In or After?

I've been really focussed on my identity as a believer a lot this year  already.  And this week I was reading the following passage in Romans:... and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him 
Romans 8:8-9 (MEV)

Paul is telling believer that they are no longer IN the flesh. I don't know about you, but sometimes that's a hard thing to get my head around.  How many of you find that hard to deal with the idea that if you are a Christian, YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH any more? 

I can already see what you're thinking  "Abi you have no idea what I've done today!" But the problem is we look at ourselves in the mirror and relate to the world around us by what we see,  but the scripture tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight!   

The truth is, if God lives on the inside of you, you are no longer simply a human being!  You literally carry the same power that raised Christ from the dead around with you everywhere you go! You are no longer connected the source of death (sin) and you are no longer subject to the laws that govern sin, sickness and death (separation from God).  You are connected to the LIFE OF GOD!!

When you accepted Jesus as your saviour, you become a brand new creature  (2 Cor 5:17); old things have passed away and all things have become new, and Paul said you are not in the flesh!  We are in the Spirit, whether you feel like it or not.  

I know that sometimes we can follow AFTER the flesh, and behave in a way that is contrary to this new nature, but that is no longer WHO WE ARE.  

A woman who is married, is married.  She may carry on as if she's not, but she that doesn't change her status; she is married.   God doesn't look at us on the basis of what we do. He no longer looks at us according to the flesh.  Can you imagine that?  God Almighty, Maker of the universe; all powerful, perfect, loving God looks at you and me and sees us EXACTLY identical to Jesus!     That is mind blowing to me. 

Paul tells us that in the same way we should identify with other believers spirit to spirit not regard them in the flesh - and that's an even harder thing to take on board!

Does that mean we can just go ahead and do whatever we want?  No of course not, but the revelation of who we really are steers us away from guilt and condemnation of ourselves (and others) and helps us rejoice in the goodness of God.  As we allow ourselves to see who we really are and allow our minds to be renewed to that new identity,  the word says that we will be transformed and our actions will follow who we believe ourselves to be. 

When we identify with Jesus we can go and live like he did, look like he did and love like he did!  


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