We all change as we grow older. But some changes are not due to maturing, growing older, becoming more experienced, and so on. Some life experiences can change us dramatically. One such change is becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not simply believing that he exists, or died on the cross for sins to be forgiven – that his believing in history. Instead, it is trusting in him alone for the forgiveness of our sins, by God’s grace and mercy. This results in becoming a new person, although with the same name and looks etc. We receive the Holy Spirit, to make us holy, which changes us. As a result, while many people think that they know believers because they grew up with them, or knew them before they trusted in the Lord, they may be seeing the old person, and not the new person in Christ. Paul, in Ephesians 2:1-10, shows how the believers at Ephesus should consider themselves to be different now, in contrast to what they were in the past. He outlines several contrasts between their status now and before they believed: They are now alive in Christ, and not dead spiritually. Their ancestry is now in Christ – they are no longer children of disobedience. They are now living more and more as obedient followers of God, not disobedient. They follow Christ now, not sinning like the prince of this world. They are now living with their home in the heavenly places, not in the sinful nature. They do not relate to God by obedience/disobedience (under law) resulting in his wrath, but are blessed beyond measure by God’s grace and mercy. They are saved by grace, not by their own efforts at being good. Who are we? If we are ‘in Christ’ we are blessed beyond measure and accepted by God. If not… well, there is still time to trust in Jesus!