“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)
For several days, I have been thinking about the word, “identity”. Most of us would agree that our identity is found in who God says we are.
The more we know and believe this, the more likely we are to act upon it. Our lives will begin to reflect what we believe about ourselves – that we are new creatures in Christ.
Paul, in writing this, believed being in relationship with Christ should bring about a radical change in a person’s life.
The interesting part I learned from this verse is that it implies several things. We know a person in Christ is a new being. But it also implies that a new situation has come into being (New American Commentary, Vol. 29, page 286).
This brings such hope. Christ changes both people and situations. We are not stuck forever in our current circumstances. Often it is our current circumstances which bring about the changes we need as people. The two work hand in hand for full effect. God looks to change our character as well as our situations.
We must embrace that Christ will bring about change, believing to our core …
- He will open new doors of opportunities for us.
- He will restore relationships.
- He will make us strong for what lies ahead.
- We are more than conquerors through Him.
- He will break addictions.
- We can lead purposeful and successful lives.
May we start believing – living and acting – as the new creation that we are, letting Jesus define us.
Belief —> action.
The old is gone.
A new life has begun!
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and True Story and #RaRaLinkup and Intentional Tuesday and Reflect .
Love this! Love how we can be changed – in our hearts and in our situations – through Christ and in our faithfulness to follow where he leads.
Kathryn, it is amazing that through all the changes in our lives, He remains constant, unchanging. He brings about the changes, going through them with us but He never changes. Blessings!
I love the God who does not leave us the same! Recently, I finished Suzie Eller’s Mended Heart. I am an emotional girl and the huge takeaway I recieved is to place the word feeling between I and said emotion. Example: I am feeling unworthy. It allows me to process the emotion as temporary as well as allows me to examine what God says. Thank you for your words. This topic has been close to my heart. Joining you from Intentional Tuesday.
Grateful the post spoke to your heart. And I appreciate what you shared about placing the word ‘feeling’ between I and the said emotion. That would so keep us from placing the emotion on ourselves as part of our identity. Grateful you shared!
You speak such truth. Thank you!
Blessings,
Christy
Grateful you stopped here. May you walk in the truth of who you are in Him all week!
Lovely, God refreshes our hearts.
Been a while over here but I am so glad to head over today.
Sweet Blessings Joanne
Thank you, Ifeoma. So appreciate your words.
Joanne, I love the deeper look into how God changes not only us, but He changes our circumstances to change us too. Such hope in your words. Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Crystal, I think so often we know God changes us. It is often our circumstances that cause us to feel stuck or hopeless, as if things will never change. I am grateful God changes our situations in His time and as He knows is best for us. Always good to join you!
That’s a great truth to be reminded of! We often sink into despair, thinking ‘I can’t…’ but if we remember that He has made us new then we can know that we can, in Christ!
It’s true, Rhoda. We can often think our situations will never change forgetting that God is always at work. Grateful you stopped here!
I like what you said, “Christ changes both people and situations. We are not stuck forever in our current circumstances.” Finding our ID in who God say we are does change us into a new person, and as you said, our circumstances will also change. With new direction and a new follow plan, we are headed for glory days ahead. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story. http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Hazel, it is always good to read your comments. This here I want to remember > “With new direction & a new follow plan, we are headed for glory days ahead.” Now that’s encouraging!
“This brings such hope. Christ changes both people and situations.” Amen! Reading loads of hope in the key clicks of this post, Joanne. After all, hope is where it’s at, right? #GoJesus
Kristi, yes (!!!) hope is where it’s at. And hope in Him will never disappoint. Blessings!