Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
You aren’t just forgiven; you’re a new creation. It’s so important to realize this if you want to walk in the authority you have in Christ.
In many people’s lives, Christianity has been narrowed down to this one point: I gave my life to Jesus and now I am forgiven. Actually, giving your life to Christ does so much more than that!
Yes, when Jesus died on the cross, He paid for the sin of mankind. So when you make the decision to follow Him, you are no longer a “sinner.” You’re now a “saint” because you belong to Jesus. You’re a member of God’s family.
Does this mean you’re forgiven for all your sins? The truth is your relationship with God isn’t determined by how good you are or how often you’ve asked for forgiveness. It’s determined by your choice to follow Christ. So if you make a mistake, ask God to forgive you, and know that you’ll be forgiven every time (1 John 1:9).
The truth is that when you gave your life to Jesus Christ, something miraculous happened. The old nature of sin and Satan you had within you was replaced by a new nature—the nature of God. Our verse today says that you became a new creation.
You may not feel like everything became new in that moment. You still might have bad habits and problems. Your situation might not look new, but YOU are new. You are a brand new creation.
As that new creation, you have everything you need within you to walk in God’s promises and in the authority you have in Christ!