The concept of a completely changed identity is undoubtedly one of the most essential ingredients that a Christian will need in order to be living a victorious life that is free from guilt and full of joy.

But the understanding of what was ONCE in the past, and what exists NOW in the present, is a concept that few Christians fully understand.

I can tell you from personal experience that most Christians do not have a proper understanding of the difference between ONCE and NOW. And because they are still retaining elements of their past (their “once”), they are short-circuiting the freedom that is supposed to be their present (their “now”).

Our past relationship with God could be described in terms of “alienated” and “enemies.” These are not warm and fuzzy terms at all.

To be alienated means to be “estranged.” It is the condition of being shut out from intimacy and fellowship. But this word cannot apply to a born-again Christian under any circumstances. Why? Because it is a “once” condition and not a “now” condition.

To be an enemy is to be someone who is “hated, odious, hostile, and in opposition to someone.” But again, this word can never be descriptive of a born-again Christian because it is a “once” word and not a “now” word.

But the majority of Christians are still retaining these descriptive words about themselves and applying these to themselves when they fail to live up to a standard of perfection. In each personal failure they are convinced that their sin has alienated them from God’s love and made them His enemy.

But nothing could be further from the truth! Those words are “once” words. It is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be “now” words.

The “now” word which has taken the place of the “once” words is “reconcile.” This is a word that ought to have you shouting and weeping for joy!

But in reality, there are few Christians who are shouting and weeping for joy because there are few Christians who are understanding the full ramifications of this “now” word.

To be reconciled means “to be brought back to a former state of harmony.” It points back to the relationship that Adam and Eve had with God before they sinned and broke that perfect relationship. It was a relationship where they could walk together in perfect harmony in friendship in the Garden of Eden.

But the most exciting part of this whole “now” word reconcile? It is in a verb tense that shows it is a one-time action. It is NOT the tense of showing that it is an ongoing process.

If it was a process, it would be a condition that was sometimes attained and sometimes lost as you morph back into the condition of those “once” words. But this is NOT POSSIBLE! The “now” word happens just once and then is a done deal.  Period!

Does that mean you will never screw up after you become a born-again Christian? Not at all. In fact, I predict you probably will.

But your screw-ups do not have the ability or the affect to move you from the condition that describes your “now” and back into the conditions that describe your “once.”

Why is this? Because your NOW is secured by HIS DEATH and not your performance. Your NOW status of being “holy, blameless, and above reproach” in God’s sight is 100% attained and retained by the fact that Jesus reconciled you to God through His death.

One time. Forever. And you can only get this restored Garden of Eden status by believing Jesus gave it to you by dying for you.

If you ever experience guilt and condemnation again, it means that you have forgotten this absolutely essential truth. And that’s why you aren’t living in victory any longer. And it really is the ONLY reason why Christians lose their joy.

If you can ever get a revelation of what it means to be reconciled to God, it would totally transform your life!