and restored, but new. And it is talking about those who have believed in Jesus Christ.

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

If we are in Christ, because we have believed and received Him, then we are a new creation.  Not used and restored, but new. And what does a shiny new person in Christ look like?

2Corinthians 5:6-8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Living life takes on an entirely “new” outlook. We walk by faith. We don’t live our daily life by what we see and experience, but by faith in what our Lord wants us to do.  

That’s new! 

Likewise, death takes on an entirely “new” outlook. Living in this body means that we are absent from our Lord.  Being absent from this body, because of death, means that we are now in the presence of the Lord. 

That’s new!

2Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him (the Lord).  

Our aim also takes on a “new” outlook.  What we aim for, what we strive earnestly for, what we labor for, is to be well pleasing to our Lord.  

That’s new!

When we get anything new, often we will follow instructions and guidelines in order to keep the item in some sort of pristine condition.  We wash, polish and regularly vacuum the new car.  We regularly wipe the fingerprints and other crud from the screen of our new ipad or iphone.  In that new home we avoid dropping things on the new carpet or banging items into the new walls.

When it comes to the new us, with our new aim, here are the instructions and guidelines we follow.

2Corithians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  

This is the new way we live our new life, until we are present with the Lord.