Proper Identity
I have a friend in England that I have been in contact with over a number of years and we have had discussions on this very subject over the past several days. He will admit that he has problems seeing things the way I see them as far as redemption is concerned and I fully understand that as a few years ago I had the same problem. I respect his views and he in turn respects mine and we have formed a great friendship over the internet over the years.
To see sin as something people do will always bring you back to thinking “that person cannot be redeemed” if they are still doing “this” or “that”. It causes us to be judgmental because what we are looking at is not what Jesus has done but what they as human beings are doing. Looking at it in that manner is not looking at it properly and redemption of the entire human race is something that will evade us because we are looking at actions and deeds.
Lets all be honest with ourselves, even those of us that may think we are much more holy and just and good than most other people, and look at our own lives. Or go a bit further and go over some of the things you may have thought of over the past week or so. I am sure there are many things that flashed through your head that was not as holy as you would like people to think or even see by your outward performance.
When we look at anything we may say or not say, do or not do, as the criteria for whether we measure up in other people’s eyes and most importantly, in God’s eyes, then we are stepping full force into self righteousness. If you look at anything, and I mean anything, apart from what Christ has done on your behalf for your redemption, then you are a self righteous person. A judgmental attitude will always be in the forefront when we take this view that we have to do something in order to be redeemed.
I personally look at people through how God sees them and it has taken and totally changed how I view life itself here on earth. I do not look at people and see their bad habits as then I would have to look at mine as well. I look at them as redeemed people of God that simply have not come to that knowledge as of yet. When they do come to understanding they are redeemed, then they will begin to view others in that same light as well. That is when we become believers. If you are trying to obtain right standing with God through your works, then you are in unbelief and are trying to achieve something that has already been completed on your behalf.
In this New Year, my prayer is that revelation would come to more and more people as the days go on. It is such a major transformation in ones heart and mind that I can say it is the greatest gift of all because it is seeing Jesus and what He has done. When you can see yourself as God sees you, which is your proper identity, and then you can begin to see others in their true identity as well, which is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and in right standing with God.
Good day roy,I agree with you here roy in this post.The majority of people have not been told that the law of sin and death has been fully taken away and has been replaced by the law of the spirit of life which is in christ jesus.
people also comtinue to be told to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which has also been taken away and has been replaced by the tree of life.People have also been told that God is still holding their sins against them when indeed he remembers them no more.For where there is no law there is no transgression. And the list goes on.No wonder the people for whom christ died are devided.They continue to hear a mixed message of two covenants,and a mixture of law and grace.
To rightly devide the word of God,is to see the difference in both covenants.
This is how i see it roy,and it has given me peace and joy knowing christ fulled everything our father sent him to do.His will has been done on earth as it has been done in heaven.
Blessings bro.
kenneth/
Kenneth,when I read the Truth of what you said in your comment and I see what is being preached, is it any wonder people are confused and in bondage? Thanks for these great points you raise.
Roy and Kenneth I was just thinking today about God’s love and how there is nothing greater.He has planned that love in your hearts Paul said in Eph.3 that it is rooted in our hearts what a blessing just come to see this.
I believe that God’s love and grace is going to be super abundent in peoples hearts and minds like never before.
Love in Christ Dan
Great insights!
Surly you are touching on the very thing that Adam was told “do not eat”!
Once he internalized the knowledge of good and evil he became ashamed!
The difference between self defined and God defined. This is IMHO what happens. The difference between God given “identity”, and self conceived “identity”. OH my, how the offspring just got to try and do it there own way just to see how screwed up they can make it LOL.
All things are lawful but not all things benefit.
Seems that this is what Adam was doing in the Garden before he internalized what he was told not to.
Surly he was intelligent enough to know and learn consequence! What he did not do is judge his worth, his value, his relationship until he became ashamed and hid himself from his loving Father.
Just a thought
Blessings
Barry
Good points Barry and something to think about for sure.
You are so humorous, and your words are so attracted me.