It seems the generation today is all about self.   Who can make the biggest splash and get on tonight’s 5:00 news?  Even people portrayed on commercials, talent shows, and the personalities on daytime programming all scream for attention.  Everyone wants to stand out, and will do just about anything to get it.

I make this point to illustrate that so many people don’t know who they are.  Who they are changes from one moment to the next; whatever works to get the attention they desperately want.

This kind of thinking can be summed up in one word: Flesh; the physical and mental/emotional part of you.

That may seem overdone if not religious jargon to some.   After all, we do have a physical body, mind and emotions.  If we weren’t meant to please our flesh, why would we have it?  Again, This perspective stems from not understanding who we really are.

Religion doesn’t seem to help.  Often times, making the Christian believe they must live up to God’s standard, the church’s standard, and of course their own imposed standard if they are going to receive the love and acceptance from God.  Act this way, dress like this… inferring our behavior is what defines us and validates our right-standing and acceptance with God.

But, Jesus said, the flesh profits nothing.  John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

So what does this mean for us as born-again new creations in Christ?

We must understand that we are NOT flesh.  Another way of understanding this is recognizing that we are not simply a soul with a body.  Soul, meaning mind, will, emotions.  The personality part of us.

And our body (outward appearance) is not the most important aspect of our being.  Scripture shows us clearly that we are a three part being.  We are a spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

At Salvation, our soul (mind, will, emotions) and body don’t automatically change.  It is our spirit, our true self that becomes re-born, made new, and accepted by God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

We are not simply rats running around in a maze trying to get our cheese!  Satisfying every whim of the flesh through the world’s system, views and standards!  We have been adopted as children of almighty God, and made complete in Him.  Our value comes from who we are in our spirit.

As Christians, our new life should be lived out of who we are in our born-again spirit.  When we know who we are in Christ, we can begin to live above the limitations of being controlled by our flesh and be led by the Spirit of God within us.  We need to know who we really are!

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

We are more than mere human beings; limited by the suffering, corruption, loss, and resources and power of the world’s system.  We are children of the living God. (Gal. 3:26)  We have everything that pertains to life and godliness in our born-again spirit. (2 Pet. 1:3)   We have been given great and precious promises. (2 Pet. 1:4)   We partake of the divine nature of God. (2 Pet. 1:4)   We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:17)  We are seated in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6)   As Christ is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)   Amen

Who do you say you are?  This depends on whether you’re going to look at the world to define you or to what God says about you in your born again spirit.  When you agree with God, you will see the life of Christ lived out in you.  Praise God!