Thursday, February 18, 2010

Permanence

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Phi 3:20 ESV)

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
(Heb 11:10 ESV)

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
(Rev 21:5 ESV)


Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. Judy and Lydia and I worked outside. We recently purchased a number of fruit trees and we were able to get them all planted. The sights, sounds, and smells of this gorgeous February day were incredible. Its days like these that make me thankful to live where we live. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place. But these days also remind me that in this life there is no permanence. The fruit trees will need care and protection from disease and deer and they will one day die. And these beautiful February days will soon give way to the rains of March. I'm reminded that this life is a short trudge on the march toward the Celestial City and one day we will die also. There is no permanence, at least for now. But there awaits new place where there will be permanence, glory, and the absence of sin. A new heaven and a new earth are on the horizon. For now the creation is anticipating release from bondage and exile. And even on beautiful February days the creation groans. Our citizenship is not here. We await the new creation with all of its redeemed fullness. The all-encompassing redemptive work of Christ includes a fallen world and one day all of our days will be glorious days where both we and the creation no longer groan and where the glory of the Son far outshines anything we've ever seen. Death will be a forgotten memory. Because of the Son impermanence will give way to permanence. New life will be known forever. The resurrection of Christ is the demonstrated proof that the new creation is coming, and not solely for those who trust in Christ, but for all of creation as well.



Looking forward to new life in the new creation,



Pastor Dan

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Being Made New

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Co 5:17, ESV)

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Co 15:22-23, ESV)


Dear Christ Our Redeemer Family and Friends,

In the resurrection of Christ something new has begun. It’s not just a rehash of the old. Christ has come as the new Adam. A new creation has begun. In some ways it’s like the old, but in many ways it’s entirely new. Jesus is like the old Adam, but without confusion He is also the God-man. He does not sin; therefore this new creation is without corruption. Christ has done what no man could do. God has raised Him from the dead and has designated Him the living head of the new race. He has become the life-giving Spirit. If you are a Christian you have new life and if you have new life Christ has been raised from the dead. The day will come when the Christian will put off corruption and sin fully and finally. We too will be raised incorruptible because we have already been raised together with Christ. We have been and will be made new.

Thankful for grace revealed in new life,

Pastor Dan