I often wonder why some people love to bring up the old you. They love to reminisce and talk about how you and I were “out there” in the world cuttin’ up and actin’ crazy. But our old life and the memories of our past simply won’t go away, even after you and I have confessed our faith and given our lives to Jesus. Nevertheless, we must remind our friends, associates, and family members, “I Am No Longer That…”

     “I Am No Longer That…” but I am a new person in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5 verses 16 and 17 says, “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

     “I Am No Longer That…” following my own selfish desires, but I live out Galatians 5:22-24. It tells us, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”

     When “I Am No Longer That…” and when you are no longer defined by your past, our response must be Romans 8:1 that reminds us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Why? Because “I Am No Longer That…”