Skip to main content

Those Facts Are No Longer True — I AM New in Christ

 

Those Facts Are No Longer True. I AM New (Ephesians 4:24)

"And put on the new person, which is created to be like God manifesting righteousness and holiness."  Ephesians 4:24 (KSB)

Before and after transformation from darkness to light


   In Ephesians 4:24, Paul reminds us that in Christ we can become a new person. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “If any person is in Christ, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This is one of the greatest joys of being a Christian, your past no longer has power over you. Those facts about who you used to be are no longer true, because I AM newIn Christ, I have embraced a new way of being, seeing, thinking, speaking, and living. I have awakened to the truth of who I AM: God’s beloved child, made in His image and likeness perfect, whole, and complete. I AM a unique, unrepeatable expression of the Divine. I AM a spiritual being living in a spiritual universe, governed by the spiritual law of love. Through God’s grace and mercy, we are given the chance to start fresh. Paul’s encouragement is clear: forget what lies behind and press forward toward the high calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13–14). God says in Isaiah 43:18–19, “Remember not the former things... Behold, I will do a new thing.” He promises to bring water in the wilderness and streams in the desert. This means your fresh start doesn’t have to wait for a birthday, New Year’s Eve, or any special date, you can choose renewal today.

   Paul illustrates transformation much like advertisers do with “before and after” comparisons. Just as products show visible results skincare, weight loss, cleaning products, our lives in Christ display the undeniable “before and after” of God’s work. We become His living billboard. As the old song says, “What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.” Before Christ, I was blind to God’s presence in every person, place, and thing. Now, my eyes are open. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). The good was always there, but I could not perceive it. Now I live in gratitude, seeing His hand everywhere. Paul also describes the shift from ignorance to knowledge. I once didn’t know any better, but through Christ I have learned and grown. And when you know better, you do better. I no longer need to repeat my old patterns. I AM better, and I live better.

   Finally, Paul speaks of moving from darkness to light. Darkness is living in secrecy, fear, and guilt. Light is openness, truth, and freedom. Jesus has brought me out of darkness into His marvelous light, and now I let my light shine so others may see my good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

   Here’s the “before and after” in Christ:

  • Blind → Seeing
  • Ignorance → Knowledge
  • Darkness → Light

   God is able to make you new. Decide today to walk in that truth because those old facts are no longer true… you are new in Him.

📖 Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to fully embrace the truth that you are new in Christ?

💡 Action Step: Write down three “before and after” changes God has brought in your life and thank Him for each one.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

  The Kingdom is About Growth (Matthew 13:24-30)   The kingdom is about growth, not condemnation, judgment, sin, abomination, transgression, or iniquity. The kingdom of God is about growth. Jesus said it is like wheat and weeds, or "tares," as some versions say. As you grow, once you plant a seed in the ground, you don’t just get what you get; you also get weeds. As you keep growing, you will outgrow any behavior, any way of being, seeing, thinking, speaking, or acting that is not like God; you will outgrow it. Stop trying to pull up the weeds and keep growing. Stop trying to put people out of your life because some of the people you think are weeds are really wheat, and some of the people you feel are wheat might not be. Just keep growing, and it will automatically separate. Jesus said the growth in the kingdom is like a mustard seed. It starts as the smallest seed, but it’s potent. So do not despise the days of small beginnings; keep growing. Don’t compare yourself to a...
  Are You a People Pleaser (Matthew 14:6) 06 February 2024   Who are you pleasing today? Some of us are people pleasers. We live our entire lives trying to please people, trying to get their approval and validation. We get pleasure out of pleasing other people, and so we do everything looking for people to be pleased with us.   Are you living your life for people, trying to please people? Some of us try to please ourselves, and we forget people. I AM    pleasing myself, and so all our lives are consumed with self-pleasure, and immediate gratification, and so we live our lives pleasing ourselves, or are you pleasing God? Are you living your life with one purpose: to please God? Are you concerned with whether or not God is pleased with you? At the end of the day, when God says well done, thou good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things. I will make you rule over me. That’s what I Am living for.   I am living to please God; I desi...
  I AM a Good Tree and I Bring Forth Good Fruit (Matthew 12:3) I AM a good tree, and I bring forth good fruit. I was created that way. When God made everything, He spoke over the creation and said it was good. When He got to human beings, He said not only were we good, but we were very good. Affirm with me today: I AM a good tree because I was created that way. It doesn’t matter what anybody else says; I was created good. God said I was very good.   Good is the essence of who I AM. Because I AM a good tree, not only was I created that way, but I also continue in that way. My good is a continuation of how I was created. Because I AM a good tree and I was created that way, my way of being is good. The energy and aura that come from me that exudes from me are good because I AM a good tree. How I see people, places, and things is good because I AM a good tree. I can’t help but see the good in God and people because I was created that way, so I continue that way. My way of th...