A Church of New Creations
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Paul's vision of the church as the glorious body of Christ full of new creations driven by the Gospel.
Text: 2Cor 5:14-17
Date: 03/15/2026, the Combined service.
Series: "Your Word is Truth"
Description:
Continuing our quest to learn who we are as a church, we turn now to Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. Building on the firm foundation of the good news of the atoning Crosswork and Resurrection of Christ, he describes a church in intimate fellowship with Christ and therefore radically separated from the world. We will carefully explore such vital concepts as what it means to be "controlled" by the love of Christ; what it means to live a life "in Christ"; and what it means to be a "new creation" in Christ. We will notice particularly the total life-change that each one of these concepts demands. Ultimately, we will see Paul's vision of a church that is "other-worldly", with its feet and therefore its hard work for the Gospel planted firmly on this earth-- but its citizenship and heart in heaven. Far from a church that reflects the fallen behavior of this world, Paul calls us to be a church full of New Creations in Christ!
View:
Options:
I. Introduction, Matt. 16:18.
II. Exposition of the text, 2Cor 5:14-17.
A. Context
1. The context in light of Luke's Gospel.
2. The context of Paul's letter.
B. A Christ-driven church.
1. A church driven by the Gospel, vs. 14-15.
a. The motivation of the Gospel, vs. 14.
i. Our driving force.
1) Defining "controls", Phil. 1:23-24.
2) Defining the "love of Christ".
a) The magnitude of the love of Christ, Rom. 8:35; Eph. 3:19.
b) The manifestation of the love of Christ, John 10:17, 15:13.
c) The love "OF" Christ, Rom. 8:37.
ii. Dead to the world, Rom. 6:6-7.
iii. Explaining Paul's use of "all".
1) The meaning of "all", 1Cor. 10:23.
2) Sufficient for all, Effective for some, John 11:25-26; Eph. 2:8-9.
b. Alive in Christ, vs. 15.
i. No longer living for "self".
ii. Living for Christ.
1) Serving a Resurrected Lord.
2) Driving all of life, Phil. 1:21; Rom. 14:8.
3) The sweet fellowship with Christ, 1John 1:6-7.
2. A church redeemed from the world, vs. 15-16.
a. The impact of Christ's love, vs. 16.
i. A pivotal change in Redemptive History
ii. Seeing others from a new perspective.
1) Looking at the words.
2) How this impacts the church.
a) With the unbelieving world.
b) Within the church.
iii. Seeing Christ from a new perspective.
1) A very personal statement, Acts 8:3, 9:4, 22:3.
2) A dramatic turnaround.
3) Knowing the real Christ.
b. New Creations, vs. 17.
i. An exclusive group, 1John 1:7.
ii. A New Creation.
1) Defining "new creation", Gen. 1:1.
2) Citizens of a New Creation, Rom. 8:22; Luke 11:20; Phil. 3:20; 1Pet. 2:11; Col 1:15; 1Cor. 6:15,17,19,20.
ii. A complete change, Isa. 43:18; Jer. 31:31-33.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
