Andy Hall writes:
Our Identity in Christ
Numerous multiple things happen once we commit our lives to follow Jesus. According to Paul we become a “new creation” (2Corinthians 5 v17). The true nature and scope of this new creation is something the devil is always trying to hide from us. We need to become familiar with our new identity, so we do not become victims of demonic identity theft!
Someone who is born again is also regenerated so that the old downward path of spiritual degeneration is reversed. As we are saved the Spirit of God indwells us, our house becomes His house, and He starts to change the décor. At the same time, we receive a stamp of ownership by the Spirit that means we never get lost in transit but will get to our heavenly destination. Being sanctified, redeemed and justified means we can always have confidence in the Father’s presence. We are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God and are given a heavenly citizenship. We are washed of our sins, freed from our bondages, and adopted by our Father so that we can receive all the fullness of God. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God and are now an unfathomable mystery to Satan and all his powers!
Our challenge today is to bring our experience up to this bar of scripture not lowering the bar to our present experience. When God saved you, He bought all your debts and all your problems; they are now His and His to fix. We have gone, in one moment, from being dirty rotten sinners to saved saints. Once the blood of Jesus is applied, I can be made no cleaner than I now am. This does not mean I can not sin it just means I am no longer a “professional sinner”. Sinners have become saved saints that are prone to righteousness.
If you stand on a six-inch nail, you do not become a nail! Sin is an alien six-inch nail that invades your new life. As such it can be removed swiftly and the wound healed and then you can move on again, living in your new identity. Just because I sometimes sin does not make me a “sinner” again - it just shows I am a saint having a bad day. In Christ we have the best lawyer in town and the price for my crimes has already been paid. Jesus represents me in the court of heaven so that I can re-present Him to a watching and waiting world.
Andy Hall
Associate Minister CCBN