A New Identity

Monday morning, August 25, 2008[ [overcast and 78 degrees],
Well, now that we have the Sunday School issue settled, let us move on to simpler and less-controversial matters, such as sovereignty. The following is a quote from John McArthur's commentary on the book of James (p. 61): "The new birth results from God's sovereignly coming down to a sinner and by His grace cleansing him, planting His Spirit within him, and giving him a completely new spiritual nature. He then has 'put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth' (Ephesians 4:24). After Augustine [354-430] was converted, a woman he formerly lived with called to him as he walked down the street, but he did not answer. She persisted and finally ran up to him and said, 'Augustine, it is I.' To which he replied, 'I know, but it is no longer I.' Our conscious experience of conversion, of believing in Jesus Christ, in His death and resurrection on our behalf, of committing our life to Him, is all the consequence of God's sovereign will."
Time and space will not permit me to give you the details of Augustine's life, so you will have to do a bit of internet research, and find out for yourself. It should, however, be very obvious that he was very familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul, especially this quote from his letter to the Galatians: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20; RSV Bible). I am certain that Augustine's reply to the woman left her thinking that he had lost his marbles, and I am just as certain that, should those of us who believe these words of Paul begin to tell others, as did Augustine, we would be looked upon as being without our marbles, as well.
It seems to me that most Christians have either never read Galatians 2:20, OR they haven't grasped what Paul said, OR they do not believe what he said, and this is evidenced by the fact that few ever seem to confess that they are no longer who they were, they never seem to confess that they are new creations in Christ Jesus. It is as if most are determined to sell the good news short, to refuse to accept the perfect and complete work of Jesus.
Listen, dear friend, IF you are one of His elect, then you ARE a new creation in Christ Jesus, as in completely new—no longer in Adam but in Christ! Why don't you accept your new identity and begin to introduce yourself to others accordingly?
Just wondering-