Hi Dabbers, I wanted to share a little thought which I’ve picked up through reading a Kenneth. E. Hagin book. The book is called, Knowing what belongs to us. Thank-you goingupsoon for pointing me in his direction. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this truth in such a clear light until now. The following is my interpretation – not Mr. Hagin’s direct writing’s. If someone asked me, am I a woman or a man? I would answer & say that I am a man. If they asked how did I get to be that way? I would answer, I was born that way. If they asked what is my nationality? I would answer & say that I am British. And if they asked how did I become British, I would answer, I was born that way, I inherited my identity from my parents. My parents were British & so am I. It runs in the family blood line. And therefore I was born in the likeness of my parents. I was born that way, the way I am, male & a citizen of Britain, No effort, no striving, it’s natural for me, to be me. Okay, no doubt you can see where we’re going with this. I read this example about redemption in a Keneeth. E. Hagin book. If someone asked me, am I a woman or a man? I would answer & say that I am a man. If they asked how did I get to be that way? I would answer, I was born that way. If they asked what is my nationality? I would answer & say that I am British. And if they asked how did I become British, I would answer, I was born that way, I inherited my identity from my parents. My parents were British & so am I. It runs in the family blood line. And therefore I was born in the likeness of my parents. I was born that way, the way I am, male & a citizen of Britain, No effort, no striving, it’s natural for me, to be me. When we were born again, we were born from above, born through the Father’s will & born of His Spirit. We were born through a new family blood line, the blood of Jesus. My natural birth took on the image of the first Adam, my second birth (through the Holy Spirit) took on the image of the second Adam, Jesus. As I bore the image of the first Adam, I now bear the image of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, the heavenly man. We were born in our Heavenly Father’s image, born a child of God, born as sons & heirs of the Kingdom of God. We are therefore citizens of Heaven. We were born righteous, born sanctified, & born victorious through the power of the cross. Christ victory is our victory over sin, the world, death & hell.