Who We Are In Christ

Part 4

We Have  A New Identity!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ ( the Messiah) he is a new creation ( a new creature altogether); the old [ previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.  Behold , the fresh and new has come! (AMP)

Have You Ever Wanted A New Identity?

I think that most of us have wanted that. We may have made some choices in the past that we are sorry for now, or life and circumstances have given us a difficult life.

With God all things are possible. God showed His great love for us when He gave His only Son to be sacrificed for us.We were cleansed of our inherent sin. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the scripture tells us that we are a new creation or creature. The old us is gone. We are new in our morals and spirituality. The Holy Spirit has come to indwell us. We are now positionally, in right standing before God. We are now able to hear and sense the Holy Spirits’ presence. 

There is a problem!

I need to explain that this new creation that God says we are, is only positionally before Him. Because of the cleansing we have received. God now sees us cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  Experientially we have all the same thinking, behavior and attitudes that we had before receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

As a new creation/creature  we now have the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. He will bring conviction if we are doing something wrong before God or other people. He will give us understanding and revelation of the word of God. Before we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we didn’t know when we were doing wrong before God.

We of course have been given freewill. We can obey what the Holy Spirit is wanting us to do; or do what our own will wants us to do. Experientially there must be a change in our behavior. 

The Bible states that we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16 ). Have you ever noticed that a new believer’s thinking, actions and attitudes are exactly the same as before salvation.  

We are given instructions as believers that will move us from being in right standing positionally to experientially. 

Romans 13: 14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

We are to ‘ Put on Christ and Die to Self’.  To put on Christ is to think, act and behave as Jesus would. To die to self is to stop behaving in our old carnal nature. 

I have a series of teaching called ‘Put on Christ’, if you would like more understanding. 

We are a three part being…..body, soul and spirit.

The Body

The body is our ‘earth suit’. I call it that because it enables us to live on earth in this atmosphere. When our time on earth is done, it is only our body that dies. It is no longer needed.

Our Soul

Our soul is the seat of our mind, will, emotions and imagination.  This is where the change can happen.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be tranformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

We are to renew our mind according to the Word of God, which is the will of God. As we renew our mind, great and wonderful things happen. We are now experientially experiencing our new identity. Our behavior, attitudes, thoughts, and fruit bearing are now lining up with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Spirit

Our spirit is where the Holy Spirit dwells in our body. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God head. He is also called God.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem,  and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

We can have a new identity.  There is a cost. It is so worth whatever it takes for us to get into position to be used of the Lord.

I’m going to close with a word for you.  To the many ministry friends reading this across the world.

God sees you all over the world, He sees your laboring for the kingdom of God. He hears your prayers. He has a fresh anointing for you. Press in and be still before Him. He will guide and lead into what He has for you. You have not been forgotten. 

We are a large army moving across the earth. We are one in the Spirit, one in our desires for souls to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

You are loved and highly favored of the Lord. Be refreshed in the Lord.

Bless you dear ones. With love and blessings

Pastor Barbara and Stanley

4/24