New Life

Another part of having a foundation is having a “life changing” experience. Remember, we don’t offer an empty practicing of religion, but an experience that changes lives!

We use the term life changing for all kinds of superficial things. Maybe a meal we had a new restaurant, a new phone app, a new beverage… however Biblically a life changing experience was much more profound than that.

When it comes to having a life changing experience there’s probably no better New Testament example than the apostle Paul.

Acts 9:1–19 KJV 1900

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Saul who describes himself as the Pharisee of Pharisees and Hebrew of Hebrews already had a stellar understanding of the Old Testament scriptures and knowledge of God. He consented and endorsed the death by stoning of Steven because he thought he was acting righteously. Yet we read here that Saul who would later be known as the apostle Paul received a life changing experience.

Building a spiritual life and following in the footsteps of Jesus is not about adding a new philosophy to our life or tweaking our own personal belief system.

Surrendering for Radical Change

We must be absolutely willing to submit to a radical, re orientating, self surrendering change that makes Jesus the center and essence of our lives.

Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

We are called to put on what? (verse 24)

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In this passage Paul called for the new believers to no loner what? (verse 17)

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Walking or living in our vanity alienates us from who? ( verse 18)

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Why do we sometimes resist living life God’s way? What are some small steps we can take to embrace new life in Christ?

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We discussed in our last lesson about how the disciples of Jesus were ordinary men that came from different backgrounds and stations in life. This would create conflict in almost any group setting, and there was some, however the disciples of Jesus had answered a call to follow Him laying everything else aside, and making the Him top priority in their lives. This mimized their difference and maximized their purpose.

Jesus is still calling for followers today and for them to embrace radical change.

Undergoing a New Birth

When we decide to follow Jesus, he doesn’t just make some repairs or patch things up, He offers us New Life!

Scripture promises us the provision of:

The ability to repent of our sins.

The complete removal and forgiveness of those sins by being immersed in waters of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

To receive the gift of God’s indwelling Spirit inside of us for the power to live a new life.

Again the Bible tells us of someone receiving a radical revelation like Paul. A man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, was taking a night class from Jesus.

When Nicodemus recognized that there was something special about Jesus, what revelation did Jesus give him? (verse 3)

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Why was Nicodemus confused? (verse 4)

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How did Jesus clarify the meaning of being born again? (verse 5)

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Why do you think Jesus used the analogy of being born again as way to explain salvation and new life?

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Embracing Our Heritage as Children of God

Romans 8:1–2 KJV 1900

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:14–17 KJV 1900

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

When Adam sinned in the beginning, it broke mankind’s perfect relationship with God. When we are born again, all things become new and we are the children of God.

When we walk in the Spirit, what is no longer a part of our lives? (verse 1)

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Who are the sons (children) of God? (verse 14)

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If we are children of God, we are also what? (verse 17)

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What do you think it means to suffer with Jesus?

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Following the Call to Discipleship

John 15:1–11 KJV 1900

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

The word discipline comes directly from the word disciple.

Jesus clearly tells us that we must follow His example of abiding by God’s statutes. He connects this with abiding in His love. We often talk about the love of God, but what about our love for Him?

Rules without relationship brings rebellion.

If we find ourselves not wanting to follow God’s commands, we should check our relationship with Him. Are we praying, reading His word, learning of Him. When a loving father asks something of his children, if the child has a close relationship with him, they will do it gladly from a willingness of love.

In this passage, what does Jesus us and Himself to? (verses 1-2)

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What does Jesus say will indicate that we are His disciples? (verse 8)

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Jesus invites us to abide in Him; how are we to do so? (verse 10)

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What will we receive by following Jesus’ directions? What are the benefits of that in our lives today?

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There’s no one that God can’t save. God can forgive anyone, even a man that was a blasphemer (see 1 Timothy 1:11-12) . But God’s love can’t leave us the way we are. It compels us to leave a life of decay, and to receive New Life. It takes a Saul, and creates them into Paul!

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