Some people are not interested in the new us, they want to think of us the way they remember, whether or not it was true. Growth in us challenges their perspective of themselves, so rather than seeing the new us they prefer to maintain their idea of the old us.
When Christ changes us into a new creation it disturbs the demons in others who have not trusted in Him. The demons use the pressure of the ideas of others on us to keep us stuck in the past, guilty and weak, this prevents boldness in those who are continually feeling a sense of shame that no longer need to exist because Christ has completely cleansed us of the past when we repented.
Never waste time defending the old version of ourselves, walk with boldness in the new man Christ created when He saved us.
On one occasion a "Christian" was angry about something that I was doing that was good but she didn't like it, so she said to me; "remember how you used to be." My response to her was something like this; "I don't care what used to be, I only care about what is right now."
The question in my head was; why would a Christian care anything about what I used to be unless they enjoyed hanging onto the old idea of me? It smacked of jealousy that I was completely changed but they had not seen this same growth in themselves.
Sadly, those who act as this woman did are not just keeping their thoughts to themselves, they are gossiping to others causing them to doubt the new us. This doubt about the change in us creates a distrust about Christ, since is was He Who changed us.
Those who love Christ rejoice when someone becomes born-again and changes dramatically, they celebrate the new you with you and praise God for it.
Those who exhibit a prideful attitude of superiority do not enjoy seeing growth and joy in the one they are jealous of who is walking in obedience to Christ in the present.
I have to wonder if someone who is jealous of our change has ever been saved, it seems they would understand the blessing of change in Christ and rejoice as the angels do when salvation occurs because they would have been changed by Him too at some point.
Luke 15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents".
1 Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
Our change in Christ challenges the image of those who live in their past, hoping we are also in our past.
Not only do they hang onto our past they make up scenarios about us that were never true bringing doubt into the minds of those who believe gossip.
It is foolish to argue with those who want to stay stuck in the past. They prefer the past because it is where they still live in their minds. We know our life already shows them the change was dramatic or they wouldn't feel a need to bring up what was in the past that does not exist now.
If someone wishes to remain in the past not celebrating the new us then we are free to walk away from them. If we stay it should not be because we have always known them or they are family, it should be to walk out our Christianity in front of them because the Holy Spirit told us to remain.
We are not obligated to carry guilt about the old life just because someone else refuses to let go of it. It is only the devil who wants to keep us stuck in the past that is no longer applicable to our lives.
We might want to share with some people how God has changed us without details. There is no need for ugly details, those are between us and God. It is enough for others to know that Christ changed us from the old man full of sin to the new man full of Christ and righteousness.
For many of us, the old life has been gone for many years, having no relevance in our lives other than the lessons we learned from it and the miracle of transformation Christ did in us. Anyone who wants ugly details is a gossip and has a desire to judge things that are none of their business.
Anyone who wants to keep us guilty and shame-based is not a friend and must be removed, they serve the devil and not God.
Those who want us stuck in the past do it to weaponize our past to make themselves feel superior. These people cannot think well of themselves unless they are pushing others down.
Next time someone brings up past forgiven sins say something like: "Oh, this is fun, we are going to share our sinful past, let's start with yours."
No one has a past that is not sinful before Christ changed them. An accusing Christian may be a pretender, otherwise they would understand their own need for repentance before being born again.
Those who bring up the past need to keep the born-again believer feeling weak. The devil who motivates them wants to silence the bold born-again believer so the truth of God's Word does not get out to others.
The devil wants to keep us chained to always explaining to others our past, fixated on guilt so we will become ashamed preventing us from speaking the truth of the gospel. Shame and guilt are his main weapon of choice.
When we allow someone to define our worth by our past we are giving power over to satan.
Anyone who is using your past to control your present is of the devil and not worthy of notice. Don't bother explaining or arguing with those who love their hate. Don't be held hostage by those who cannot accept the new you.
The more we grow in holiness the more accusers have to face their own stagnation. Those who are like this do not self-reflect and make all their flaws someone else's fault. Our growth threatens the comfort and superiority of those who want to be special and above others.
The desire of those used of satan is to cause us to revert back into the old self again. They do not understand that Christ changed us and we can never return to the old self again.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
The stubbornness of the accusers does not allow them to trust in Christ and enjoy the same transformation born-again believers enjoy. They cut their nose off to spite their face! They miss the blessing of transformation by Christ and hang onto their pride.
The very sin that got the devil thrown out of heaven.
Those who do this gain nothing except a life of strie, lacking in joy and peace as they fight continually to gossip and influence others to think more highly of them than is warranted.
Those who love to remain in the past prefer familiarity rather than growth and transformation. They enjoy their elevated view of themselves and hate the person we have become in Christ, literally the opposite of their own heart, they lack all the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, or they would love what we have become.
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
We know they lack love and empathy because they hate the new us. They would rather ignore our growth than enjoy and adjust to it.
A very interesting thing happened when I was born again many years ago. The family who said they were Christians were friendlier to me when I was unsaved than after Christ changed me. After Christ transformed me they began ignoring me, leaving me out of things, gossiping against me, and treating me disrespectfully with contempt after I became a new creation. They would claim to be praying for my salvation before that, but when it happened they got worse than before I was saved.
The reason they got worse is because I was one of those on-fire types who searched the Bible to find the heart of God and obey Him. Suddenly my eyes were opened to all the ways these "Christians" were dishonoring and disobeying Christ and I began speaking the truth to them about what God said. This is when I realized their Christianity was based on self-exaltation and not dedication to Christ.
Walk with joy and peace in your transformation depending on the Holy Spirit to deal with anyone who does not want to celebrate Him and walk with you.
