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"Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is
liberty. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in
a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from glory to glory, just as from
the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
To know Christ is to be joined with Him as one. The
Church is the bride of Christ and as a man and woman are
no longer two but become "one flesh" in the marriage
covenant, when we are joined with Christ in Covenant we
become one spirit with Him, -"For
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I
betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might
present you as a pure virgin." (2 Cor.11) Dear
saints, it has not yet appeared what we shall be, but
when our Beloved comes we shall be as He is.
Though now we see through a glass dimly, on that Day we
will see clearly. I have seen Christ transform so many
lives. I have been so blessed to witness great changes
in people’s character as they grow in the grace and
knowledge of God. And I must say - it is glorious
indeed! On occasion I have actually seen the shekinah
glory of God literally illuminating the face of one of
His saints. It was as if the glory within was reaching
out to the glory descending as deep called unto deep.
It is of the utmost importance that you fully receive
your identity in Christ. You must believe that God no
longer recognizes you according to the flesh, -"Therefore
from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh;.
. .Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creature; the old things passed away; behold new things
have come." (2 Cor.5)
What do you see when you look in a mirror? Do
you see the first Adam or the last Adam? Do you see the
first man or the second Man? You can only see your true
identity in Christ by looking through the eyes of faith.
By faith God spoke the worlds into existence. Faith is
the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of
things not yet seen. By faith in the promises of God
Paul assured the saints that a glorious creation was
waiting to be revealed when the mortal gives way to the
immortal.
To receive your new identity in Christ you must first
understand the difference between being forgiven and
being delivered. Only when you receive by faith that you
have been delivered from sin can you know for certain
that you are saved.
The blood of Christ cleanses you from your sins but the
life of Christ delivers you from sin itself, -"For
the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but
the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so
consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God
in Christ Jesus." (Rom.6) When
Christ died for you, you also died with Him, and as He
died to sin once for all, you also died to sin once for
all and are now alive forever in Christ.
Please indulge me for a moment and go to a mirror. What
you will initially see is an old familiar face in the
likeness of Adam. But the eyes are the windows of your
soul, so look closer, gazing deeply into your eyes and
receive by faith that a new creation is looking back at
you. Come to recognize yourself no longer in the flesh
but in the Spirit for "behold
new things have come."
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