In the beginning ...

In the beginning ...

light … darkness

In the beginning ...

light … darkness

… the first day

In the beginning ...

light … darkness

… the first day

… breath of God that animates life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God

light … darkness

… the first day

… breath of God that animates life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God

light of all people ... shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

… the first day

… breath of God that animates life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God

light of all people ... shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

on the first day of the week ... Mary Magdalene came to the tomb

… breath of God that animates life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God

light of all people ... shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

on the first day of the week ... Jesus came and stood among them

… breath of God that animates life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God

light of all people ... shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

on the first day of the week ... Jesus came and stood among them

he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

new creati

on

... sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned ...

Romans, Chapter 5 verse 12 (NRSV)

... sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned ...

Romans, Chapter 5 verse 12 (NRSV)

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans, Chapter 8 verses 19-22 (NLT)

“(B)ehold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”

Isaiah, Chapter 65 verses 17-25 (NRSV)

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Isaiah, Chapter 11 verses 9-10 (NRSV)

If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.’

Romans, Chapter 5 verses 17-19 (NRSV)

‘As Adam represents humanity, so Jesus as new Adam represents a new humanity. … Such pairs tempt us to think of balance. … Yet balance ignores the God of the equation. For God, life engulfs death. The new representative overwhelms the old representative. Such is grace.’

Steve Taylor, in Proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross (2006)

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has

become new!

2 Corinthians, Chapter 5 verse 17 (NRSV)

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. ... no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ... The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John, Chapter 3 verses 3-5 (NRSV)

new creati

on

love

endurance generosity

kindness goodness

patience power

hope peace

gentleness joy

self control faithfulness

soundness of mind

new creati

on

love

endurance generosity

kindness goodness

patience power

hope peace

gentleness joy

self control faithfulness

soundness of mind

new creati

on

arguing impurity

gossiping

bitterness + revenge

jealousy

quarrels factions

drunkenness

envy

things like these

love

endurance generosity

kindness goodness

patience power

hope peace

gentleness joy

self control faithfulness

soundness of mind

new creati

on

speaking God’s words of caring for creationencouragement + hope + comfort + welcome running businesses

that treat employees,

clients + suppliers fairly loving your family, your praying for neighbours the sick to+ even your be well enemies

reading giving generously Scripture,being part of Church helping the poor,

the suffering +

the lost

So what…

There are three stages of life:

Death masquerading as lifeNew life as a new creation

Resurrected life in the New Creation

Unless we understand the power of the Spirit - the new creation mystery alive in us - we have grace

from God for the past and grace from God for the future and nothing but ourselves for the present.

attentive,present,

endlessly self-giving, loving to all he’s made

beautiful, creative,rejoicing

powerful,unconstrained by the limits of human reason

& capacity

complete, full, whole & right in all he

is & all he does

inextinguishably

self revealing & invitational, calling up his image in all

respond

Jesus Christ

compassion for people

and care for creation

creative expressions of

love, joy, beauty, wonder & the majestic

things that are impossible to

explain by looking at the

observable inputs

ongoing transformation of my personal

character + behaviours

welcoming, explaining & encouraging

Christ in us

... where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us ... are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians, Chapter 3 verse 17 (NRSV)

‘So this old nature of mine – the one that was constantly pulling me down and causing me to live in ways I wasn’t created to live – has died. And no matter how many times the old nature raises its head and pretends to be alive, it is dead. And not only did that old person die, but I have been given a new nature.

The issue then isn’t beating myself up over all the things I’m not doing or the things I’m doing poorly; the issue is my learning who this person is who God keeps insisting I already am.’

Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis (2006)