Outer Banks Community Church

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 (NKJV)

15 And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (NLT)

Intro: Not yet Dead!

At least once Samuel L. Clemens, better known as “Mark Twain,” was listed as dead while being physically alive. This type of erroneous obituary has occurred all too often in the newspapers of our nation. On one such embarrassing occasion, a man whose obit was printed in the paper rushed to the editor. The “corpse” lodged his protest: “How dare you print my obituary in the paper! I’m alive. See me. Here I am.” “I sure am sorry,” the editor answered, “And it’s too late to do anything about it. The best thing I can do for you is to put you in the ‘Birth Column’ tomorrow morning and give you a fresh start!” (Illustrations for preaching and teaching)

The glorious Gospel gives us a fresh start, have you died to self and are now experiencing new life?

This glorious gospel therefore assures us:

1. We Might Live THROUGH Christ: 1 John 4:9 (NKJV)

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

This is the way God revealed that He loves us. "God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” The world is full of evil and bad. People commit all kinds of evil, they... Curse God, ignore God, neglect God, disobey God, disbelieve God, reject God, rebel against God, deny God and oppose God and yet this is the glorious love of God. God still loves man and still wants to help and take care of man. That is the Glorious Gospel!

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11

To live through Christ we must love as Christ did!

This glorious gospel therefore assures us:

2. We Might Live WITH Christ: 1 Thessalonians 5:10 (NKJV)

“Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

Love protects our hearts: when we really see the love of Christ for us - that He actually bore our sins and punishment on the cross - then we break before Him and bow in humble adoration and love. Love floods us, for He did so much for us. We never have to die; we never have to bear the punishment of sin - all because He loved us. Therefore, our hearts reach out to Him broken and pouring love back to Him. We stay sober: we live righteously and godly and look for His return because we love Him. Our love keeps us sober. This is how we live with Christ.

- “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” Romans 6:8 (NIV)
- “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

When God saved us, he appointed us to receive salvation from sin, death, and judgment to come. He did not appoint us to death and wrath. Therefore, there is no excuse for a believer to fall asleep and return to the world of darkness. A person who is not sober will suffer the wrath of God. Christ died for us. The words wake or sleep: they mean alive or departed. When Christ returns, whether we are still alive on the earth or departed, we shall live together with Him forever and ever. This is why He died, the very reason He went to the cross: that we might have the glorious privilege of living together with Him throughout all eternity.

We can live with Christ a lot easier when the believer puts on the full armor of God.

This glorious gospel therefore assures us:

3. We Might Live FOR Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV)

“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

All who join themselves to Christ must die with him. This is more than the medical definition “when the brain waves stop sparking and the heart stops pushing the blood through our system.” It is death to Sin, the Flesh, and the Old. When we die with Christ we live no longer for self or selfless ways. Christ’s death must change the way we live here and now on earth, not simply insure our entrance into God’s eternal presence. Anyone who expects to live in the resurrection must respond properly to Christ’s death.

The gift of redemption that comes through Christ’s death and resurrection requires that we change the way we live. We are no longer to allow our selfish desires to twist the way we regard or treat others. To accept death with Christ so that our own longings, purposes, and securities are also put to death requires the risky venture of faith. Paul insists that Christ controls the reins of his life so that he no longer is driven to kick against the goads. He instead lives to serve others. “And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure.” 1 Corinthians 4:12

Paul was driven to serve God and others, so what drove him to this state of mind? His love for Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

He lives He lives He lives inside of me!

Paul found that Christ’s love compelled him to hold fast…

Conclusion: Casting Crowns (Glorious Day) Living He loved me, dying He saved me and buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified freely forever. One day He’s coming, oh glorious day, oh Glorious day!

- The Glorious gospel assures us He will return!

This glorious gospel assures us, We CAN Live THROUGH Christ, We CAN Live WITH Christ and We can Live FOR Christ.