Matt Nelson - January 17, 2021
The Transforming Power of Loss
NEW CREATIONS The Transforming Power of Loss 1.17.212 Cor 5:17 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creationhas come:The old has gone, the new is here!There is no life without death. There is no resurrection without crucifixion. Justification (salvation) is a gift we are given through faith by the work of Jesus but a life of transformation is something we must choose to walk in through the help and power of the Holy Spirit. Philippians 3:4-11 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5circumcisedon the eighth day, of the people of Israel,of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;6asfor zeal,persecuting the church;as for righteousness based on the law,faultless.7But whatever were gains to me I now consider lossfor the sake of Christ.8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassingworth of knowingChrist Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Iconsider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which isthrough faith in[a]Christ—the righteousnessthat comes from God on the basisof faith.10I want to knowChrist—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death,11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrectionfrom the dead. We know two things about suffering and loss: 1) God will make all things right 2) God will use this pain & struggle to reveal more of Himself to us Galatians 2:20 20I have been crucified with Christand I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Romans 6:4 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into deathin order that, just as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 8:17 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferingsin order that we may also share in his glory.