Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. for Sunday February 16, 2014
Text Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move ,and have our being; as certain of your poets have said,(Aratus of Tarsus270 B.C) For we are also his offspring".
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace be with you".
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary page 135 on 2 Cor.5:17 "The believer has died with Christ. Christ is his Substitute, has born his sins, has made complete satisfaction for his guilt. By faith he is so united to Christ that what Christ has done is imparted to him. He is thus new in relation to God. He was condemned; now he is justified, The believer partakes of the life of Christ. He is "risen with Christ"(Col.3:1).he has received the Spirit of Christ. having been justified, he is now being sanctified. The likeness of the Redeemer is being wrought upon and in him by the Holy Ghost. There is thus a "new creation". The old life was a life of sin, but the new life to which he has risen is a life of righteousness. The love of Christ constrains him, to live, not to himself, but to Christ".
In the believer's spirit; speech; character; acts; plans, purposes, desires, ect. " All things are become new". There is no part of the believer's life from which the newness should be absent. Whilst not yet perfect, manifestly a great change has taken place:"old things are passed away"