Spring is the season of new life in more ways than one. Whether you receive it or not, the resurrection of Jesus has a profound impact on your life. Just like spring, Easter brings to you and me the promise of abundant life and a new beginning. No matter where you are or what you have done, the beauty of the resurrection gives you a fresh start. No one knows the truth about new beginnings more than Paul, who was a ruthless hitman that made home invasions and murder his modus operandi. But in one moment on the road to Damascus, he had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus and all things became new. He later penned the truths to a young and growing church in Corinth, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (1 Corinthians 5:17).

 

New Creations

  • We all have a past

    We’ve all made our share of mistakes, had poor attitudes, and may even fight against things that we wish we would do. In his book, Three Battlegrounds, Francis Frangipane says, “Let us recognize, before we do warfare, that the areas we hide in darkness are the very areas of our future defeat.”

    Honesty before God acknowledges that we all have a past and forces us to face the things that haunt us. We all have broken areas that the Lord wants to make whole. These broken areas are there because we, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

  • We all need a new beginning

    Due to our past, we are out of relationship with the Lord and need a new beginning. The degree that you understand the problem will determine how much you want the solution and how much your pursue it. Paul is trying to help us realize that we all have a problem and God wants to solve it. He has made a way for you because He loves you and He doesn’t want you to be separated from Him. The opportunity of a new life is for anyone that would call on the name of Jesus not matter their past list of failures and mistakes.

    It’s human nature to compare, and many people compare themselves to others hoping to convince themselves that they’re doing just fine. The Bible tells us that the Lord will not compare us with any other human, but that our comparison will be with Himself. The only way to be right with God is to receive Jesus’ grace and surrender our lives to Him. This is when the Father no longer holds the list of of sins against us because He sees His precious son, Jesus, in us. Jesus knew all of humanity would be out due to their sin, and paid the penalty on the cross so that we would have new life.

Easter is About New Beginnings

Jesus rose after three days and now holds the keys of hell and death. If we do our part, He offers a new start and a new beginning. The Bible says that if we recognize our need for Christ and accept Him, we get a new beginning. Two things happen:

The old is gone: Whoever you are and whatever you are facing, they are gone. In fact, Colossians 2:14 tells us that Jesus, “cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” It is finished. It is completed, done, over, paid for, and you never have to worry about it again.

All things become new: This is a supernatural spontaneous act that happens when you give your life to Jesus. You get a new identity and become part of the family of God. He also gives you a new nature and a new power becomes available to you to overcome. If anyone is in Christ, the past is gone and you immediately become new. Not only do you have a place in heaven, you have abundant life.

 

The Simple Gospel

Jesus made it so simple. He wants to take us from where we are into a new space where we are in relationship with Him. Acknowledge the fact that you fall short, believe that Jesus went to the cross and died for you and me, tell the Lord that you need His forgiveness in your life, and ask Jesus to become your Lord and Savior. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (1 Corinthians 5:17).