Spiritual IdentitySample

Our true spiritual identity can only be found in Christ.  

In the Scripture reading for today, the apostle Paul reminds a group of identity-confused Christians at Corinth that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things are passed away and the new things have come: 

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The church at Corinth was guilty of showing favor to certain people based on their impressive credentials and outward appearances (2 Corinthians 5:12). But as believers we are a new creation, and we have been rebirthed into a new identity that is rooted in Christ and His reconciling work for us on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:19). 

Just as a prince or a princess receives his or her identity based on birth rather than on a list of accomplishments, we must remember that as believers, we are in Christ, and this alone determines our spiritual identity as the sons and daughters of the King.

The church at Corinth was guilty of showing favor to certain people based on their impressive credentials and outward appearances, rather than focusing on their spiritual identity of being “in Christ” as sons and daughters of God. Have you struggled with this same temptation? Remember Paul’s challenge to “recognize no one according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 5:16).

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