In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV), Paul declares that believers are new creations in Christ: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
In Ephesians 4, Paul describes how to “walk worthy of the calling” with which we’ve been called:
Ephesians 4 (NMB)
1 I therefore, who am in bonds for the Lord’s sake, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling wherein you are called, 2 in all humbleness of mind, and meekness and longsuffering, forbearing one another through love; 3 and to be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, 4 being one body and one spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. 5 Let there be but one Lord, one faith, one baptism: 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all.
Paul describes the old nature, and then enjoins believers in verse 23 to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind”, putting on the new nature, “created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4 (NKJV)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
The New Man
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
In Ephesians 5, Paul beseeches believers to follow Christ’s example, and to “walk in love” as “children of light”:
Ephesians 5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
In Colossians 1,Paul describes walking with God in wisdom and strength, relying on “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This is the new you in Christ!
Colossians 1 (NKJV)
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
2 Peter 1 describes how through the “exceedingly great and precious promises” of God we may be “partakers of the divine nature”:
2 Peter 1 (NKJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Through His Spirit, we are able to experience “the deep things of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Evangelist Mario Murillo exhorts:
“Turn your prayer place into a chamber where you and God relate to one another and He puts power in you and peace in you to where nothing can come between you. God has reserved an intimacy, a connection, a presence, a peace, a joy and a hope that is indestructible. You’re connected to God and every storm will pass over you because of your relationship with Christ.”
(The Famous Last Words of David Wilkerson • Fire Power! 1/31/2024,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-CAT2v0Rfg, 42:54)
Jesus prayed that his followers would abide in deep intimacy with God, sharing the love he had with the Father before the foundation of the world.
John 17 (NKJV)
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/ 2/3/24
Compelling Love 
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