Bible Studies

Why Don't I Look Like a New Creation in Christ in the Mirror?

by Michael Edwards 
07/12/18
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Most Christians have heard how important it is to understand who they are in Christ, their identity in Christ.

Greatly loved by God - Ephesians 2:4 - Forgiven of all our sins - Ephesians 1:7

Free from the law of sin and death - Romans 8:2 - Righteous - Rom 5:19

Complete - Colossians 2:10 NASB - Justified - 1 Corinthians 6:11

Sanctified - Hebrews 10:10 NASB - Holy and without blame - Ephesians 1:4

Perfected - Hebrews 10:14 NASB

But when we look in the mirror, what we see does not always look like the new creation in Christ we are supposed to be.

Here is the Problem

We see our unredeemed flesh in the mirror and not our perfected Spirit. We are called to see our flesh as crucified and dead and ourselves alive in the Spirit.  In other words, when we look at our flesh in the mirror or at other believers in the flesh, we are looking in the wrong place. This visible lack of change in the flesh has caused numerous believers to abandon the faith. We are so attuned to the flesh with ourselves and others. The problem, the mirror is all about sight and has nothing to do with faith. We are called to walk by faith and not by sight.

for we walk by faith, not by sight—2 Cor 5:7 NAS

To run this race well, we fix our eyes on Jesus and not our dead flesh.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2 NAS

To see ourselves in Christ as described in the Bible takes faith. This means we agree with what God, who lives outside of time, sees already, and tells us is true. What God tells us is true is as good as done, we are simply called to believe. When we do, bondages fall away, and we walk in the power of God.

We are not transformed by looking at our flesh in the mirror, We are transformed into His image by beholding the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, as if we are looking at ourselves in His reflection. We are now the reflection of Christ, not our unredeemed flesh. When we believe and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we become more like Him.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18 NAS

When we stopping looking at things in the flesh as the world does and renew our minds to this truth, we are transformed.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2 NAS

Not only do we see ourselves in the Spirit as perfected, we are called to see other believers in the same way. Doing so helps us more than it helps them because it sharpens our spiritual eyesight. So instead of seeing things in the flesh one moment and in the Spirit the next, we stay in the Spirit as we are called to do. We are called to no longer regard anyone according to the flesh.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 2 Cor 5:16 ESV

Seeing things as God does will foster faith and grace. If we understand that believers are not their flesh, we will show them more grace. We will not judge them or count their sins against them, just like God does with us.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 8:12 KJV

Instead, we will build them up in the faith, just as Jesus did with the Apostles and Paul did with the church. We will do so, even more, when they have fallen deep into sin like the Corinthians. We encourage ourselves and other believers to walk by faith and not by sight, exactly as we are supposed to do. God has made us a promise in John 3:16. Either you believe it is true and God is capable of fulfilling His promise, or you do not. If you are smart, you believe Him and leave the entire burden of this promise on God’s shoulders. The burden of a promise is always on the promise maker. 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NAS

The work is finished and the only one that wants you to doubt is the enemy. As Jesus said numerous times, stop doubting your Fathers promise and just believe.

Learn more about the New Covenant and the division of the flesh and the spirit in these studies:

Does Our Flesh Pay A Price for Sin?

How is the Flesh Crucified?

Your Flesh is Dead Christian, Not in School

If Your Faith is in Christ, Your Flesh Has Been Circumcised, Cut Off

He is Dead, We Have Got to Drop the Charges

Why is, Therefore, Therefore?

What Does the Bible Mean by Dead Works?

I Am Holy, I Am Sanctified, I Am Perfected

God Said a Believer Can Never be Considered Unholy

I Am a New Creation IN CHRIST

Christians are on The Highway of Holiness, Be Holy, Because I Am Holy is a Prophecy

Jesus Never Called a Believer a Hypocrite 

Believers are Never Called Sinners in the New Testament

God Sees A Believers Faith Not Their Sins

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. 

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20