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Happy New Year!
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).
The essence of the gospel is being a new creation in Christ. This means you are a brand new creation, not a patched up version of who you originally were.
Being in Christ doesn't mean you are in Christ as a separate being. Being in Christ means you are so united with Christ that your identity is rooted in Him. He is the source of your life. You can indeed pray "in Jesus name."
He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17).
Because Christ is eternal life, you were spiritually and literally in Him when He was crucified. He totally identified with your former sinful identity. He buried your old person. And you were in Christ when He rose again to a new creation!
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him (Romans 6:8).
The world temps us to make resolutions to do better, to always strive to be new and improved. The gospel exhorts us to resolutely believe God and to rest in being new and complete in Christ.
For in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10).
Believe God when He says you are complete in His dear Son. Then, you won't need to expend energy in trying to be better. Your energy will be reserved for others as you grow in experiencing life as an abundant overflow of His life through you in new ways every new day!
See attached article I wrote in December 2002. I look forward to more Rest Stops with you in 2011! In Christ our hope,
 Gregg |