Hebrew 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish
Journey - trip somewhere – expedition
The Old Life in Adam vs. the New Life in Christ
OLD LIFE
Romans 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death. So death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
NEW LIFE
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
ILLUSTRATION> Butterfly-Caterpiller
What happened to the caterpillar?
What is the New Life that we receive from Jesus?
1. Jesus gives me NEW life - NEW life in him
Romans 5:18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
1 Corinthians 15:22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
2. Jesus makes me HOLY and PURE.
Ephesians 1:4-5 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.
3. Jesus makes my HEART His home.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
4. Jesus gives me a GOOD and NOBLE heart.
Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
5. Jesus frees me from the POWER of sin…
Romans 5:17 The sin of this one man, Adam, Caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God’s wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:6-7 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose it’s power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died to Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
How will we do this?
Truth Stories - Stories from God’s Word
Community - Share our stories, victories and struggles with each other. Learn from each other.
Practice - So we develop habits, and patterns becoming more and more like Jesus in all ways of our lives
