Summary: Who We Are In Christ

Who We Are In Christ
~~Summary~~

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." ~ John 16:33

Well my friends? What we've done is lay the basic foundation of understanding on which you can build your entire relationship with Christ in your own mind. Within this writ is the knowledge to renew your mind to some basic Truth's of who you are "In Christ".

• You are a "new creation" IN/BY CHRIST!
• You are TOTALLY forgiven, past, present and future, "IN/BY CHRIST"! Incredible!
• You are made totally righteous "IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You are already reconciled "IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You are redeemed "IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You are sanctified "IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You are justified "IN/ /BY CHRIST"!
• You are totally loved by BY CHRIST"!
• You are part of the Body of Christ, "IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You are a Citizen of Heaven 'IN/BY CHRIST"!
• You already have eternal Life "IN God, "IN/BY CHRIST"!

So, my Brothers and Sisters All... Whenever you hear this fellow say, "It's all Jesus!", this contents of this book, summarized by the list above, is part of the reason I say, "It's all Jesus". Truly my family, it is all Jesus. As a rule of thumb, if anyone tries to teach you anything that requires "YOU" to do something to retain your salvation? Drop it like a rock. That teaching is deader than a hammer my friends. It's all Jesus. It's not about me... you... us... It's about Jesus. You can pack alot of meaning into three little words sometimes, can't you? Amen.

Now do me a favor. Go back to the beginning of Chapter One and read the part about the butterfly again... especially where the butterfly and God were talking... Read it slowly... Does it take on a different meaning to you now that you've read of the transformation Jesus has provided you? If it does, then the Truth in this book will be of growing and great benefit to you throughout the remainder of your earthly life. It would be best to read and re-read this book, time and time again, taking notes and praying all the while, until the reality of who you are in Christ has become who you are! My God... I have never, and will never again, experience anything like it in my mind, heart and spirit! I do pray this becomes a reality for you too!

Before we go, I'd like to tell you of a real experienced I encountered just a couple of weeks ago at the time of this writ (01/25/2009):

Due to circumstances beyond their control (maybe), I ended up with a dog. The name given her in her puppy hood was "Geish". She's some sort of Alaskan dog... very big... very powerful. To humans, she is the best natured dog! She's all the time acting like a puppy, wanting to play... plenty of energy...

But when another dog of any type or breed enters her domain, to her, one of them must die. You see, in her youth, her taskmasters were hard. They used her to dog fight. She was trained early on that every dog that comes within reach wishes to kill her... therefore she's learned to kill... It was the only way she could survive. It's like the natural part of her wants and is so loving and kind... But her nature has forever been altered because of the training she received when she was young.

Now it's needless to say, I must keep Geish tied at all times. I hate tying a dog or confining any animal. To me, it's a sad life for any creature to be all bound up, not free to do that which God intended. But because we live in a community of others, there is no choice. She must be kept, bound up by chains and 3/8 inch steel cable because of her gruesome training in her past.

Well a couple of weeks ago, and don't ask me how she did such a thing, she snapped the 3/8" cable that held her. My daughter Kalla was the first one to notice it. As she called us all to come and look, I could not believe my eyes to see her sitting across the creek here at my home (where she always stays), with about a 3 foot section of the cable still attached to the leather collar around her neck. She was walking around in her open lot just like normal, within the confines normally afforded her by her restraints... SHE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS FREE!

Of course I realized I had to replace the cable IMMEDIATELY! So I immediately went across the creek to splice the cable together so she could be temporarily restrained until I could get a replacement. As I approach her when taking her food to her, she always comes to the limit of the restraints and bounces up and down of her front paws, excited because I am coming. She always pulls against the cable while she bounces, wanting to come further.

But not this time. As I approached her this time, she came to the usual place where she was usually stopped by the cable. I thought to myself, "Here is when she'll realize she is free, and I'll have a very hard time catching her." But I was amazed as she stood in that very same place, with nothing holding her back nor standing in the way of her freedom, and bounced up and down just like usual. She never made an effort to go any further than the usual spot. She never knew she was free, so her opportunity passed her by without her really even realizing it.

But you know what? Later that day, my splice broke. Again she was free... Again, she didn't realize it. I found another cable designed for a smaller dog that would restrain her until I could get a replacement. Once again, I went across the creek. As I approached her, I again wondered if she would figure out she was free. You know what? She did.

