Are You Living

1
Are You Living the New Life?
2
Taking Stock of Our Christian Lives.

• Every Christian should be living the new life
  in Christ, yet some have unwittingly returned to
  the old one!
• We all need to be reminded of the great spiritual
  significance of baptism.
• By reviewing our baptism and the life we now live
  today, we put ourselves to an extremely important
  test!

3
2 Corinthians 135 (NASB)

• Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith
  examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this
  about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you
  unless indeed you fail the test?

4
The New Life Begins at Baptism!

• There is a spiritual connection to Christ at
  baptism (Rom. 64).

5
Romans 64 (NASB)

• Therefore we have been buried with Him through
  baptism into death, in order that as Christ was
  raised from the dead through the glory of the
  Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
  cf. Col. 212 Note Baptism
  from BAPTIZO immersion (Thayers Greek
  Lexicon)

6
Baptism is a serious act for people who can and
will take it seriously!

• Baptism is for penitent believers only (e.g.,
  Acts 238 836-38).
• The person who chooses to be baptized has decided
  to repent of sin (or crucify the old man) and
  (as a person dead in sin) be buried with Jesus
  through baptism.

7
Faith Repentance Baptism Salvation / New
Life
8
Baptism (a burial or immersion in water)
represents the death, burial, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ.

• Romans 64 (NASB) Therefore we have been buried
  with Him through baptism into death, in order
  that as Christ was raised from the dead through
  the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
  newness of life.

9
Death Burial Resurrection
The Cross of Christ is Gods offer of Eternal
Life Baptism is our acceptance.  

10
Galatians 327 (NKJV)

• For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
  have put on Christ.
  - cf. Act 238 2216 1 Pet
  321 Eph 13

11
The New Life Begins at Baptism!

• There is a spiritual connection to Christ at
  baptism (Rom. 64).
• Baptism is not just about being saved, but about
  the start of a new life!
• Christians need reminders of the spiritual
  significance of the baptism they once received!

12
Romans 63-4 (NASB)

• 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have
  been baptized into Christ Jesus have been
  baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been
  buried with Him through baptism into death, in
  order that as Christ was raised from the dead
  through the glory of the Father, so we too might
  walk in newness of life.

13

• Our baptism into Christ is not an event merely
  to be affectionately remembered for salvation,
  but an event that altered our future for life!

14
No one can begin the new life in Christ until he
has been baptized!

• Romans 64 (NASB) Therefore we have been buried
  with Him through baptism into death, in order
  that as Christ was raised from the dead through
  the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
  newness of life.

15
The New Life Means a Changed Life!

• A discontinuation of sin.

16
Romans 61-2 (NASB)

• 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in
  sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be!
  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
  cf. Jude 4 Titus 211-12

17
Romans 61-2 (NASB)

• 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in
  sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be!
  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

18
Romans 63 (NASB)

• Or do you not know that all of us who have been
  baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized
  into His death?

19
Romans 65-6 (NASB)

• 5 For if we have become united with Him in the
  likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also
  in the likeness of His resurrection, 6
  knowing this, that our old self was crucified
  with Him, that our body of sin might be done away
  with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
  - cf. Gal. 220

20
The New Life Means a Changed Life!

• A discontinuation of sin.
• Following in the footsteps of Jesus.

21
Imitating the Raised Christ

• Romans 65, 8, 11 (NASB) 5 For if we have become
  united with Him in the likeness of His death,
  certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His
  resurrection, 8 Now if we have died with Christ,
  we believe that we shall also live with Him 11
  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin,
  but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
  - 1 John 26

22
The New Life Means a Changed Life!

• A discontinuation of sin.
• Following in the footsteps of Jesus.
• Freedom from the slavery of sin

23
Romans 66-7 (NASB)

• 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified
  with Him, that our body of sin might be done away
  with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
  7 for he who has died is freed from sin. cf.
  John 831-36

24
Ephesians 17 (NASB)

• In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
  forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the
  riches of His grace,

25
Romans 617-18 (NASB)

• 17 But thanks be to God that though you were
  slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart
  to that form of teaching to which you were
  committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you
  became slaves of righteousness.

26

• The promise of a new life rebukes the
  defeatist who says change is too difficult.
  In Christ, we CAN
  live new and better lives!

27

• Are You Living the New Life?

