There Goes That Excuse

Recently, I apologized to my kids for acting in an unChristlike way. My daughter responded, “Dad, you’re only human.”

That excuse might have worked for me in the past.

But now, thanks to Christ, I am no longer only human. I am a new creation; a new species, “created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24

And so are you if the Holy Spirit lives in you.

The apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭

I love how Paul calls them to a higher standard of living. In essence, he is saying, “Don’t you know who you are? You’re not mere humans anymore. God has changed you into someone much more glorious!”

A few verses later he explains,

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭

The gospel is not a call to do something as much as it is an announcement of what God has done to us. We have been transformed from mere humans to Spirit filled, supernaturally empowered children of the Almighty!

This is why we can humbly and boldly say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

Sin no longer is our master. Christ has set us free from the penalty and the power of sin.

So when you sin (and you will), don’t give in to the temptation to say, “I’m only human.” Just realize you forgot for a moment who you really are. Then remind yourself that Christ lives in you. He loves you passionately and desires intimacy with you. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

The closer you get to Him, the less you will behave like a mere mortal. Instead, you will speak and act more like Jesus.

And you’ll make no apologies for it!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭

You “were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.” Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