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UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Section 1 – Life in Christ

SECTION 1 – LIFE IN CHRIST

By the end of this section you should be able to:


 Describe characteristics of human life before the first coming
of Jesus Christ.
 Explain the ways that Jesus Christ brought new life to the
human race.
 Describe aspects of human life after the coming of Jesus
Christ.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

I. LIFE BEFORE CHRIST


A. Life After the Fall (Genesis 6:5-8 and 11:1-9)
 Because of widespread sin, God destroyed all
humanity with a flood except Noah and family.
 Evil continued because the inclination to sin still
existed.
 In their pride, men began to build a tower at Babel
to heaven but God confused their effort
(languages).
 God confused their effort and began a something
new with the human race that would bring a Savior.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

B. Abraham and His Descendants (Genesis 12:1-5)


 Through Abram of Ur, God would build a family and
nation that would be His special possession and
from whom the promised Messiah would come.
 God told Abraham that all people on earth would be
blessed through him.
 Abraham put his faith in God and obeyed.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

C. Moses, David, and the Prophets (Deuteronomy


18:15-19, 1 Samuel 7:12-16, and Jeremiah 31:31-34)
 Because of famine in their land, descendants of
Abraham settled in Egypt.
 Egypt made the Israelites slaves, but God raised up
a deliverer, Moses, to help free them.
 After their escape, God made a covenant with the
people as a nation to be a holy people.
 In spite of the Law of Moses, they continued to sin.
 After they settled in Canaan, God used judges to
help the Israelites when they cried out to God.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

 After king Saul died, God gave them a new king.


 King David united the Israelites into one nation and
God gave David the promise that one of his
descendants would reign forever (Jesus Christ).
 Most of David’s kingly descendants continued to sin,
so God raised up prophets to call His people to
faithfulness, but the Israelites continued to sin.
 So, God gave the prophet Jeremiah a promise of a
new covenant that would totally forgive people’s sins.
 This new covenant was fulfilled through the Jesus.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

II. CHRIST BRINGS NEW LIFE


In the fullness of time, God sent Jesus Christ to die for
humanity’s sin as Savior of the whole world.
A. Incarnation (John 1:1-17)
 The incarnation of Christ was the point in history at
which Christ (the Word) became flesh.
 1st way Jesus brought life: God was united to the
material world as Jesus became flesh in the womb.
 There was now a man on earth without sin. Jesus
was both fully God and fully man.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

B. Jesus’ Life, Teachings, and Deeds (John 11:20 and


John 14:5-6)
 In the life of Jesus, the Kingdom of God was made
present in the world. (Luke 17:21)
 2nd way Jesus brought life: Jesus’ teachings and
deeds taught about the Kingdom of God and made
it more real for sinful humanity.
 Through His life, Jesus’ teaches us how to live a
new life.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

 True life, real life, new life, and eternal life came into
the world in Jesus. (John 11:25; 14:6)
 3rd way Jesus brings life: Jesus came to give us
new life by being united to Him in faith and being
born again of God.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

C. Jesus’ Death Resurrection and Ascension


(Romans 3:21-26 and 14:5-6)
 4th way Jesus brought new life: Jesus fulfilled
God’s plan to bring new life to the world through His
death, resurrection and ascension.
 When Jesus died on the cross, He brought God’s
great mercy and forgiveness for all sins for all time
(Romans 5:6-11).
 By Jesus’ death on the cross, He freed us from the
bondage of sin.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

 Death was overcome when Jesus’ rose from the


dead to new life.
 Satan was defeated forever through the death and
resurrection of Jesus (Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans
6:9).
 Jesus also destroyed the devil and his works (1 John
3:8).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

D. The Sending of the Holy Spirit


 5th way Jesus brought new life: Jesus completed
the work of bringing new life to man when He sent
the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
 Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples received the
power to live the new life that is possible through
faith in Jesus.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

E. The Hope of Eternal Life


 Jesus brought the promise of eternal life with God
forever.
 When Jesus returns, He will destroy Satan and a
new heaven and new earth will be established (2
Peter 3:10-13).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

III. LIFE AFTER CHRIST


A. New Life in Christ
 Jesus opened the way to new life for all people.
 We can become God’s children.
 We can become a new creation (2 Corinthians
5:17).
 We are called to a life of faith and good works.
B. Some Problems Remain
 The presence of sin has not been eliminated
through the coming of Jesus.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 1 – Life in Christ

 People who have not heard or accepted the


salvation Jesus offers remain in their sins.
 We can become God’s children.
 We continue to sin after receiving Christ as Savior.
 Fortunately, we can continue to receive forgiveness
by confessing our sins (1 John 1:9).
 Christ continues to strengthen us on our journey to
heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

SECTION 2 – GROWING IN CHRIST

By the end of this section you should be able to:


