THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Ben Bailey:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
Timothy Sparks:
And I’m Timothy Sparks. This lesson is brought to you by individuals and congregations of the churches of Christ. We hope that you will visit the churches of Christ in your area and let them know how much you appreciate their support of this broadcast. If you have a Bible question or a spiritual concern, they would be happy to help you with it. If you would like a Bible study, they also would be glad to help you with that. We, too, would like to be of service. Visit us on our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, where you will find both streaming audio and video lessons that you can download and study. We also are making available CDs of these broadcasts, as well as VHS and DVDs. We will be glad to send any of these to you free of charge. We want to help you in any way we can.
In 2 Corinthians 5, we learn an important message about Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. In Christ, we are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. If a person is not in Christ, then, conversely, he is not a new creation, and is still in his sins. Christianity has been called “the land of beginning again,” because it’s a place where we can start afresh, get in a right relationship with God, and press forward toward the goal of Heaven. In 2 John 2, we learn that, in Christ, we have an Advocate, One Who will plead on our behalf before the Father. He is the propitiation [substitutionary sacrifice] not just for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world. Ephesians 1:3 teaches us that all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are available to us through Christ. There are no spiritual blessings available to those who are outside of Christ.
Ben Bailey:
It is critically important to be “in Christ.” In 2 Timothy 1:9-11, we are told that salvation, and God’s grace, are available to us only in Christ. A person must be in Christ in order to be saved, and it is only in Christ that we can obtain spiritual blessings. Romans 8 explains that there is “no condemnation” to those who are in Christ. But how does one get into Christ. We learn that we are a new creation “in Christ.” We learn that our salvation is found only “in Christ.” We learn that our sins are forgiven “in Christ.” So how, exactly, does one get “in Christ”? The answer is provided in Galatians 3:27, “For as many you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” When we decide to obey the Gospel and become a Christian by believing in Christ, repenting of our sins, confessing Christ before men, and being baptized for the remission of our sins, it is then—at our baptism—that we are put “in Christ.” Surely, this fact alone stresses the importance of baptism. It is not our intention here to overemphasize baptism. Each step in the process of salvation is important. But today, some omit the act of baptism, and suggest that it is not essential to salvation. If that is true, how, then, do we get “in Christ”? The New Testament mentions no other way of getting into Christ other than baptism. We have all sinned (Rom. 3:23). Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 7:29, made it clear that there is not a righteous person on Earth who can continually do good. But Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:17 makes it clear that there is a way for us to have a “second chance.” When we become a “new creation,” it’s as if we started out once more as a newborn baby. The sins we committed in the past have been forgiven—erased. Hebrews 8:13 reminds us, “Their sins and their lawless deeds, I will remember no more.” We need to say, as Paul did in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The “old” has passed away, and all things have become “new.” In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul offers a summary statement, of sorts, as to how we have a second chance.
Timothy Sparks:
Yes, that’s true. In that passage, we learn, “For He [God] made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” God sent His Son Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice—the propitiation—not just for our sins today, but for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). The word “propitiation” indicates that Christ appeased the wrath of God by becoming a substitute for our sins so that we could receive God’s grace. Jesus, therefore, became our means of becoming righteous. Jesus died to “bridge the gap” between sinful mankind and God. Throughout the Old Testament, we see that there was a sacrificial system in place whereby the people had to offer the very best of their lambs to preserve their lives. We learn from Hebrews 10:24, however, that the blood of bulls and goats could never actually forgive sins. Yet we also learn from Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. This explains why John the Immerser said, when he saw Jesus approaching, “Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus literally “takes away sin.” He died so that we can become righteous people. All of our “righteousness”—on its own—is little more than (to use the prophet Isaiah’s words) “filthy rags.” Our own righteousness cannot save us, because all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). There is nothing we can do to merit or earn our salvation, but we can be forgiven through the precious blood of Christ—as the blood of the Lamb Who is without blemish and without spot (1 Pet. 1:18-19). According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, then, Jesus become our means of “becoming righteous.” But what does it mean to “become righteous.”
