New ID

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal.2:20, NLT).

One day as my colleague and I were conducting background checks on our potential students applying to our program, it got me to thinking about one's spiritual background. Do we consider what a background check for our spiritual lives would look like?

Background checks are a common practice these days when applying for jobs, applying to be accepted into various programs, or even before joining certain volunteer organizations. If you have ever undergone a background check, did you anticipate what would be discovered about yourself, or might surface to reveal something you tucked away concerning your past? Maybe there are negative things - maybe not. Either way, we were all once spiritually lost in sin before we encountered Jesus. When you met Christ, your background suddenly changed and you were given a new identity! Through Christ, your background check is now clear and you walk in a "newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). As you walk in your new ID with Christ, God sees you forming into His image. Your past no longer affects you or shows up in a background check. All that can be see is Christ in you! You are now spiritually alive!

^"But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8, Amp).

If your background reveals sin in your life here are some steps you can take to clear it up:

1. Believe with all your heart in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

2. Repent of your sins and ask for His forgiveness.

3. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior and He will reside in your heart.

4. Share in His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism as a declaration of your faith.

Now walk in newness of life - your new ID in Jesus! (Rom. 6:4) You are now united with the Lord and are one in spirit with Him (I Cor. 6:17). You are free from any condemning charges against you.(see Rom. 8:31-34). You are now cleared, you passed the background check, and you have been accepted into God's family. Proudly share your spiritual ID to all you encounter everywhere you go in every situation.

Father, God, thank you for Your precious gift of grace. We praise You, Father, for the forgiveness of our sin, and we are honored that You have cleaned up our messy backgrounds. May we continue to walk with Your Son, Jesus, with our new identity! In His Name we pray, Amen.