Like Cold Water: You Are a New Creation
“Like cold water to a parched throat is good news from a distant land.”
– Proverbs 25:25
Cold Water = The Gospel—it refreshes, revives, rescues, demands a response, and transforms us with a purpose.
Fam, the time has come - we’re closing out our series "Like Cold Water" In part 4 we look at how the Gospel transforms us—and how we’re called to share that transformation with others. But first, let’s recap:
We Got A BIG Problem: Sin has separated us from God.
God Provides THE Solution: Jesus Christ—God’s miraculous answer to our sin. (He's the Answer EVERY TIME, Fam!)
What Our Response SHOULD Be: With repentance and new life in Christ.
Today we discover the last piece of the puzzle as we explore how the Gospel makes us new creations—not just for our own benefit, but so we can be part of a legacy of transformation.
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 | Matthew 28:18–20
We Are a New Creation
“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 scripture means that when we give our life to Jesus, He doesn’t just help us act better — He changes us from the inside out. This isn’t behavior change—it’s transformation. In theological terms, this is called: Sanctification. This isn't a new haircut or makeover—It's a new you. God isn't putting a band-aid on your problems nor is He pretending you are all good. All the hard stuff you’ve been through? God doesn’t toss it aside. He takes the broken pieces of your story and uses them for something beautiful.
Though God is not making you a new person; you're still you, but now you’re renewed—forgiven, loved, and filled with a new purpose. Like a monarch butterfly, we undergo full metamorphosis. We’re not erased—we’re redeemed. God takes our full history and transforms it.
What’s Holding You Back?
Sometimes, the biggest thing stopping us from fully changing is one little thing we don’t want to let go of. That thing? We’ll call it "the hook."
Let's imagine your life is a beautiful dream house and you invite God to move in to help renovate. Okay so God starts renovating your home, but wait—there's one small hook left behind on the wall. It seems harmless… until the old owner (your past, sin, or pain) uses it to sneak back in. Soon, a smell starts to form and your new fresh house, full of potential, begins rotting from that small spot.
That hook is the part of our lives we keep for ourselves. What's the hook? It could be:
A sin we won’t let go of
The pride we still carry
The pain we haven’t let go
The need to stay in control
Things we don't want to surrender to God.
And real talk — some of us don’t just have one hook... we’ve got a whole coat rack.
But God hasn't given up on transforming you—He still wants to transform your life, but He won’t force it. So the question becomes: Will you ask Him what your hook is? All you have to do is ask Him, and when He shows you... let it go.
You’re Part of a Legacy
God wants to change your life—completely transform you. But that’s just the start of the story. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re stepping into a huge family mission—something we call: the ministry of reconciliation (fancy words, for getting a bigger heart). This looks like:
Helping others find their way back to God
Sharing what He’s done in your life
Becoming a living, breathing example of His love
(Check 2 Corinthians 5:19–21 for the official receipt.)
In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus doesn’t say, “If you feel like it...” Nope, He says: “Go.”
Go, love people.
Go, teach what He taught.
Go, make disciples.
And the best part? He promises: “I’ll be with you always.” (Even when it’s hard. Even when you're scared.)
The Monarch’s Legacy Migration
Let’s go back to the butterfly. The monarch butterfly doesn’t just fly around looking majestic—it’s on a mission. And get this: It takes 4 to 5 generations of butterflies to finish the journey from Mexico to Canada and back again.
The early generations live just 2–5 weeks: They lay eggs, fly a few hundred miles, and pass the baton.
But the last generation: They do the heavy lifting—they fly thousands of miles back south... without ever having seen their destination before. (They can only do this by God's design)
Every generation matters: If one group doesn’t do its part—the journey fails. And that’s exactly what it’s like in the Kingdom of God. We’re all part of a spiritual legacy. What you do now—how you live, love, serve, and share—this matters not just for you, but for the ones coming after you.
Maybe you're thinking: “I don’t want to be a butterfly—I want to be a T-Rex, a lioness, a shark—something strong and feared!” But here’s the truth: It’s not about what you want to be. It’s about what God created you to be. And guess what? He made you to be transformed... to be a part of something WAY bigger than yourself.
You Were Made for Legacy
You are a part of a God-designed chain reaction— The Gospel legacy. The Great Commission is not just a call to evangelize—it’s a call to participate in a divine generational cycle. You are:
Being transformed
Being used to help transform others
Part of something eternal
This Is the Gospel
This is the Good News:
There’s a God who loves you enough to die for you.
Who solved your biggest problem before you could ask.
Who put up with your disrespect so you could come to the truth.
Who gives you the desire to want a relationship with Him.
Who brings you to Himself and enables you to understand.
The Gospel satisfies. Sip it. And share it.