The new birth-right
Jesus marvellous victory purchased us our new birth right.
What does the bible say about the birth-right of new believers?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: [a] The old has gone, the new is here!
Another translation puts it like this 2 Corinthians 5:17 … that person is a new creation.
So many wonderful things happen to us when we are born-again, and we become a new creation. According to my favourite bible teacher (the late Roger Price [3]) there are at least 37 wonderful things that happen at the point of the new birth). Our victories are all in Christ; here are a few examples from the 37.
All Christians have reconciled to God Rom 5:10 Eph 2:14-17
All Christians have been brought near to God Lk 10:20 Eph 2:13+19
The sins of all Christians have been judged in Christ Rom 4:25 Eph 1:7
All Christians have been forgiven their trespasses Eph 1:7 Col 1:14
All Christians have been justified (declared righteous) Rom 3:24 1 Cor 6:11
All Christians have been redeemed Rom 3:24 Col 1:14
All Christians have a new status; citizens of heaven Phil 3:20 seated in heavenly places Eph 2:6 higher rank than angels Eph 1:20-21 Heb 1:14 Rom 16:19-20.
In Christ new birth realities
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Romans 14:7 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
Does your day-to-day life reflect the above, living in right standing with God, experiencing heart peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Are you sleeping well and know that whatever is going on in your life, it is going to be OK, because you are in Christ?
There is an example in scripture of born-again Christians who had forgotten their born-again identities and were acting like spiritual babies.
1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
God wants us to be mature believers who know who we are in Christ, not babies always squabbling.
To maintain our true identities in Christ we must take control of our thinking…
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed[4] by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
The world wants to squeeze us into its mould and form worldly identities in us. But God has given us new identities and wants us to fully embrace them, and we find them in the bible. Do you think people will notice your new identity in Christ? How are you doing with your identity in Christ today, do you recognize the desired changes?
Amen
Personal prayer
In Part 5 we will find out how to ensure that we leave the old identity and life behind.