Word of Salvation – Vol. 23 No. 41 – July 1977

The 'Old' Replaced By The 'New'

Sermon by Rev. Adrian Leenman, Th.Grad. on 2Cor.5:17
Scripture Reading: Rom.8:1-11
Psalter Hymnal: 378; 383; 407; 377; 493

(This Sermon has been prepared for Youth Camps up to approx. 15 years of age. Questions as set out may be used, later in the day, by Camp Leader/Head Counsellor to foster discussion).

Counsellors, Leaders, boys and girls,
At times we hear or read about people who buy an old homestead with the idea of 'doing-it-up'.
Or an old motor car is bought which is pulled down and re-built into a shiny and valuable Vintage car....!
Why would people do this?? Well, some people say: 'It is exciting work'. It is intriguing to bring it back to its original form and condition.
We can well imagine that one sees it as a creative work; and yet it is only the giving of a new appearance to something which was there already.
The newly bought homestead is not going to be re-built, no, it is given a 'face-lift'; the old car is not being assembled for the first time, no, but its condition is renewed.
Is it not true, boys and girls, that all things in life grow old? Woodwork needs a coat of paint from time to time; metal needs polishing or to be treated against rust, other things need repairs or replacement.
But this, 'getting old' does not apply only to material things. It applies also to people..... even a friendship is sometimes in need of a touch-up.
Also relationships can deteriorate and become either boring or no longer appreciated and are therefore, in need of renewal.
Today we have taken words from the Bible which also speak of 'newness' and of the 'old' which has been replaced.
We are going to find out what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote this. No doubt, we shall be encouraged because of the great value of these words.
We notice that Paul speaks of a 'new creation': .....’therefore IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATION'.
So Paul writes about people becoming 'new' or 'being renewed'. That brings us to the question: But why is man in need of renewal?
IT IS NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE PEOPLE GROW OLD, for we cannot stop the process of growth when we are young - - - nor can we stop the process of showing signs of getting older either.....!
THE FACT WHETHER WE ARE YOUNG OR NOT SO YOUNG IS NOT SO VERY IMPORTANT....! Although people often try to 'look young' and so they may dye their hair or wear a wig; or dress in sportsman's clothes, but none of this changes one's age.
PAUL HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO MAN'S ATTEMPTS TO GIVE HIMSELF A NEW LOOK.
But before we are going to see what the answer is we must FIRST find out WHY MAN NEEDS RENEWING.....!
So far we have said: It is not so much because teenagers are becoming adults and adults grow older, BUT MAN NEEDS RENEWING BECAUSE OF HIS SIN.
Surely, man was not created the way he shows himself today. Oh, no, MAN HAS FALLEN INTO SIN and because of that fact man has lost HIS QUALITIES AND HIS BEAUTY - just like that homestead which used to be the pride of its owners and just like that vintage car which used to 'purr like a kitten' in its 'good old days'.
Now today the Bible comes to us in 2Corinthians 5:17 and says: "You may enjoy being a new creation”....... re-made people...... done-up...... reconstructed...... nicely decorated and made beautiful.......!
Is not that a wonderful thought?? You and I may receive newness of life AND THIS IS NOT JUST A FACE-LIFT..... Oh, no, IT IS A CHANGE OF HEART....!!!
It is such a radical change
- that we see things differently
- and have new and different interests
- a new outlook on life
- going in a different and NEW direction
- receiving new zest for living and greater zeal for work and study.....!
However, Paul sets a condition for such newness......
Newness to the homestead comes by way of repairs to the woodwork and a coat of paint, wall paper and the like.
The condition which is set for us is the WE MUST BE IN CHRIST..... as the text says: if anyone is in Christ HE IS A NEW CREATION.....!
We must seek to understand what it means: TO BE IN CHRIST; the idea is very much like when a gardener inoculates a twig of some tree into a larger branch of another tree;
