Identity in Christ!!

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.