28
Are you living the new life as a disciple of
Jesus?

• Acts 1126 (NASB) the disciples were first
  called Christians in Antioch.
• A disciple is a learner one who follows ones
  teaching (Vines Expository Dictionary)

29
Matthew 1024 (NASB)

• A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a
  slave above his master.
• - Are you committed to learning from your
  Teacher, your Master Jesus? (e.g., Mat. 51ff
  John 1837b)

30

• The new life requires a dedication to learning
  all that you can from your new Master!

31
Matthew 1129-30 (KJV)

• 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I
  am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find
  rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and
  my burden is light.
  cf. 1 John 53 2
  Tim. 215
  Note Yoke servitude (a law
  or obligation) Strongs Greek Dictionary

32
John 831 (NLT)

• Jesus said to the people who believed in him,
  "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying
  my teachings.

33
Colossians 317 (NASB)

• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
  the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through
  Him to God the Father.

34
Disciples are also imitators of their teacher
(Vines Expository Dictionary).

• To be like Jesus, we must answer His call of
  self-denial.

35
Luke 923 (NASB)

• And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes
  to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
  up his cross daily, and follow Me.

36
1 Peter 221 (NASB)

• For you have been called for this purpose, since
  Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
  example for you to follow in His steps,

37
Imitators of Jesus are radically
different than the rest of
the world!

• Genuine, not superficial, love for one another
  (John 1512-13).
• Love for enemies, not hatred (Mat 548)
• Compassion for sinners instead of mere disgust
  (Mat. 913, 36).
• Correcting, not condoning error (Mt 23)
• Anger for sin (John 213-17 Mark 35).
• Commitment to prayer / worship (Mark 135)

38
Galatians 220 (NASB)

• I have been crucified with Christ and it is no
  longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and
  the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
  faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and
  delivered Himself up for me.

39
How have you changed since you began the new life?

• What is the difference between your former life
  and the new life you now have in Christ? (Eph.
  421-24 cf. Col. 39-10)

40
Ephesians 421-22 (NASB)

• 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been
  taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22
  that, in reference to your former manner of life,
  you lay aside the old self, which is being
  corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

41
Ephesians 423-24 (NASB)

• 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your
  mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the
  likeness of God has been created in righteousness
  and holiness of the truth.

42
The New Self

• Are you the same person you were before?
• Have you changed?
• Are you still changing and for the better?

43
How have you changed since you began the new life?

• What do you see when you look into the mirror
  of Gods word? Do you see Christ in you? (James
  122-25 2 Cor. 135)
• Have the people who have known you over the years
  seen positive changes in your life? (Mat. 516)
• Do you believe God has seen positive changes in
  you? (Ps. 1391ff.)

44
1 Thessalonians 41 (NASB)

• Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort
  you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from
  us instruction as to how you ought to walk and
  please God (just as you actually do walk), that
  you may excel still more.

45
We must work to make spiritual changes and grow.

• Our faith (2 Thes. 13), love (Phil. 19 1 Thes.
  312), and good works (1 Cor. 1558) should
  continue to increase as time goes on.

46

• Each person is either growing
  in Christ
  OR
  he is digressing and getting weaker
  spiritually (2 Pet 18-9).

47

• Spiritual CHANGE for the better will come for
  every Christian who walks by faith each day
  (2 Cor. 416)

48
What new things have come into your life?

• 2 Cor. 517 (NASB) Therefore if any man is in
  Christ, he is a new creature (creation KJV)
  the old things passed away behold, new things
  have come.

49
What new things have come into your
life?

• A new way of thinking (Rm 122 Phil 48)
• New values priorities (Mt 619-21, 33)
• A new purpose (Eph 210 Eccl 1213)
• A new lifestyle (1 Cor. 69-11)
• A new perspective on marriage family (Mat.
  191-12 Eph 64)
• New friends (2 Cor 614-17 1 Cor 1533 1 Pet.
  44)
• A new goal (Phil. 33-14)

50

• Is the aim of your new life to seek the things
  which are above?

51
Colossians 31-4 (NASB)

• 1 If then you have been raised up with Christ,
  keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
  seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind
  on the things above, not on the things that are
  on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is
  hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is
  our life, is revealed, then you also will be
  revealed with Him in glory. - cf. Col. 212

52
Philippians 314 (NASB)

• I press on toward the goal for the prize of the
  upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
  cf. Phil. 123 John
  141-3 1 Thes. 417 Rev. 221-5

53

• The New Life is the Best Life There is, Leading
  Us to Eternal Life!