Ben Bailey:
Being made “righteous” carries with it the idea of being holy, spotless, and clean. We are told in 1 Peter 1:15 to “be holy, as He who called you is holy.” We are told in Hebrews 12:14 that without holiness, no one will see God. Thus, righteousness suggests the idea that we have been made holy and right before God. In and of ourselves, we could never accomplish that. But with the blood of Christ, and with the Gospel plan of salvation, we can all be made righteous. We frequently hear people say, “I plan to become a Christian one day, but now is not a convenient time. I’m not quite ready. I’ll do it later.” The devil’s favorite word is—tomorrow! The devil wants you to put it off. As the old saying suggests: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” In 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, we find a teaching that is exactly opposite to this concept of wanting to put off salvation. Paul wrote, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” We must not delay. Don’t put off becoming a Christian until you think you finally have everything else in your life straight. It’s likely going to take a long time, and a lot of work, to do that. But why not start today—by obeying the Gospel. Now is the acceptable time; today is the day of salvation. Surely, Paul is emphasizing this because of the brevity of life. We all know that we aren’t going to live forever. It’s true that sometimes we act like we’re going to live forever. And, yes, sometime we don’t exactly have the proper view of eternity that we should. But we know we will one day die. We simply don’t know when that will be. This is the point being made in James 4:11-15. Some people were starting a business, and deciding that they would “buy, sell, and make gain.” But they forgot to include the Lord in that plan. They forgot to say, “If the Lord wills….” James said, “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (Jas. 4:15). James’ point was, Do not make your plans without including God, because you don’t know what will happen tomorrow. This ought to be clear to all of us, because we’ve all known of people whose lives have been snuffed out all too soon. The text of 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 teaches us that there should be a great urgency about obeying the Gospel. This fact is taught from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22.
Timothy Sparks:
We sometimes sing a song that expresses that viewpoint: “Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late. There’s danger and death in delaying, so make the start today.” If you were to die this very day, would you be ready for eternity. Would you be ready to appear before the judgment seat of Christ? Would you be ready to give an account of the things you’ve done in your body—whether good or evil? Or, would you have to stand before God, knowing that you weren’t ready for eternity? In such passages as Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 5:21, we learn that, for those who are in Christ, there is “no condemnation”—because of the very fact that those people are made righteous by being in Christ. You will not have any hope of Heaven if you are outside of Christ. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (Jn. 14:6). Jesus is the way; without Him, there is no going. Jesus is the truth; without Him, there is no knowing. Jesus is the life; without Him there is no living. He came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly (Jn. 10:10). He came that we might live in hope of eternal life (Tit. 1:2). The context of the passages that we are discussing from 2 Corinthians 5 and 6 is directed at people who are already Christians. It isn’t addressed to alien sinners. And this proves that a Christian can so sin as to be lost. It is therefore a “call back” for wayward Christians. We learn from James 5:19-20, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” This is a great admonition for saint and sinner alike. If you are not living your life as a faithful Christian, then you’re living a life that is headed for doom, gloom, and torment for all eternity. There is not one good thing about Hell. There are certain things that will be missing from Hell that will make it…Hell! There will be no innocence. There will no babies. There will be no sweetness. There will be no quenching of the eternal fire. Paul’s comments in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6 are made in the context of urging Christians to have a desire to go to Heaven, and to avoid Hell. While we are here, we are to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). What is wrapped up in that concept?
Ben Bailey:
Apparently, one of the problems that was afflicting the
Christians in
Timothy Sparks:
My parents purchased from one of my uncles a team of horses, one of which was named “Rock.” Rock would “outpull” all the other horses with which he was matched—which made it difficult to control the team or to get any work done. Eventually, my uncle found a much younger horse—which he named Billy—that could match Rock’s strength. Once they were paired together, the yoke became equal and the work could get done. In Paul’s illustration, he was trying to make the point that we should not become “unequally matched” so that we are “pulled away from” our goal of Heaven. In 1 Corinthians 5:6, Paul wrote that “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.” If we let the corruption of the world affect us (“leaven us”), then our light fades. And it doesn’t affect just our salvation; it also affects the salvation of others. I’m reminded of what Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2, where Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” J.B. Phillips, in his translation of Romans 12:2, put it like this: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God re-shape you from within.” We are not to conform to this world. We’re not supposed to be like a thermometer, in that we move up and down, registering along with whatever everyone else in the world does. We’re not just to “go along to get along.” According to Exodus 23:2, we are commanded “not to follow a multitude to do evil.” We are supposed to be a spiritual barometer of sorts—a standard to which people can appeal, and know that they are right in doing so. If we run around with the wrong crowd, how can we serve as a proper standard?
