“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Gal. 6:15).  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (II Cor. 5:17).  “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Pet. 1:4).

The reality of this mighty transformation is in no way evident in present visible things, but must be accepted by faith.  It is no less than a translation from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Christ, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13).  And by it one is said to be delivered from this present evil age:  “Who gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:4), and, also, according to the above passage, “to have escaped the corruption that is in the world” (Satanic system).

The new life that is thus imparted is none other than the very life of Christ:  “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9).  “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).  “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20).  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Cor. 13:5).

The third great fact of the believer’s present position in separation from this world is that the Holy Spirit is given unto him, at the moment of his regeneration, to indwell him, in place of the energizing power of Satan who “worketh” with energy in the children of disobedience:  “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5).  “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (I Cor. 2:12).  “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Cor. 6:19).

Another phase of the believer’s position is revealed in the fact that he is said to be a citizen of heaven; his home center or citizenship having been moved there from the earth.  His name would, therefore, appear only among the celestial beings, in any true census of the universe.  The reality of this unseen relationship is brought out in several passages:  “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: