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Come in. You will be safe here…but you’ll never be the same.

“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. We can find this truth foreshadowed in the events of the Old Testament and these shadows of what was to come are helpful to our understanding. Just as Noah was safe from the flood of judgment in the ark, and Israelites pursued by avengers could be safe within cities of refuge, so it is with us when we are found in Christ. Jesus welcomes us in to abide with Him where we can benefit from the price He paid for our sins. There in Christ we are covered and protected from the judgment that was ours to bear because He bore it for us.

But there is another way in which we are in Christ that adds an additional dimension and benefit to the believer. Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches, that when we abide in him we draw new life from the vine and bear good fruit. In fact we become one with the vine. It is true that in Christ we are safe from judgment, but it is also in Christ where we die to our sins in his death and are raised again to new life with Him in his resurrection. In Him we have new life, a new way of thinking, and a new attitude towards ourselves, our sin, and our God. We are and are becoming new creatures altogether in the safe harbor of Christ. What wonderful news to communicate to our children, that in Jesus they are loved and forgiven and transformed and secure in God’s grasp. Even if we lose our grip He won’t lose his.

BIG IDEA: In Jesus I’m a new creation!

MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 3:18
Romans 6:1-4, 7:4

SECTION VERSE:
Here is God’s witness. He has given us eternal life. That life is found in his Son. Those who belong to the Son have life. Those who do not belong to the Son of God do not have life. – 1 John 5:11-12

LESSON VERSE:
Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

PRAYER:
Thank God that He offers us new life Jesus. Tell God that He can change anything in your life to make you more like Jesus.

DISCUSSION STARTERS:

• What does it mean to make something new? Why would you want to be a new creation?
• If you’ve accepted Jesus, what changes in your life have you noticed?
• How do you know you have eternal life?

LIVE IT OUT!

• Write out 2 Corinthians 5:17 and hang it on your bathroom mirror.
• List out the ways God has changed your life and hang it on the refrigerator.
• Invite a friend to Quest

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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader.  In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.