We call that inoculation. The Bible uses the word: 'ingrafted' for the same idea.
It means that the twig HAS BECOME AN INSEPARABLE PART OF THE TREE...... The twig is now PART of the tree and DRAWS MOISTURE FROM IT AND SO LIVES.
To be IN CHRIST has several results. It means that, because the Christian is united with Christ, he is a FOLLOWER and DISCIPLE.
It means that the Christian lives out of Christ JUST AS THE NEWLY INGRAFTED TWIG LIVES OFF THE TREE.....! It does not only mean to live... live OFF CHRIST, but to LIVE FOR HIM, because we belong to Him.... and love Him...!
There is even more to it; the Christian has part in the finished work of the Lord Jesus, the Christian reaps the benefits of that work.
THESE BENEFITS ARE APPLIED TO THE CHRISTIAN.....!
Do you know what these benefits are and how they come to the believer?
They are the BLESSINGS OF SALVATION
OF FORGIVENESS....
OF BEING HEAVEN-BOUND....
OF SONSHIP TO GOD....!!
And why do these benefits come to the believer?
It is because of the fulfilled work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross:
this Lord Jesus performed the work of bringing PEOPLE TO GOD....
people who had fallen away from Him because of sin.....
the Lord Jesus died for people who love Him.
That is what the Lord Jesus did ― HE DIED ― and so made the benefits of forgiveness and salvation COME TO US.
But we must be INGRAFTED IN CHRIST for that, and truly believe that He came for that very purpose.
Then we will also realise that it is not only a matter of accepting these benefits with thankfulness; It is ALSO a matter of DOING AWAY WITH CERTAIN THINGS.
Think again of the homestead ― WHATEVER LOOKS SHABBY, whatever is an eye-sore, MUST GO – BECAUSE RESTORATION IS THERE.....! Likewise whatever is unwanted, whatever is not according to God's will MUST GO, because the newness of the Christian life is there.
This newness, this re-creation is so real and so radical and so revolutionary, it is more than a 'face-lift' ― IT IS A COMPLETE CHANGE.
All things which are signs of our sinfulness and disobedience are affected by the newness of being IN CHRIST.
The text says: the old has passed away, behold the new has come...!
Once again: the new invades the territory of the old and DRIVES OUT whatever is not in line with BEING IN CHRIST.
Can you think of something which is really not helpful to you while being in Christ?
Do your friends at school make it difficult for you to be or to REMAIN in Christ?
If so, then you must let go of them. Or are you known to give cheek to your teachers or your parents?
The newness of being in Christ means that you draw from Christ and LIVE FOR HIM and that newness should SHOW ITSELF favourably....!
We must also remember that the Christian newness needs servicing. Just like machinery.
Or do you think that the Christian is like a ball-bearing which is packed with grease before leaving the factory and gives a life-time of service?
The Christian life needs constant attention and the newness we have in Christ needs feeding.
We all need to understand the Bible better and see the Christ of the Scriptures clearer before us. We need instruction and friendship and fellowship.
WE NEED TO GROW IN THE NEWNESS WE HAVE IN CHRIST... But above all, we may be happy and deeply thankful for what the Lord Jesus says: He says that, if we are ingrafted in Him, we are a NEW CREATION..... the old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.
Like newness has come to the old home-stead.
But to the believer it is a newness with a difference.
It is a newness which involves a complete change.
It is a newness which will bring us to heaven ― because one is IN CHRIST.
Amen.

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
1. In what way is the believer still the same after having become a new creation?
2. In what way is the homestead still the same after restoration?
3. Why are things always in need of maintenance? Explain your answer.
4. 'The words of the text are final'. Could you comment on this?
5. What condition does Paul set for being a new creation?
6. Being ‘in Christ' and 'inoculation' are compared. Explain the comparison in your own words.
7. "The life of the believer is in need of maintenance.” Explain your answer.
8. What is there in your life which contradicts the idea of 'being in Christ'? What is the solution to it?