Therefore if any person is [ENGRAFTED] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold the fresh and new has come!
(2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP)

Jesus took our guilt, shame, sin, death, and curse so that
we could be free. Mark Hankins

The two words In Christ are the most important words used by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. These words are the key to opening the secrets of the Gospel. A. J. Gordon said it this way, “These two words, ‘In Christ’ give us profound insight into the Divine method of salvation. These two words open to us mysteries and secrets that were hidden for ages and generations.” We have been “In Christ-ed.” There are over one hundred thirty scriptures that use the phrases “In Christ, In Him, and In Whom.” What do these phrases mean?

We have been engrafted into Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches. We were engrafted into His death that we might be one with His resurrection and victory. He was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Confession: I have been engrafted into Christ! I am a new creation. I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Many Christians are weak though they are sincere because they have never dared to make a bold confession of who they are in Christ.
E.W. Kenyon

Have you ever checked in for a flight and been asked for proof of identification? You can say, “Here I am. Can’t you see — this is me? I can prove that I exist. Just look.” That is not enough. You have to have some authentic legal proof of identification.

Identification is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as, “to consider or treat as the same, the condition or fact of being, the same in all qualities under consideration.”

Many people live and die and never find their true identity. In the realm of the Spirit you say, “Well, here I am. Obviously, I am who I am.” God will ask, “Do you have any identification on you?” You say, “I sure do, I have some identification right here in Galatians 2:20– I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.” Your true identity is found in Christ!

Confession: I have found my true identity in Christ. “Now it is not my old self, but Christ Himself who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20 Noli)

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

We look a lot better in Christ than we do outside of Him.
Mark Hankins

If you have ever watched a football game on TV, you might have heard the announcers giving a commentary about the game. Let’s say they were talking about a particular player, say number 65 (my number in high school) that is being pounded by the other team.

Then the coach says, “I’ve got a plan.” He pulls number 65 out and replaces him with the strongest man on the team.

That’s what God did for us when He sent Jesus to die in our place. God put Jesus in number 65’s (mankind’s) jersey. Number 65 was then put back on the field, and the whole picture changed. The announcer then would say, “You know, something has happened to number 65. He’s moving the ball all over the field now.”

Before man was identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, he had been whipped all over by depression, discouragement, fear, failure, shame, and guilt. But now, number 65 is winning and he’s dominating!

Confession: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20)