Verse of the Day 8/30

Verse of the Day 8/30??????

2 Corinthians 5:17?? Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished.^?? Behold, everything is fresh and new.???? The Passion Translation (TPT)

As I read today's verse, I couldn't help but think of yesterday's passage about the prodigal son who received "the ring of sonship" from his father after he had returned to him.?? As in today's verse the prodigal was granted a new life when he left his life of uncontrolled self gratification that almost destroyed him, sought forgiveness and returned to his father.?? Those old things passed away and his new life had begun.

Those of us who have new life in Christ, who have been "enfolded" into Him;?? are loved with an inseparable love (see Romans 8:38-39) that even death can't break; for we have been redeemed, our sins forgiven (Eph. 1:7); and we have been given His grace which He planned for us before the world was created (1 Timothy 1:9).

The old chorus "New Life in Christ" comes to mind:

New Life in Christ abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin, the searching and strife,
Forever gone -- There's a bright new dawn!
For in Christ I have found new life.

Reading these words and singing them in my mind, brings me back to the thoughts of the prodigal son.?? He could have related to this "my past with its sin, the searching and strife" were gone, he had found new life in turning, in returning to the father.??

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

2 Corinthians 5:17-21??New King James Version (NKJV)

^17??Therefore, if anyone??is??in Christ,??he is??a new creation;??old things have passed away; behold, all things have become??new.??^18??Now all things??areof God,??who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,??^19??that is, that??God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not??^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

^20??Now then, we are??ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore??you??on Christ???s behalf, be reconciled to God.??^21??For??He made Him who knew no sin??to be??sin for us, that we might become??the righteousness of God in Him.