No Blame, No Shame, But A New Name
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
If I were to paraphrase the second half of this verse in my own words, I would say it like this: The old species, the old spirit man has passed away, and you have become a new creation; a new spirit. When we accepted Christ, we became a brand new spirit inside. We are born-again creations. we are in Christ with a new nature and new name. Now we are called Christian, meaning Christlike, little anointed ones. We are those who have believed in Christ and are His followers. Our very identity has been changed into something completely new.
Even when we mess up and sin, missing the mark and falling short of who God has made us to be, we can ask for forgiveness. God wipes away the blame and shame and reminds us we have a new name. Our name is Christian- God’s child. Christ took the blame that brings us shame and gave us His name. Instead of carrying the label of sinner, loser, or failure, we carry the title of Christian, which means we win because Christ has won.
When satan tries to blame us, accuse us, and condemn us, we can tell him to shut up and leave. Remind him that you are none of his business because you are God’s child and you no longer belong to him. when shame tries to make you feel like less than who you are, begin to declare who God has made you to be in Christ. In Christ, we can stand up with our heads held high. All is forgiven and there is no shame or blame. God doesn’t see who we were but who we are in Christ.
Christ has made us new, righteous, blameless, shameless, and beloved in Him. We are His beloved, the ones He loves, blameless in His sight and shameless in His presence. We are free to be who He as made us to be: righteous, clean, free, and forgiven. We can live as if any past sin has never happened- because in God’s eyes, it never did. He doesn’t see the bad or wrong you committed once it has been forgiven and washed away by the blood of Christ. Just say, “I plead the blood of Jesus,” and God will declare you not guilty. Instead, He will declare you to be loved, accepted, and His very own.
God declares your new name: Christian. He sees you just as He sees Jesus because He sees you in Christ. Go ahead and celebrate your new name: Christian. You are one with Christ and in Christ.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26 (KJV)