 Describe the ways that God wants people to grow in Christ.
 List and describe the three main obstacles to growth in the
Christian life.
 List and describe the four main keys to growth in Christ.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

Vocabulary words:
instrumental – Serving as a means, agent, or tool.
intellect – The capacity for knowledge and rational or
intelligent thought.
maturity – The quality or state of being fully developed or
mature.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

I. GROWING IN CHRIST
A. God’s Desire for Growth in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-
16, 22-23)
 God desires that we grow in Christ.
 Much of the New Testament is concerned with the
way Christians think and act.
 Our growth should result in maturity as a Christian.
 We need to cover more advanced aspects of life as
we grow in His grace (Hebrews 6:1).
 We are to give up our “old life” (Ephesians 4:22-23).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 The old nature tends toward sinful thinking and


acting.
 Part of growing in Christ is learning to put of the old
nature and put on the new nature.
 Also, our minds must be renewed so we think like
Christ.
 We, like the disciples, are to do the works that
Jesus did (John 14:12).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

THREE MAIN OBSTACLES TO GROWTH IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE


B. The World
 “World” – a system of relationships, ideas, and
values opposed to the Kingdom of God.
 It is not creation (Genesis 1) or people of the world
(John 3:16).
 The world’s values are controlled by Satan (1 John
5:19).
 The world tries to lead us away from Christ into a
way of thinking and acting that is contrary to the life
of Christ (TV programs with immoral values).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 The world glorifies money and material things. This


is contrary to the Bible (1 Timothy 6:10).
 It is not money that is evil, but the love of money.
 God’s word says we are to be content with what we
have (Hebrews 13:5).
 The world expresses itself through philosophies,
governments, and media (i.e. TV, newspapers,
magazines).
 Christians can over come the world through a strong
faith in Christ (1 John 5:4 and John 16:33).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

THREE MAIN OBSTACLES TO GROWTH IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE


C. The Flesh
 “Flesh” – Not your physical body, but and obstacle
to living like Christ wants us to live.
 The flesh resides within your heart, mind, and
intellect and is the part of our fallen nature that
wants to go against God’s will for our lives.
 It was inherited from Adam and Eve.
 Other names: “old man,” “old nature,” “old self”
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 The flesh wants us to go our own way and satisfy


selfish and sinful desires.
 The apostle Paul struggled with the flesh in his own
life. See Romans 7:18-25.
 Paul’s hope for overcoming the tendencies of the
flesh was found in Jesus Christ.
 Through Jesus, and the power of His new life living
in us, we can overcome the flesh, resist doing evil,
and do good.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

THREE MAIN OBSTACLES TO GROWTH IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE


D. The Devil
 The devil, or Satan, is a fallen angel who hates and
is opposed to God and His people.
 Satan is the leader of all other fallen angels called
evil spirits and demons.
 We must remember that Satan is not equal to God.
 God is infinitely greater and more powerful.
 Satan only operates because God allows him to.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 Because Jesus has defeated Satan, when we


accept Jesus as Savior, we are freed from the
power of sin and darkness, and the kingdom of
Satan (Colossians 1:13).
 Until Jesus comes again, Satan will continue to
cause harm and promote evil in the world.
 Through Jesus Christ and being joined with Him, we
will continue in a spiritual battle with the forces of
evil (Ephesians 6:10-13).
 Satan usually causes most problems by tempting us
to sin.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 Yielding to Satan’s temptation will cause us to sin.


HOW TO OVERCOME SATAN’S TEMPTATIONS:
 Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-18).
 Know and believe the Word of God and quote it
(John 8:31-32). The Word of God is the main source
of truth, and is very effective in overcoming the devil
(Matthew 4:1-11).
 Use the authority that Christ gives to Christians. We
do not have to submit to the devil because we have
submitted ourselves to Jesus (James 4:7; 1 Peter
5:8-9).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

II. KEYS TO GROWTH IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 10:1-6)


While there are other keys to growth in Christ, these
four keys will open the way to solid growth.
A. Prayer
 Prayer is simply spending time talking with and
listening to God.
 For any relationship to grow, time must be spent
with that person. The same is true with Christ.
B. Study
 God strengthens us through the study of His Word.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 As we read God’s Word, our minds are transformed,


and we can better judge God’s Will for our lives
(Romans 12:2).
 Other books can provide nourishment and give us
wisdom and experience of other Christians who
have gone before us.
C. Service
 Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:28) and wants us
to serve others (John 13:12-17).
 We can serve through kind deeds, helping the poor,
and visiting the sick.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

 The greatest way we can serve is to share with


people the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.
 You can be instrumental in helping someone come
to Christ.
 God wants you to have the heart and mind of a
servant to others so we might grow in Christ.
D. Fellowship
 God wants Christians to be together and not to
neglect meeting with one another (Hebrews 10:24).
 All Christians need the help and support of other
Christians.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

