Introduction:

1. We ended last year with Christ’s glory overtaking this world’s gloom.

2. In this new year, we focus on living as His new creations (cf. Ephesians 2:10).

Discussion:

I. A New Compulsion (5:14-16, 20-21)

A. The compulsion for all that lies ahead is Christ’s love shown in dying for us (5:14, 20).

B. The expectation is that we would live for Him rather than for ourselves (5:15, 21)

II. A New Creation (5:17)

A. The condition of receiving the blessing is to be in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

B. Those who enter this new location become a new creation (Romans 3:24; 6:11, 23; 8:1-2, 31; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 2:14).

III. A New Relationship (5:18-21)

A. The ultimate result of our new location and re-creation is reconciliation to God.

B. Inherent to reconciliation is the previous brokenness of the relationship (Romans 5:6-10).

C. The sinless One took on the likeness of sinful men to bear away their sins on the cross (cf. Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24).

D. So, all who are “in Him” become God’s righteousness (5:21; cf. Romans 1:17; 3:21-26).

1. This re-creation was not simply to warm our hearts, though it is sure to do so.

2. It was a re-creation whereby former slaves of sin become slaves of good works which He intended for us all along (Romans 6:15-18; Ephesians 2:10).

3. Living as the new creatures we are to be is our singular focus moving forward.