The second time I went to her, she went the limit as usual, then in her excitement, she went a little further than usual. About three feet further as a matter of fact. Suddenly, she forgot the excitement of seeing me coming as she realized for the first time that there was nothing holding her... The realization came slowly to her, thank God. For I would have never caught her had she bolted from me. But her excitement was building as she went further and further with her head down investigating everything with her nose that she had not gotten to investigate before! Finally, she knew she was free...

Sadly, I had to tie her back up because her past is still who she is.

So why do I give you my two week old dog story in such a lesson as this? Because even at the very minute I first saw Geish standing in her lot with her chains broken... even at the very second I was amazed she was still there, thinking herself trapped by things of her past... The Holy Spirit ever so clearly spoke to me and told me so, so very many people are the exact same way!

Some of you are trapped in the circumstances of your past. All of us are so different, with such different pasts... Our circumstances can vary greatly, but as with ALL error... all error in understanding leads to nothing else but bondage... in your mind you may be chained more tightly than Geish ever has been.

Some of you know not the Christ. Some of you may have even been trained up to hate Christ... trained to curse His name... trained to shed the blood of those who love Him... To you, I tell you with absolute certainty that Jesus loves you and He wishes to bring your heart unto Himself... He wishes that you would invite Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. The Christ wants you to "turn to Him". You see, when you turn to the Christ, you also turn your back on everything you ever were in yourself... all your former beliefs... all your former faiths in whatever god you were told to worship... all the bad you had ever done... turn your back on it all. After all, really, you never had a love for any of it... It despises you... Therefore my brothers and sisters, turn your back on all of it and turn to the Christ! Invite Him into your heart and everything mentioned in this book will IMMEDIATELY become a part of you, growing daily in you, until you too, are gathered unto Christ and the rest of us at the Marriage Supper of The Lamb!

Christ has already dealt with all the bad you've ever done! If the Holy Spirit knocks at your heart's door at this very moment? That is the reviving power of The Holy Spirit bringing your heart to life enough to make your choice! DO NOT turn The Christ away now! He may never return unto you! Get on your knees right now, where ever you are and say this prayer along with me, but also? Have the meaning of these words in your heart as you cry out to The Christ!

Oh Christ! Oh my Lord Jesus! Right here, right now, there is a brother or sister of mine on their knees under the unction of the Holy Spirit seeking You Jesus as Lord and Savior! Receive the heart of this brother and sister of mine that they will be saved! Eternal Life in heaven will be theirs! Life on earth will be possible! Listen to their heart as I lead them in their prayer of heart unto You, The Christ!

(Please repeat this prayer with me and have it in your heart):

My Lord... At least I want to call You "MY" Lord! To You, The Christ I call out right now in my desperation. All my life I have believed nothing, or I have believed a lie. Jesus, I no longer believe these lies. I have a strange thing within me telling me You are my Way, my Truth and my Life! Oh Christ... I have been such a curse upon the earth! I have been such a sinner... such a bad person...

But I have been told, and I believe, that You will forgive me and forget about all that, and that You will fill me with Your Spirit so I can start in all newness of LIFE! I am told You will make me... different. You will make me alive, where I have been dead. You will make me into who YOU want me to be. You will provide for me everything I need to have a real relationship with You!

To The Christ, the Son of God, I believe You died a horrible death to pay for all my sins. By doing so, I realize You took Your own Father's wrath for MY sins, and the sins of the whole world! Oh God I can't imagine anyone ever loving me enough to do such a thing! You suffered unimaginable WRATH, being deserving of none of it, just so I might Live... forever! Thank You for such love as that, for me.

Oh Jesus... The Christ! I believe You are the most powerful Son of God! I believe all other gods to be false! I humbly ask You into my heart! Oh God! I turn my back on everything I have been and I turn to YOU alone for my salvation... for my very LIFE! Come into me Jesus! Come into me, The Christ! Fill me with the Promise of Your Holy Spirit!

Ohhhh God... The Christ! Thank You! Oh Lord! My Lord... Thank You! Oh my Lord... The Christ... From this moment on... I love... and I follow... only You!

To the Christ only, will I ever pray from here, on. Praise be the Name of The Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen & Amen!

My brother or sister? If you just said that prayer above, with the meaning of it in your heart, you have been saved! Your salvation is already complete. Jesus holds you never to let you go, and The Holy Spirit has sealed you unto eternity. It's hard to grasp, I know... But true, never-the-less. As far as your salvation goes? It's all Jesus.

