“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 HCSB). How do we become more like Christ? As we see Him here in this life through God’s Word, we are transformed into His image in our spirit, soul and body.  There is no, “If you do, then I will” in this verse. It doesn’t say we qualify if we are good enough, if we pray enough or if we give enough. He has qualified us by His sacrifice, His blood, and His victory over Satan. The key is to allow Him to transform us by the renewing of our minds!

Jesus paid every penalty and removed every judgement that was against us. He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. By the stripes He received on the whipping post, we were healed! “The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.” (Zephaniah 3:15)

When you were born again, you instantly became holy and blameless in God’s sight, because He sees you in Christ! In God’s eyes, your past is removed and your sins are forgotten as if they never happened. You have been released from all condemnation and shame, because Jesus bore it all for you. Don’t take anything back from the devil that Jesus paid with His life to remove!

Paul had an interesting view of himself. He thought of himself as a man who had died and awakened to a new life in Christ. He considered himself a dead man, yet still breathing. Dead men do not get offended at people. Dead men do not scream back when they are screamed at. Dead men can be poked, kicked, mocked and spit upon, and they still do not respond. The devil and his followers have no weapons left when Christians do not respond in fear or anger to their evil threats and actions!

You are a new creation IN CHRIST! What does that look like in your daily life? You can expect miracles! You can confidently expect the best and believe the best! You can love and have compassion on others without hesitation, because you have been given God’s love poured out into your heart! All of this means you can make a difference in your world, no matter how big or small!

Imagine with me for a moment what God has done for each one of us. He’s made us totally new creations by putting us into Christ. He’s rewired us with the mind of Christ, and poured His love into our hearts. He has pledged to do the work in us to want to do and do the things that please Him. We are born of the Spirit—righteous, fresh and alive to a loving, joy giving God! (Galatians 2:20; 1 Cor. 2:16; Romans 5:5; Phil. 2:13)

Romans 8:32 tells us: “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him [Jesus], graciously give us all things?” You don’t have to pay for it, you don’t have to crawl on your knees until they’re bloody to show God you’re willing to pay a price to receive His grace. No, the bloody knees were on Jesus. God has freely given us all things because of the blood of Jesus Christ!

When we truly learn who Jesus is and what He has done both for us and in us, we discover who we really are. And when we discover who we are, we learn what are to be doing here in the earth.  Mountains, obstacles, troubles and anything else that tries to hinder us from carrying out God’s plans and purposes will then be removed when we speak!

We are given a truth that cries out to the ages for all who are broken, defeated, bound, weak, sad, lost, sick and fearful.  What is that truth? It is the discovery of a NEW BEGINNING. God is not trying to repair what sin and satan have broken; He starts you off as a NEW CREATION—a brand new being!

How much does God love you? Isaiah 49:16 says God loves you so much that He has engraved your name on the palm of His hand. Matthew 10:30 says He loves you so much that He knows how many hairs are on your head. Psalm 56:8 says He loves you so much that He saves your tears in a bottle. Jeremiah 31:3 says He loves you with an everlasting love—an undying, endless love!