Tree of Life, Week 4: Old Life vs. New Life

(Genesis 2:9) (NLT) The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Revelation 22:2) (NLT) Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. (Proverbs 11:30) (NKJV) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. Title of message: Old Life vs. New Life 1. The old life focuses on self. (Galatians 2:20) (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.           The new life focuses on brokenness. (1 Corinthians 15:31) (NCV) I die every day. (Galatians 5:24) (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 2. The old life focuses on the desires of the flesh.           The new life focuses on holiness. (Galatians 6:6) (NCV) We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us and we would not be slaves to sin. 3. The old life focuses on the world. (Galatians 6:14) (NLT) As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. The new life focuses on separation.  (2 Corinthians 6:17) (NIV) Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.   "A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it." G.K. Chesterton (Romans 6:4) (NIV) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.