Gaining Christ Through the Refining Journey
August 14, 2026
Leaving Our Old Life Behind through Baptism
Leaving Our Old Life Behind through Baptism
Our New Identity in Christ Is to Walk in His Resurrection Life While on Earth
An address identifies where a person belongs and establishes identity and position. Likewise, before Christ, we wandered in this world, and our ambitions reflected its desires and what it considered valuable. But in Christ, our identity changes: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away...all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
Accepting Jesus as Savior is the divine mystery that becomes the turning point from the old life of the flesh into a new spiritual life. Yet salvation is not the end of the purpose; we transition from receiving Jesus as Savior to living with Him as LORD.
Baptism reveals this transition. We are buried with Christ into death and raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). The water itself does not change us, but through baptism we recognize that our old identity is buried with Him: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
The one who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:6–7). Being in Christ means we no longer practice the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19–21), but pursue the righteousness that pleases God. We show grace and forgive as Christ forgave us (Eph. 4:32), and build our life upon the Rock (Matt. 7:24–25). Patience, forgiveness, relationship with Him, obedience, and making Him our priority reflect this new life. Our desire becomes more of Jesus and less of ourselves (Jn. 3:30).
This life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit. As Israel moved when the pillar moved and remained when it remained (Num. 9:15–23), we align ourselves with His leading rather than the ambitions and busyness of this world (Gal. 5:25).
Though we still live in the flesh and face weaknesses, battles, and anxiety along the way, we live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20). We trust that He knows what is best for us and provides according to His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). As we anchor our faith in Him, we cast our anxieties upon Him because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7), trusting Him to make a way where we cannot see one.
We cannot begin in the Spirit and complete the journey through the flesh (Gal. 3:3). His purpose takes us beyond our abilities, humbles us, elevates us, and glorifies His name. This is our new identity—living on earth, yet walking in the newness of His resurrection life.
SOW THIS WORD INTO YOUR SOUL