There is yet another group I'd like to address. These are my brothers and sisters in Christ that have given their hearts to Christ and are born again children of God... yet they have yet to understand, without error, the terms of who they are "IN CHRIST". There are a great many among the modern day church that erroneously think they have certain things that are their own responsibility to uphold to "keep" their salvation. These people think it possible to lose their salvation... their eternal life in Christ. Folks? Salvation is from God. Anything from God is eternal. If one could lose their salvation, nothing about their life could be called eternal. We'd have to scratch the word "eternal" out of our bibles and replace it with "temporary", or add the word "possibly" to eternal. That's really kinda silly isn't it?

But for these people, I pray for courage.... Courage to take a new stand in your knowledge. It takes courage to admit you've preached error for maybe over 50 years in your ministry. I did for 12 years. What's the difference between you and I? Nothing. In all cases, all we can do is man up and make our new found knowledge of the Truth part of our personal testimony of God's faithfulness to bring us to the understanding of the Truth! It does take courage... So I pray for all of you that struggle in this manner my friends.

Now all that remains is for you all in whatever your back round, is to begin your life-long process of learning and growing in the knowledge of Truth in Christ. Please... begin this book all over again. Your mind has begun a "renewing" process to where it will consecutively and progressively be brought from it's darkness into the Light. This book... or better said the Godly Truth herein, will help your mind understand Godly foundations, on which all things spiritual will be built. It does not matter how long this takes. What matters is that every Truth offered up here for your understanding become a part of who you are. Spiritually, it has already happened. That is all Jesus. But struggling with your own mind (the flesh), is an ongoing process in which you will be victorious with the faith of a mustard seed and The Holy Spirit to guide you into Truth and away from error. In the Spirit, we have already been given all things (Ephesians 1:3). But your flesh will have to learn of it before you will be free in your mind. For concerning the flesh, it is not the Truth alone that sets you free... It is the "knowledge" of the Truth that sets you free to peace that surpasses all understanding and in the Joy of your salvation through the love you'll know God has for you (John 8:31-32 ; Proverbs 23:7 ; 1Corinthians 2:14
).

There will be a great and beneficial by-product of gaining this knowledge in Truth also. Where once you were trying your best to "positively" love yourself and others in mimicking to the best of your ability the love of God, now, you can know the REAL love of God. THAT will enable you to REALLY love your enemy, instead of just "trying" or "pretending" to, to the best of your own ability. This is a short paragraph, but I'm describing something right here that will transform you in every way... if you'll let it... if you'll stop long enough to think about what I'm saying... God's love toward you is the key that opens the heavenly floodgates, my friend. I pray you find these keys, and use them.

God bless you all in your quests, chasing after the very heart of God. I trust when you get there, you'll find it quite different than anything else you'll ever encounter.

I love you all. God bless, keep and protect you all... mentally, physically and spiritually. May you always follow the path of Truth, without error. Bless the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that provided all this to us.

~~Amen & Amen!~~

(Pt.9) You Are Found "Not Guilty" In Christ!

"We Are Found NOT GUILTY!"
Who We Are "In Christ"  
In Search Of Our Identity (Part 9)  
Questions Answered

 

 

Jesus balanced the scales of justice... 

Justice demanded by a Holy Judge.

To be "justified" means to be "made right" with God... To be found "Not Guilty!" by the Good and Perfect Judge, God Himself! You see, every good judge must seek justice for all wrong doing. God is no different. Sin demands punishment. God MUST punish sin.

Our identity before coming to Christ was that of a sinner. As it says in Ephesians 2:3, "We were by nature objects of wrath." Having being born Jesus balanced the scales of justice... Justice demanded by a Holy Judge.into sin, we were cut off from the life of God. However, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been brought back into a "right relationship" with God. Because Jesus took all our sin, paid the price for it on the cross (our preparation unto salvation), and GAVE us HIS righteousness, we can now stand "justified" (found not guilty) before God!

Let's ask ourselves a few questions that requires a little honesty here if you don't mind.

• Have we ever looked upon a person with lust? I'll admit I have. So? According to God's Law, what does that make me? An adulterer.
• Have we ever stolen anything? I have. So what am I? A thief.
• Has anything ever been more important to me than God? There have been times in my life when God was last on my list. What does that make me? An idolater.
• Have we ever told a lie, no matter how "small" the lie? I'm guilty again. So what does that make me? A liar.

Ok. I'll stop there. No need to go any further... No matter what "your" answers were, if you find yourself guilty of any ONE of God's Laws, the bible says you are guilty of breaking them all!

So by my own admission, I'm an adulterer, a thief, and idolater, and a liar.

Now let's say I stood before God for judgment. I know God is a loving, caring and forgiving God, and I am very, VERY sorry for what I've done. I'm so sorry for what I've done, I'm ready to promise never to do it again, and mean it!

