Made New In Christ
By his blood, we are brought near to God and made one in him and with one another.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:13-14).
One of my greatest temptations is to define myself by my past–to let old sins and failures be the governing reality of who I am and how I think God sees me. It is so easy to be defined by regret and by shame. So I— and likely some of you, too— need help remembering who we are in Christ.
Jesus gave us a commandment that was not new in its content, but was new because of its source. He told his followers to love one another just as he loved us. His love defines us, shapes us, and directs us.
By his blood, we are brought near to God and made one in him and with one another. No longer do our old failures or our old successes define us. Being in Christ does. This is true whether or not we remember it, but remembering it grants us access to the peace, hope, and joy it offers.
Friends, the old has gone, and the new has come, and we are new creations in Christ. So let’s live like it–battling sin because it doesn’t own us, forgiving others as God in Christ has forgiven us, pushing all shame toward the foot of the cross where it has already been dealt with, and repenting from sins because we are free to turn to Jesus.
And let us run with perseverance the race set before us, because we have the freedom and joy and certain future of being in Christ.
Preach on my Bother in Christ!! Thank you for the reminder!!!♥️
"....we are new creations in Christ. So let’s live like it–battling sin because it doesn’t own us..."
I've been encouraging some friends recently with this very phrase, it seems so many need "reminding" that we are new creations in Christ. When I started following the Lord in the 80's I use to hear the phrase "Victory in Jesus" all time, I saw it in my Mom as she was a miracle right before my eyes she stopped being an alcoholic when she surrendered her life to Jesus. I saw people stop smoking, I saw abusive marriages turn around, gang members in Chgo stop dealing and making a difference in kid's lives... I sometimes wonder what happened, that we don't walk in Resurrection Power anymore?
It's easy to want to blame cool-christianity, you know the pastors that say "I'm just like you, struggling with sin" but I don't want a leader who is just like me - I want you to be better than me. I usually compare this to people in the military, I can't imagine a high ranking officer telling a private "I'm just like you"...
Us older saints truly need to get our act together and help the next generation know that there is Power in the Blood to live as a New Creation.
So THANKFUL for The Daily Pulse