Witness Protection Program–Part One

Witness Protection Program–Part One

by Grant Gaines

Have you ever felt like you needed to start over with a clean slate? Well ever since 1871, the United States Federal Witness Protection Program has been helping their subjects to do just that. The WPP (Witness Protection Program) essentially has the authority to press the “reset button” on a person’s life by giving the at-risk witness a new name, a new date of birth, a new occupation, a new hometown –basically a completely new identity.

But did you know that just like the WPP, the Bible tells us that as Christians we are given a new identity? 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV, bold mine) tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We are told in Psalms 103:12 (NIV) that, “…as far as the east is from the west, so far has [God] removed our transgressions from us.” And we are encouraged once more in Hebrews 8:12 (NIV) that God, “will forgive [our] wickedness and will remember [our] sins no more.”

We are indeed an entirely new creation because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Before Christ, the Bible describes us as, “…enemies of God…” (James 4:4, NIV), “…children of wrath…” (Ephesians 2:3, ESV), and “…slaves to sin…” (Romans 6:17, NIV). However, through this new life offered in Jesus Christ, God’s Word says that we are now God’s, “…dearly loved children…” (Ephesians 5:1, NIV), “…brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11, NIV), and “…friends…” (John 15:15, NIV). Talk about a new identity!

But let me ask you a question, do you live like you’re an entirely new creation? Do you live according to God’s promise in Galatians 5:24 (NIV) which tells us that, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires”? Do you live with this type of freedom from sin? When people see you, do they see a spitting image of the world (non-believers) or do they see someone who is night-and-day-different from this unbelieving world?

The problem with so many Christians today, myself included, is that we so often forget that we are new creations, free from our sins. We so often fail to remember Galatians 5:1 (NIV) which informs us that, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” and continues to encourage us to, “…Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” You see, just as you wouldn’t take your newly washed car on an off-road mudding adventure, new creations don’t “muddy” themselves in the former way of living.

So how do we live as new creations, different from the world, and free from the “yoke of slavery” to sin? God gives us our answer in Romans 12:2 (NLT). “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…” According to this verse, our job is to be spiritually different from the world by daily choosing to exercise our God-given victory over sin. Then God, as He promised, will transform us through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2, NIV).

We see a textbook example of being transformed into a new creation through the life of the apostle Paul. Before Paul was arguably the greatest missionary in the Church’s history, he was a Christian-killing Jewish Pharisee named Saul. Paul gives his own autobiography of his former life throughout his letters to the various churches and pastors of his time. In Galatians 1:13 (NIV) Paul says that he, “…intensely…persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” Paul also writes that he, “…persecuted the followers of [Jesus] to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison…” (Acts 22:4, NIV). He later describes himself as the “chief of sinners” in 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV).

However, despite Paul’s vicious past, God transformed his life and even called Paul His, “…chosen instrument to carry [His] name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15, NIV). After being transformed by God’s grace, Paul became one of the most influential Church leaders and the author of 13 of the 21 Epistles we find in the New Testament.

Now if God can transform Paul’s life, He can certainly transform yours as well! But ultimately, the decision to change rests in your hands. God will not force His change on you, though we know that, “It is God’s will that [we] should be sanctified [or made holy]…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NIV). So we know He wants to see this change in you, but instead of forcing change, He will provide you with the power to be transformed and leave the choice up to you.

So what is your decision going to be today? Are you going to live as a slave to your former way of life, or are you going to live like the new creation you are?

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©Grant Gaines 2013