I can be a hot-headed,
over-competitive, lazy, ungrateful, complaining, over-sarcastic, wretched
man. (That is really just the tip of the
iceberg. There are many more faults that
I am too embarrassed to post). But thanks be to God because “He who
began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus’ (Philippians 1:6). I, like all believers, are works in progress. The theological phrase that describes this is,
“progressive sanctification.” I am grateful
that my sin doesn’t define me, because Christ took the penalty of my sins (and the
entire world’s sin John 3:16) on the cross and then victoriously defeated
death!!! This fact doesn’t give me license to sin, as a matter of fact it
motivates me to call on the Holy Spirit to, “live a life worthy of the calling I
have received” (Ephesians 4:1). Although
I still struggle with my flesh, my identity is in the ONE who paid it
all!!! “If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW
CREATION; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
