|
Page 4 of 4
WHO ARE YOU IN CHRIST?
Here is a simple test – Are you afraid of God? Do you worry that you may never really measure up to the standards of holiness and be rejected from the Kingdom of God. Do you feel so dirty that it is inconceivable to think that you could be precious and of tremendous value to God?
Allow me to review just for a moment – what were the things that destroyed Adam’s relationship with God.
Adam BELIEVED some other voice besides the voice of God.
Adam DOUBTED that God really had his beat interests in mind. He took it upon himself to MAKE HIS OWN PROVISION (he ate the fruit to gain something FOR and BY HIMSELF).
The voice of the enemy of God is saying the same things today, he has no new tactic, no creative powers, but only to kill (Adam died), steal (Adam lost access to the tree of life), and destroy (intimate unrestrained fellowship was lost with God). Think about it. I believe that when we are honest, we can see the places in our lives where we have been deceived by these same things. We have decided to pursue our own provision because it did not seem that God would, or could do a good job for us. Romans 3  lays it out clearly:
Romans 3:22-31 But now God has shown us a different way to heaven --not by "being good enough" and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us-declare us "not guilty"-if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. 25 For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. 26 And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn't this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins. 27 Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in him. 28 So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do. 29 And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to him in this same manner. 30 God treats us all the same; all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. 31 Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God's laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus can we truly obey him. TLB
So what then is missing?
Romans3: 27,28 Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds, it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in him. So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do.{mospagebreak title=Believing - This is Our Access}
Believing – This Is Our Access
Jesus died once and for all the sin of the world. (Heb 7:27 ) There is no more need of sacrifice. The only thing lacking is YOUR belief. Remember that you cannot see the Kingdom unless and until you are born from above. When you believe in your heart and you say, “Yes, I trust you, Lord to forgive my sin, and bring my spirit to life”, then you begin to understand. You begin to perceive the Kingdom of God.
YOU speak to God,
Yes you can. He will hear.
It was His idea to save you in the first place. Every other voice is a liar.
Trust these words even for just these few moments and enter into the Kingdom of God. Be transformed out of Adam’s race and into Christ. You are a new creature – a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV
Can you see the original mandate to Adam? “ We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us…” In Christ we find our whole being restored, we are equipped and built to rule, and protect, and serve every living thing on the earth until all that God has planned is accomplished. The old nature is dead and we are alive in Christ. In Christ we can do all things, but apart from Him we can do nothing.
Now just because we can see and perceive the Kingdom of God does not mean that we are walking in all the fullness and authority that the Lord has for us. Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are changed as we learn about the Truth and as we walk out the reality of the Truth.
Here is a simple way to start this transformation:
The New Testament is full of promises and instructions for those who are “ in Christ”. Read and believe these scriptures. They describe the reality of who you are “in Christ”. Either you are of Adam’s nature or you are of Christ’s nature. If you are in Christ, the following are all true, even though they do not yet look like reality in you life. Remember that the way of restoration is already open, all that might be lacking is that you believe a lie instead of the Truth.
Romans 6:11-12 Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. NIV
Romans 8:1-2 there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. NIV
Romans 8:38-39 I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV
Romans 12:3-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. NIV
1 Corinthians 15:21-23 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. NIV
2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. NIV
Ephesians 2:6-8 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. NIV
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. NIV
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. NIV
Phillipians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV,
Colossians 2:9-11 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. NIV
Phileman 4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. NIV
So who are you?
- Are you found in Christ, or are you dead in Adam?
What is your identity?
Your identity is not about what you do, but who you are.
Deut 30:19-20 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you that todayI have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live!
Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and to cling to him, for he is your life and the length of your days. TLB
|
Comments