IN THE BEGINNING

Revelation 21: 1 - 9

Introduction:

1. While this title, IN THE BEGINNING, indicated to some a lesson of the very beginning, (ex. Gen. 1:1; John 1:1) it may also indicate a lesson of NEWNESS. It is toward this latter we focus our attention: the new beginnings possible for all souls!

2. God graciously provided us a NEW YEAR and its timing beautifully coincides with the beginning of a NEW WEEK – this is the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2).

3. It is the NEWNESS, which excites the senses. The thrill of “never been used,” the cleanness of “brand new,” and the joy of “first ownership” are elements of this motivated excitement. We understand that marvelous feature in the temporal world and appreciate it enough to endeavor the preservation of “newness” for as long as possible! Alas, “newness” wears off and we eventually see the deterioration of what once was clean, pure, without spot and without blemish.

4. After years of use, these temporal items are either replaced due their worn out and now inability to function, or simply because we’ve set them aside for posterity or replaced reasons. Either way, what once was “new” becomes “old” and often “old” = “useless.” BUT THIS IS TRUE ONLY OF TEMPORAL THINGS.

5. Notice carefully ROMANS 8:6 and remember the Lord’s statement concerning the absolute beauty of the church: “Behold I make all things new!” Of such ability, we can speak only SPIRITUALLY – and thus we look to the spiritual things that are NEW – just as IN THE BEGINNING.

I. THE LAW OF CHRIST IS NEW

A. Matthew 9: 14 – 17

B. HIS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR A NEW TESTAMENT – MARK 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

C. HEBREWS 8: 1 - 13

D. EPHESIANS 2:11 - 22

II. THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE IS NEW

A. JOHN 13: 34 – 35 -- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

B. 1 JOHN 2: 1 – 11

C. 1 JOHN 3: 16 - 18

III. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NEW

A. DANIEL 2:44; MATTHEW 16:18; ACTS 2:47

B. MATTHW 26: 28 – 29

C. TO KEEP IT NEW AND RIGHTEOUS, CONTINUAL CLEANSING IS REQUIRED – 1 CORINTHIANS 5:7 – 8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

D. EPHESIANS 5: 22 – 33

IV. THE SOUL MUST BE MADE NEW

A. 2 CORINTTHIANS 5:17 -- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. GALATIANS 3:27 -- For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

C. GALATIANS 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

D. EPHESIANS 4:17 - 24

E. THE SOUL REQUIRES RENEWAL DAY BY DAY

1. COLOSSIANS 3: 8 – 11

2. 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

CONCLUSION:

WITH ALL THESE THINGS NEW, WHY WOULD WE WISH TO RETAIN THE OLD AND DECAYING? WHY WOULD WE DESIRE CONTINUATION IN THAT WHICH HAS NO BRIGHTNESS, NO PERFECTION, NO LASTINGNESS? NOTICE ALL THESE THINGS ARE IN CHRIST – NOT IN MAN! THE REAL QUESTION IS THEN, WHY DO YOU NOT DESIRE TO BE IN CHRIST, IN HIS CHURCH, IN HIS LAW, IN HIS LOVE AND STAY THERE?