When I think of being born in Christ, I do think of the beautiful butterfly illustration I mentioned in my last devotion. Truth is what we must rely on always to keep us focused on living a Christian life and ultimately an abundant life. Truth is what God says regardless of how we feel or what we might believe. It was true we were born in Adam and were by nature a sinner by birth. It is true that as Christians we were born again in Christ and are by nature righteous by birth (Romans 5:19, II Corinthians 5:21). It took zero sins to make us a sinner. Sin came from our birth not our behavior. Likewise, it took zero acts of righteousness to make us righteous. Righteousness comes from our birth (born again) not our behavior. Do you now see why I say BIRTH IS A BIG DEAL!

This Cross was such a game changer and sometimes I don’t think we truly appreciate how big a deal it was for us. So, Romans 5:19 says, “For as through one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were MADE sinners even so through the obedience of the One (Jesus Christ) the many will be MADE righteous.” I highlighted the word MADE in this verse because for me it shows that sin, being in Adam, came from my birth (made), and it shows that righteousness, being in Christ came from my birth (born again, made). I am so thankful that the gospel not only gave me an eternal place in heaven it also gave me a new identity here and now on planet earth. (A butterfly, the righteousness of God in Christ) It changed my identity and my view of myself and life. I used to beat myself up. I would always want to do good for God and at times would mess up and feel like a failure for God.

Does this ever happen to you?

I would concentrate on the sin because in my core belief system I defined myself as a Sinner saved by grace and I knew that given the opportunity I would sin more than do righteous things because that was who I was. That was my identity. I thought I had to work harder for God and show Him I was the Christian, He wanted me to be.

Wow was I wrong and on the wrong track in my Christian life. Do you see what I was trying to do. I was trying to work hard to gain righteousness. I was working hard for something I already had, but I didn’t know I already had it. I wanted God to love and accept me more based on what I did for Him. Here is a question I came to. How much more will God love and accept me based on what I do for Him than on the day He saved me? The answer is He will never love or except me more based on what I to do for Him than the day he saved me. So now my work comes out of what He directs me to do and my motivation for doing it is only because He directed me. I have no results to accomplish on my own because they are all His. This is His ministry; this is His vision and mission, and He will work through me to accomplish His vision. I Thes. 5:24 “…Faithful is He who has called me, and He will do it.” I love that verse.

Now I am free to enjoy Him because my worth and value is not tied in what I do. All of this comes from my new identity of being born in Christ and living out of who He says I am.

Can’t wait to dig a little deeper into this Identity truth next time.

Dave Pridemore
Founder of Camp Grace