Ben Bailey:
We need to stand up for what’s right. If people are doing or saying things that aren’t right, we need to “put in a word for truth!” We need to (kindly) let people know that we don’t live by such standards, and that God isn’t pleased by such things. If someone who is a Christian is participating in something ungodly, perhaps your comments will bring them to their senses and keep them from doing such things in the future. We also would do well to follow the example of Joseph. He was in a difficult situation, because Potiphar’s wife was trying to have a sexual relationship with him. Joseph fled—even leaving his coat behind in her hands. If you are in a situation that you cannot change, don’t just stay there, hoping that everything will be all right. Get out! Leave! Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 15:33 are so true: “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” We should not choose our friends because they are “cool,” or because they are popular. Rather, we should choose our friends based on godly characteristics. This may not make us the most popular person around, but if we put biblical principles into practice in our lives, then God will be pleased with us—and in the end, that’s what really matters. I think that a word about marriage is appropriate here, too. While 2 Corinthians 6:14 does not say that it is wrong to marry an unbeliever, it’s surely not one of the wisest things you could ever do. The yoke of marriage is a yoke that is intended to last for life. It is a “binding together” of two people. Why would a Christian want to marry someone who was not a Christian? As the old saying suggests, “If you marry a child of the devil, you’re going to have trouble with your father-in-law.” This is not intended to be unkind to non-Christians; rather, it is intended to cause Christians to think about the relationships they enter. We must “come out of the world,” not do things that would tie us closer to it.
Ben Bailey:
In 2 Corinthians 6:17, Paul says, “Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord.” We are called “with a high calling” (Phil. 3:14). We are “partakers of a heavenly calling” (Heb.3:1), a “holy calling” (2 Tim. 1:9). So, we have a high, heavenly, and holy calling. If we as Christians are not distinctive from the world, then we are not shining as bright lights. We are to follow the Bible. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). That light should radiate through us so that others can see that we are living by the standard of God’s Word. Second Corinthians 7:1 teaches us that we are to “perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.” We are to live a holy life, because without holiness, we cannot see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Are you living a holy life—one that would permit you to say, “I obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine” to which I was delivered (Rom. 6:17)? Will you be able to say, “I was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of my sins? Will you be able to say, “I accepted the mercy and grace of God that He extended to me, and I lived a faithful life”? Will you be able to say, “When I sinned, I genuinely repented, asked for God’s forgiveness, and He forgave me, and I want to go to heaven”? Do you want to go to heaven more than anything else in the world? If you aren’t yet married, look for the type of mate of whom you can say, “This person is going to help me go to heaven.” Jesus said: “Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). We can have an important impact on others, but we first must have within ourselves the righteousness of God in Christ.
We want to extend to you a heartfelt and personal
invitation to attend the
Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST is brought to you by loving, caring members of the church of Christ. The McLish Avenue church of Christ in Ardmore, Oklahoma, oversees this evangelistic effort. For a free CD or DVD of today’s broadcast, please write to:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
You may call 580-223-3289. Please visit us on the
web at www.thegospelofchrist.com. We encourage you to attend the
1. Explain the significance of Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5, that “we are a new creation; old things have passed away.”
2. What is a propitiation? How does that word apply to Jesus Christ?
3. What does Ephesians 1:3 mean when it says that all spiritual blessings “in the heavenly places” are available to us through Christ.
4. In 2 Timothy 1:9-11, we are told that salvation, and God’s grace, are available to us only in Christ. Explain how one gets “in Christ.”
5. What is the point behind such passages as
Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Ecclesiastes 7:29?
6. Explain the correlation between such passages as 2
Chronicles 7:14 and Hebrews 8:13.
7. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul offers a summary statement, of sorts, as to how we have a “second chance.” How do we avail ourselves of that second chance?
8. In such passages as Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and
2 Corinthians 5:21, we learn that, for those who are in Christ, there is “no condemnation.” Why is there no condemnation?
9. In the
Old Testament, there was a sacrificial system in place whereby the people had
to offer the very best of their lambs
to preserve their lives. We know (Heb. 10:24), however, that the blood of bulls and goats could never actually forgive
sins. Yet we also know (Heb. 9:22) that without the shedding of
blood, there can be no forgiveness. With those facts before you, explain the importance of John
1:29 in the plan of salvation. Incorporate into your answer 1 Pet. 1:18-19.
10. How are we “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20)? What is an ambassador to do? And what must an ambassador not do?
11. Paul told the Christians in
12. According to Paul’s instructions in 2 Corinthians
6:14, is it a sin for a Christian to marry a non-Christian? Incorporate into
your answer 1 Corinthians 7:13.
13. In 1 Corinthians 5:6, Paul wrote that “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.” What is the principle here in regard to spiritual matters?
14. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” Can you think of a well-known king from the Old Testament whose life history bears this out (as a result of his pagan concubines and wives—who caused him to abandon God’s teachings)? How might this apply to Christians today?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, 607 McLish Ave., Ardmore, OK 73401; (580) 223-3289; www.thegospelofchrist.com