JULY 1
YOUR OLD LIFE
Ephesians 2:1-2
1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; (WEB)
Interestingly, every time our old life is mentioned in the New Testament letters, it is referenced in the past tense. "You were dead in your sins... Your old life... You used to walk in the ways of the world..." etc.
Every time we are described as who we are now (in the present tense), we are reminded of our royal position in Christ! In today's Bible reading, we see how Paul contrasts our old life with our new life. While we once were dead in our sins and walked according to the ways of the world, now we are made alive in Christ!
My question today is: Do you see your old life as past or present tense? We were indeed sinners who were saved by grace, but we are no longer ‘sinners.' Our biblical identity now is ‘saints.' Though we can still sin, it does not define us. What defines us is that we have been made alive in Christ.
Today, I pray that each saint would say 'yes and amen' to this truth and see their old life in the past tense. Sure, we are still dealing with the remnants of our sinful nature that still indwells our flesh. Sure, we are still dealing with the residue of a broken soul (mind, will, emotions) that continues to contrast with our heavenly identity. But the truth is that even though we struggle with the old nature that wages war with the Spirit that lives within us, all of that brokenness no longer defines our true spiritual identity.
We are now alive in Christ, joint heirs with Jesus, and seated with Him in heavenly places at our Father's right hand. May we experience this like never before! May gratitude rise in our hearts as we declare with the Apostle Paul that everyone in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away, and all things have become new!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. (WEB)
1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; (WEB)
Interestingly, every time our old life is mentioned in the New Testament letters, it is referenced in the past tense. "You were dead in your sins... Your old life... You used to walk in the ways of the world..." etc.
Every time we are described as who we are now (in the present tense), we are reminded of our royal position in Christ! In today's Bible reading, we see how Paul contrasts our old life with our new life. While we once were dead in our sins and walked according to the ways of the world, now we are made alive in Christ!
My question today is: Do you see your old life as past or present tense? We were indeed sinners who were saved by grace, but we are no longer ‘sinners.' Our biblical identity now is ‘saints.' Though we can still sin, it does not define us. What defines us is that we have been made alive in Christ.
Today, I pray that each saint would say 'yes and amen' to this truth and see their old life in the past tense. Sure, we are still dealing with the remnants of our sinful nature that still indwells our flesh. Sure, we are still dealing with the residue of a broken soul (mind, will, emotions) that continues to contrast with our heavenly identity. But the truth is that even though we struggle with the old nature that wages war with the Spirit that lives within us, all of that brokenness no longer defines our true spiritual identity.
We are now alive in Christ, joint heirs with Jesus, and seated with Him in heavenly places at our Father's right hand. May we experience this like never before! May gratitude rise in our hearts as we declare with the Apostle Paul that everyone in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away, and all things have become new!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. (WEB)