We’re looking at the gospel, that God is doing something new in the world. And how God invites each of us to be a part of it. And the first way to do this is to . . .
1. Believe
Now, it’s obvious enough that something is wrong with the world. We see it every day, evil, injustice, suffering and death. And we don’t just see it, we experience it ourselves. Its in the news headlines all the time: wars, murders, theft, hunger and oppression. Human suffering is all around us.
But Jesus came with good news. God has begun to act through him to make all things new! He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand . . . ” – Mark 1:15. Jesus is saying, its begun; and its begun with my coming.
And God confirmed that he was right:
- God worked through Jesus’ ministry in amazing ways to manifest the kingdom, through healings, the casting out of demons and transformed lives.
- And God raised Jesus up from an unjust death and made him Lord of all things.
God’s kingdom has begun with Jesus – his ministry and especially with his resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection heralds the decisive inbreaking of God’s new creation; of resurrection life.
In Jesus, God has begun to do away with the old – the evil and the suffering of our world, including death, and God has begun to bring in the new – life, joy and peace. And Jesus calls us to “. . . believe the good news” – Mark 1:15.
To be a part of this new thing that God is doing, this new creation, choose to believe that God is making all things new through Jesus.
2. Turn
We not only experience evil in our lives, we also practice evil. We are by nature self-centered. And because of this we often harm others, we practice injustice, we are cruel to others. If we wonder why the world is like it is, we only need to look at ourselves. We are the problem.
So Jesus came to teach us a new way of living.
- He lived a life of love for God, doing what God wanted not what he wanted. He was “God centered” in his attitudes and actions.
- And he lived a life of humble service to others, sacrificially loving everyone, including his enemies who killed him. He was “other oriented” in his attitudes and actions.
And Jesus not only modeled this for us, he calls us to turn from our ways, to learn his new way. He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” -Matthew 4:17. He calls for a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in our attitudes and actions.
To be a part of God’s new creation, turn from your old life and follow the new way of Jesus.
3. Receive
God hates injustice and evil more than anyone; all the pain and suffering that it causes. That’s why God has decreed that the penalty for wrongdoing is death.
But the depth of God’s love for us is beyond understanding. And so as God looks at us, under his judgment, he has taken pity on us. God doesn’t want us to die.
So God sent Jesus to set us free from his own decree of death by dying in our place. Because of this, we are given another chance! Now we can be made new ourselves.
- We are made new by receiving the forgiveness for our sins. All the old is wiped away. This allows us to begin a new relationship with God and to have a new start on life.
- We are also made new by receiving the Spirit of God. The Spirit gives us a new heart and a new power to walk just like Jesus walked. We don’t have to live like we used to. We have new life.
Jesus calls us to receive these gifts of new life when he says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
To be a part of God’s new creation, receive God’s gifts of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.
4. Belong
Jesus didn’t just come to make individuals new. Jesus came to gather a new nation; a movement made up of people from all tribes and nations and languages – all made new through him. This community is different from all the nations of the earth because it is under his lordship.
And Jesus called his people to bring others in so they can belong as well. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus wants everyone to be a part; to be baptized and to learn his ways.
This community is Jesus’ family. We become brothers and sisters in the Lord. Like any family should, it will strengthen and encourage you as you follow Jesus in your new life.
To be a part of God’s new creation, belong to God’s new community.
5. Wait
That’s because God’s new creation will only be complete when Jesus returns on the final day.
- Then evil, suffering and death will be destroyed forever.
- Then there will be resurrection to eternal life, joy and peace.
Now, no one knows when this will happen. And God’s mercy is such that he delays, waiting for more to receive. And so we need to wait until God is finished. As Jesus said, “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” – Mark 13:13.
As we wait we must continue to be faithful to:
- Believe – for our faith will be tested.
- Turn – from our failures and walk again in the way of Jesus.
- Receive – forgiveness for our sins and the strengthening, renewing presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
- Belong – to be a part and to be strengthened and to strengthen others in the community of Jesus.
If we do this, the Lord Jesus will gladly welcome us into God’s new creation, on that final day.
To be a part of God’s new creation, faithfully wait for Jesus to return.
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This is the gospel, the good news of Jesus. I trust that wherever you are at – whether you need to believe, turn, receive, belong or continue faithfully waiting – that you will receive the word this morning by acting on it and moving forward.
William Higgins
Christian teaching 