1. Spiritual Incarnation—Know Who You Are Created To Be (John 3:3–5, Romans 8:9–11)
One night, Jesus was visited secretly by one of the leading teachers of Israel, Nicodemus. He flattered Jesus, but Jesus told him something that rocked his world. Jesus explained that entering the kingdom of God meant being born from above by the Spirit or born again. Nicodemus was confused by this. How could he be born again? Jesus says by faith, the Spirit of God will dwell in us, recreate us and birth us again. By dwelling in “our flesh” the Spirit of God can transform us into the likeness of Jesus from the inside out. Incarnation means “embodied in flesh,” like when the Spirit fills us by faith. We grow into the image of Christ as He was the image of his Father. In John 12:45 Jesus says, “He who sees me, sees Him who sent me.” We long for the same, that those who see us, see Jesus.

2. Spiritual Vocation—Know What You Were Created To Do (Genesis 1:27–30, John 20:21 & Matthew 28:18–20)
People have always wondered what to do with their lives. We often measure our worth by what we do, so we seek jobs that reward us with money or meaning. God has told us what to do. Jesus only did the work the Father gave Him and then gave His work to us to do. The work we have been given is to rule and fill the earth, making it a place fit for its rightful inheritors—the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Satan and the powers deceived them out of their birthright. But Christ defeated death and the powers at the cross and, in rising again, led even captivity captive (Psalm 68:16, Ephesians 4:8). He gave us, His recreated brothers and sisters, the same vocation given to Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses. Our original and pre-eminent vocation is to establish God’s kingdom and dwelling here, just as it is in heaven, by multiplying the children of God and making the bride of Christ ready to welcome her Groom and King.

3. Spiritual Consecration—Living Dedicated To the Kingdom Above All (Matthew 6:33)
Consecration is an old word we don’t hear much these days. It means, “To set ourselves apart for a holy purpose, dedicating ourselves entirely to God.”

Our vocation is our holy purpose, and Matthew 5–7 describes what being dedicated to God means—sharing the kingdom in meekness, kindness and purity of heart, and praying, fasting, giving and obeying His words. We inhabit the kingdom now by our decisions and values as recreated humans, and we prepare for the kingdom to come in its fulness by building for the kingdom of God here and making His bride ready for her groom. Lord Jesus, may your will be done on the earth as it is in heaven—for this we pray.

This is what being freed from sin means, why we are re-created and how we must live

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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.