We all have a story. Our “story” presents a picture of who we are. Most of us only know what we see about a person but their backstory paints a broader picture of their life. For some of us, our backstory is the part we’d prefer to forget. What we try to hide from will haunt us.

In a previous article, I wrote about how God has made provisions for you to be free from the baggage, guilt, and shame of your past. (You can read that article here) You don’t have to go through life carrying that extra baggage. One advantage of having God forgive your sin is that He removes the relevancy of your past from your present.

We have an enemy who wants to make your past the present. When you hold onto your past you limit your worship, marginalize your service and the truth is distorted. This is why Paul said in Romans 12:2 “² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Our mind needs to conform to the Word of God so we can take hold of the freedom that comes from salvation in Jesus Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul shares with us keys to living a life free from our past. My hope is that you experience the freedom Jesus Christ purchased for you with His death and resurrection every single day!

“¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

If anyone, that includes you, is in Christ he or she is a new creation.

To be “in Christ” means;

#1 One who belongs to Christ,

#2 One who lives in the sphere of Christ power,

#3 One who is united with Christ, and

#4 One who is a part of the body of Christ.

To be “in Christ” represents a dynamic change in how we live. As a Christian we don’t simply “add” Christ to our life, His way becomes our life. It’s through obedience to the scripture that we are transformed and every blessing from God flows. Our struggle to live obediently is magnified if Christ is merely something we try to add to our life.

Paul makes it clear that we are a “new creation in Christ.” Jesus is the divider of history. Our timeline is divided by his birth and death. He also divides our past from our present. He places a wall between your pre and post-salvation life. Salvation ushers in a new life in Christ, the old is GONE!

The Tyndale Bible dictionary defines “creation” as the divine act of making something out of nothing. It’s a divine work. God can take our dark, broken, shattered past and transform it into something new. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

The Greek word for creation is translated “ktisis” and it means to make or create something which has not existed before. The emphasis is on you becoming something you have never been. Not a recycled version of you but a brand new version made new by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. The Bible is our instructions on how to live as a new creation.

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Jesus has removed every reason you have for holding onto your baggage. Choose to live by the Spirit according to the Word of God and experience a life greater than you could ever imagine. The life that God has prepared for you will be superior to anything you could dream up on your own!

Live free!