07.27.07

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12 NKJV.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance…. - Ephesians 1:11a NKJV.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3 NKJV.

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. - Ephesians 1:5 NKJV.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. - Ephesians 1:7 NKJV.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. - Ephesians 2:19 NKJV.

In Elk City, Oklahoma, a 21-year-old man had been drinking, and was walking back to his hotel when he stumbled into the path of a car. The man was knocked unconscious and sustained other injuries. He was mediflighted to Oklahoma City about 110 miles away. He did not have any identification other than his shirt, which on the back in large letters said “INMATE.” Thinking the man was on the loose from the Department of Corrections of some state, the effort was begun to contact Corrections’ officials. However, no one had any information related to this individual, and when he finally woke up he told them he had bought the shirt at a convenience store.

This 21-year-old man can be thankful that he survived his injuries and that when he woke up he didn’t wake up in a prison medical facility. Lessons learned: Drinking can be harmful to your health, and wearing a shirt with “INMATE” on the back might not be in your best interest. Oh, and you might want to carry some identification with you.

Some of us who are Christians have a mistaken idea about our own identity. Some of us prayed to receive Christ as our Savior and then went back to living just as we had before. When you receive Jesus as your Savior, your identity is changed, transformed and you are no longer a stranger and foreigner to God; you are no longer an enemy of God. No, things have changed and they will never be what they were before. Why? Because you are a “new creation” and “old things have passed away” with “all things become new.” Why? Because you have become a child of God. You have been adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. You have “obtained an inheritance” and been blessed with “every spiritual blessing.” No, you are no longer, what you were; instead, you are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

Maybe you have been confused about your true identity. If you know Christ Jesus as your Savior, you may have been involved in all kinds of evil, sinful things in the past. But those things have passed away, and it is now time to begin to live your new, true identity. You are you see, a child of God. You are part of the royal family of the King of kings. Let us live like it!