Behold, the new has come!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #103 ~ New Life

Since spring is now here and signs of new life are happening all around, the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge Team wants to see your (re) creations celebrating new life…this can be Easter, new baby, budding trees, flowers…..etc.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! In addition, for those who use ODBD stamps, one to two projects will also be selected for the Shining the Light Award. Entries for the prize and the award must be submitted by Friday, April 13  at 8 a.m. EST.  If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC103.  If linking to one of your blog posts, please include a link back to the challenge. Complete details are available on the ODBD blog.

Please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs, you'll be blessed!

Sabrina Jackson  * Debi Southard * Lori Ulrich

Rosemary Dennis  * Jan Keen * Kathy Roney

New Life in Christ!

New life. . .in Christ!! I can't think of a better way to meet this challenge than with a verse that reflects the new life we are given when we trust in Christ. . .the old passes away and the new has come!! We are raised from the dead, spiritually speaking, and made alive in Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever should believe in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) .not only new life, but life eternal!! Are you interested in new life, in life everlasting, in being saved from sin, death and eternal condemnation. . .saved to new life?

"In Acts 16:31, in response to the question, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul answered, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your house.' Salvation is received by faith. When Scripture says that you must believe 'on' (or 'in,' or 'upon') Jesus Christ, it is talking about something more than mere assent. The Bible is clearly saying that you must depend upon Jesus Christ. But, what does that mean? It means that you must entrust your entire life, here and hereafter, to Him. It means that you must depend wholly upon what He has done, to be saved. 

But what has He done in order to save? Jesus Christ died on the cross, bearing the punishment that was due to all who throughout the ages will believe on Him. He rose from the dead, giving evidence that God accepted His penal, vicarious sacrifice. The wrath of God fell on Him instead of them. All who trust Him as Savior have their sins forgiven. This is the 'good news' that the apostles proclaimed around the Mediterranean world and that you are now learning in this blog. If you depend upon the saving work of Christ on the cross you will be saved.

Notice, the 'gospel' is good news to be believed; not good deeds to be done. News has to do with something that has already happened; not with something yet to be done. You cannot be saved by depending upon your good works, on ceremonies like baptism, or church membership. Nothing you have done or ever could do will save you. You must look away from yourself and others and look in faith to Christ alone. It is depending on the Lord Jesus Christ alone that saves. You cannot be saved by some vague invitation to 'come forward,' or to 'let Jesus come into your heart.' There must be an understanding of the good news that Christ died on the cross for guilty, condemned sinners like you, and a willingness to depend on His death and resurrection to save you from your sin.

And, in trusting Christ as Savior, you must be willing to admit that you are a sinner. When the Bible says that you 'have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' it means that, apart from God’s forgiveness, there is no way in which you can have eternal life. He will not allow unforgiven sinners to live in His perfect heaven. You must change your mind about yourself (apart from Christ you are unacceptable to God), about God (He is not a Santa Claus who accepts all into heaven) and about Christ (He isn’t just a great man; He is God come into the human race to save sinners).

Is God at work, convicting you of your sin and the need for a Savior? Then repent, change your mind; submit yourself to Jesus Christ and He will make you a new person and change the direction of your life. Trust Christ today."                  Jay Adams, Institute for Nouthetic Studies

CARD DETAILS

This card is basically a one layer card. . .okay, the main image panel is one layer! That one layer is then matted on a few other layers to give a bit more depth and color. Sprinkled embossing using Stampendous PEARLustre Champagne embossing powder adds a bit of gold sparkle (the hint of the glory to come.) The upper right corner represents the new page, the new leaf, the new life. . .as we put off the old and put on the new!


Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Series 2; Bird and Butterfly Corners and Bird and Butterfly Labels

Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Designer Paper: None

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 8, Stampendous PEARLustre Champagne embossing powder, Petaloo flowers and leaves

Notes:  Used a technique called "sprinkle embossing" where you sprinkle on embossing powder and then heat from beneath to give a few areas of sparkle.
Challenges:

Blessings! jme ~ SDG