Our New Identity in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Corinth that if you are in Christ, the old has passed and the new has come. Pastor John MacArthur puts it this way: “New Creatures live in old bodies.” Our bodies have not changed; our hearts and minds have been regenerated, and a new identity has been given to us in Christ. In other words, believers are no longer the people they once were. They might look the same physically, but internally they have been transformed, given a new heart and mind in Christ.

Paul will continue to write about how God has given those who are saved the ministry of reconciliation. Believers are forgiven in Christ. Paul finishes this paragraph by describing how, for our sake, Jesus was made sin so that we may have the righteousness of Christ. What an amazing truth!

In our Christian walk, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by our past failures. These thoughts disrupt our thinking and take away our joy in Christ. For example, we may think about our roles before knowing Christ as a parent, friend, son, or husband. It is during these times and seasons that we must remind ourselves that God has given us a new birth and made us a new creation in Christ. We are no longer the people we once were because believers are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has passed, making all things new. Praise the Lord!

Friends, if God has saved us through his grace, then God has given us a new identity in Christ. People may see you the same physically, but internally, he has given you a new heart and the righteousness of Christ!

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