Biblical Lessons for a New Beginning: Hope and Redemption in the New Year

Five Biblical Lessons for a New Beginning: Hope and Redemption in the New Year!

Do you want to get a good start on the New Year? How about Hope and Redemption in the New Year? Try reading the bible to learn what God is saying to you. For example, the story of the birth of Jesus is one of hope and a restored relationship with our Father God, and the place of repentance and redemption. It is also about a new start, which is a good thing to think about when we celebrate the New Year.

One: "22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”" Matthew 2:22-23

Joseph, Mary, and their son Jesus needed a new place to live. The place they had in mind was too dangerous. More importantly, it was also not the place that God wanted them to live. The plan God had for this small, young family was to change the world, but it required obedience and trust. Not only that, but in His word, God told everyone that this was going to happen. Our best protection is trusting and obeying God.

Two: "1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”" Matthew 3:1-2

When Jesus and John the Baptist grew up, they began to preach (they both brought the same message, see Mark 1:4 and 15). The message was not one of doom and punishment for sin, but of repentance and deliverance. This annoyed the religious hierarchy of that day (and of ours too). But it was a message of hope and the offer of a new beginning.

Three: "4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will" Ephesians 1:4-5

Not only was it a new beginning, but one of a changed life (Colossians 1:22). Not that we become perfect, but that we become “…blameless before Him…”. In my entire life no one has ever called me blameless and holy, except God. How do we get that way? By faith in Jesus. That is a new beginning worth having!

Four: "11 As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11

After we repent and turn to Jesus, there is still more newness. Not only are we immersed in water, but we are immersed in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live this new life continually. With Him as our Helper we can overcome the temptations of this world. We have victory over our sin and our past!

Five: "25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God" Job 19:25-26

What! A quote from the book of Job to celebrate the New Year?! Yes. Job went through an awful time: his children were killed, his wife was angry with him, he was desperately ill, and his friends blamed him for his misfortune. His response? “…I know that my redeemer lives…”. No matter what we go through, even if it is our own fault, we can say “My Redeemer lives”. In the worst time, and when things are great, our Redeemer lives. And we can KNOW that we will see Him and celebrate with Him.

Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and to redeem us from all the wrong we have done, and the wrong which has been done to us. Jesus is triumphant, He won, He beat death and gives us His victory. What we lost by sin is restored by grace and we can start over again. And that is good news!