I read this on a billboard today during my drive home from Missouri. And I thought, what a perfect subject!

“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature.” – Corinthians 5:17

Despite what many might argue, this is NOT referring to if you “believe” in Christ, are a member of a church or anything of superficiality. No. In my observation, even the most outwardly and self proclaimed Christian’s or religious followers are not IN Christ, as many do not really live the way of Christ – they only outwardly project that they do…for others to see.

To be clear, we are ALL born into this humanity as essentially empty vessels. We grow in this humanity as products of our environment. We are programmed from birth based on the mechanical, egoic design of this realm. This could be what we consider the “default program”.

Many live the entirety of their lives in the default program, basing every decision on checks and balances. Cost vs. benefit etc. Remember, the ego’s exist for themselves and themselves alone, and as long as the egos are doing the thinking, decision making and action within you, this is what we consider “possession” in its true and esoteric sense or even the works of the adversary.

As harsh as it sounds, we humans (in the default state), are nothing more than intellectual animals. I can recall living in this state. The many decisions I made in that state and the harm that came of them. But to me, that was normal. That’s how we “survive”, right?

And so, the only way a “new creature” can be born out of the default program is to be fundamentally changed. In my experience, this means that God directly exposes you to the law. This law I speak of CANNOT be known by anyone still in the default state. But once you KNOW the law, you cannot go back to the default state – as much as you would sometimes want to. This is where the phrase “ignorance is bliss” comes from. This is also the main subject and theme in the movie the “Matrix”.

To be in Christ means that you completely and unequivocally embody that law. You don’t just intellectually understand it – you live it every day. Now, in order to REALLY embody the law, you must transform. Because in all honestly, the majority of what humanity accepts as “normal” is actually transgression. So after learning the law, you must change – you no longer find joy in the same pleasures that most humans do. You know longer feel the polarities of emotion like most humans do. Seeking pleasure for the sake of pleasure is no longer a motivation. This means that you become more spirit than flesh. More virtue than sin. You clearly see the line between right and wrong action, which again, is objective. It is the path of self sacrifice and a journey to becoming an authentic expression of Gods love on earth – something not many are actually willing to do. Is it easy? Never – there is a reason it is called the narrow path…

You transition from simply believing to KNOWING. And you cannot un-know…

Therefore, you are set apart. You are no longer an intellectual hominid. You become a human being. Expansion of awareness leads to an embodiment of objective moral and ethical principles – no longer living in the subjective reality which the majority of people live.

This is how the old creature dies and a new creature is born….or reborn…

This is what it truly means to be “born again”. Although, many might argue that simply starting to go to church or finding an interest in Christianity is what that term means, and it doesn’t. Being born again is a transformational process that can change every aspect of your life. And usually, one who is truly born again, has no need for a church, a congregation or recognition. It is a personal experience with God.