SECTION 3 – LIFE IN THE SPIRIT


By the end of this section you should be able to:
 Describe some of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us grow
in Christ.
 Explain what is meant by “transformation in Christ.”
 Define grace and its importance in the Christian life.
 List and describe the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 2 – Growing in Christ

Vocabulary words:
charismatic – Manifesting a gift of grace from the Holy Spirit
to be used for the good of the church.
disposition – Prevailing tendency, mood, or inclination
exhortation – An act or instance of strongly urging or
encouraging, especially toward something or
someone good.
fervent – Marked by great warmth of feeling; exhibiting deep,
sincere emotion.
sheer – Pure and complete; not mixed with anything else.
transformation – To be changed in character or condition.
virtues – Moral excellence; a commendable quality or trait.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

I. TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST
 In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples that they would
receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
 The Holy Spirit taught them, guided them, and helped
them to be witnesses for Jesus.
 When the Holy Spirit came to the disciples, they
received power to live a fervent and strong Christian life.
 “Transformation in Christ” means that our old way of
life is changing into a new way of acting, thinking,
speaking, and relating (2 Corinthians 3:18).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

I. TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST…
A. God’s Love
 Through the Holy Spirit, we can know God’s love
more deeply and share that love with others
(Romans 5:5).
 Receiving God’s love and sharing in with others is
one of the most important ways that the Holy Spirit
works in our lives.
B. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
 The gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us help us
personally live the Christian life.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

 Isaiah 11:2: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him -


the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit
of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge
and of the fear of the Lord…”
 Charismatic gifts of the Spirit are given to us to be
used primarily for others, to help the church grow
stronger and to be renewed.
 See Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 1 Pt 4:10-11.
C. Problems and Difficulties
 God often uses problems and difficulties to help us
be transformed in Christ.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

 Romans 8:28 says that God works all things


together for good for those that love God.
 God helps us to grow in faith, hope, and love as we
overcome difficulties through God’s help and patient
endurance.
 We become wiser and stronger as we undergo
transformation in Christ.
 By going through trials and difficulties, our faith can
be purified and strengthened (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 As we go through the “refining” of trials, God makes
us more pure in faith, hope, and love.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

II. THE LIFE OF GRACE


 Sometimes Christians think that they can gain God’s
acceptance and be more like Christ simply by
deciding to do better.
 The Bible tells us that we are saved by grace and
not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
 Grace is the unmerited favor of God to make us
acceptable and give us right standing in His sight.
 There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation
because Christ has already done it all for us.
 It is sheer grace.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

 Paul told the Galatians that they were foolish to


practice the works of the Law to obtain salvation.
 He taught them that their salvation only comes
through faith in Jesus Christ – it is a gift (Galatians
3:1-2)!
 Christ’s grace helps us to live a life pleasing to Him
and to grow in Him.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

III. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT


 The effects of the Spirit are one way that we and
others will know we are living a new life in Christ.
 Paul calls the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives
the “fruit of the Spirit.”
 Christians should produce fruit that is characteristic
of the Holy Spirit’s action in them.
 In his letter to the Galatians, Paul lists nine virtues
that are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
 The fruit of the Holy Spirit is produced in us as we
yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

III. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…


A. LOVE
 Love is the primary and most important “fruit of the
Spirit” (Rom. 5.5).
 Love is evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us
(John 13:34).
B. JOY
 The joy that we have should be the joy of the Lord
(Nehemiah 8:10).
 Joy comes from knowing God and the salvation that
He has given us (Luke 2:10-11).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

C. PEACE
 We can have peace even in the midst of trials and
difficulties (Philippians 4:6-7).
 The peace of God comes from being in right
relationship with God (Romans 5:1).
D. PATIENCE
 Patience helps us remain calm in difficult situations.
 Patience is a sign of love (1 Corinthians 13:4).
 Patience is not always easy to display.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

E. GENTLENESS
 A gentle person treats others tenderly and is
considerate of others (Matthew 11:29).
F. GOODNESS
 God is good (Psalm 86:5; Psalm 106:1).
 When we do good to others, we are being like Christ
(Acts 10:38).
 While no one is good but God alone (Mark 10:8), we
can do good to others through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

G. FAITHFULNESS
 Faithfulness is an attribute of God (Psalm 36:5).
 Faithfulness helps us keep our word to God and
others.
H. KINDNESS
 Kindness has to do with the way we treat others.
 It means that we are helpful to others – even difficult
people (Colossians 3:12).
UNIT 3 – NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Section 3 – Life in the Spirit

I. SELF-CONTROL
 Self-control helps us control our thoughts, actions
and desires.
 Self-control also means that we look to the interests
of others, and we seek to help them rather than
focus on our own self-interests.

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