So when I get before the Judge, I say, "Your Honor? I am guilty of all these things. I do not deny that. But I am very sorry for what I've done. Please forgive me. I promise I will NEVER do them again!". The Judge hears your plea, but being a good Judge, he cannot let your wrong doing go unpunished. There must be a sentence of punishment.

"You should be sorry for what you've done." the Judge says. "The price that must be paid for your transgressions... is death." Standing in the wake of your judgment, what will you do now?

Right then and there, in walks Someone that petitions the Judge on your behalf. "Your Honor? My name is Jesus. I take all the blame for the list of transgressions before you. I will give all that is required by the Law in order to pay the penalty in full." He then pays the price for your sin, satisfying the requirements of a perfect Law, and a Righteous Judge.

"Very well." says the Judge. ? Another has come forth and accepted the blame for these sins and paid the price for them. This Judge finds you not guilty. You are free to go." As you hear what has happened, and as the price is paid for your sin... How would that make you feel? How do you feel toward the One that accepted your blame as His own and paid your price? Folks? If that doesn't bring you to your knees in love and adoration for Christ, then you are totally missing the point, and quite honestly, you need to re-evaluate your situation, as it may well be you just "think" you're saved... If this doesn't move you with great compassion and appreciation, most likely you are not saved at all.

But wait? He paid the price... You're free to go... But where?

Through the first Adam's sin, mankind was left spiritually separated from God. Mankind inherited a "sin" nature, which guarantees you to be nothing more than a sinner. So? Two things had to be done in order for us to be saved... First we had to be justified before God. Jesus did that on the cross of Calvary. He took the blame for the sin of the world... every sin... and then He paid the Price for that sin... with His life's blood. Sadly, that's where the message of salvation stops in many pulpits across this globe. How sad, because it is an incomplete message. The price Jesus paid for our sin was our "preparation" for salvation... not salvation itself, because we are still spiritually "dead" so to speak, though our sin has been justified. Do you understand what I'm saying? Before the cross, we were two things: Sinners and dead. After the cross we are only one thing: Dead.

You see? Being "sorry" for what you've done and "doing good" from here on out, and begging for forgiveness isn't good enough to get salvation because even though the fine has been paid, you are still "dead". That is NOT salvation. You still need "LIFE"... You/WE still need LIFE!

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." - Romans 5:8-11

Salvation can come only through the One that can give you life, as well as pay your fine. In the scripture above, three specific things are mentioned, each different from the other: (1) "Justification" by the sacrifice of Jesus; being (2) "Saved" by Jesus, and both of them together (justification and being saved) equals (3) "reconcilement" unto God through Jesus!

Jesus paid your fine over 2000 years ago, preparing us for salvation. The price Jesus paid for you can only be accounted on your behalf if Jesus "knows" you. And the only way He will "know" you is for you to invite Him into your heart and life, seeking and accepting the "life" He gives, demonstrated in His Resurrection from the Grave! You see, even if your sin has been paid for, you still need life! You STILL need LIFE! Jesus said only HE is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life!", John 14:6 .

So in short? Salvation is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, believing that He is the Son of God who died in payment for your sin (in fact, the sin of the "whole world" - EVERY sin) and THAT HIS payment was the ONLY payment that could pay such a price, and that He (Jesus) was resurrected unto life eternal and that He gives this life to all that seek (life) and accept HIM, of which personal repentance for who you are/were (a sinner) is a part of that acceptance of Christ! You cannot turn to Christ, without turning away from your old self. Seeking and receiving "LIFE” in Christ"? Now THAT'S salvation!

If you will? Please drive a stake right here and let this premise of what salvation really is be a backdrop for what we are about to study and realize in scripture. I can promise you, you just may find inspiration to spend the rest of your life in this Word of God... It is quite remarkable!

To be justified means to be made right with God. Our identity before coming to Christ was that of a sinner - we were objects of wrath according to Ephesians 2:3. Having been born into sin, we were cut off from the life of God. However, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been "brought back" into a right relationship with God! Because Jesus took all of our sin and gave us HIS righteousness, we stand justified before God! What an incredible Savior we have in Jesus! Amen!

Romans 5:18, "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men."

What was the result of one man's sin according to the scripture above? Plainly It says condemnation for all  men (and women) was the result of one man's sin. It affects everyone. No one is left out.

On the flip-side of that, what was the result of one act of righteousness? Again, very plainly, scripture says "justification that brings life to  all  men (and women)" was the result of Jesus' sacrifice for us all! How many people did it affect? Everyone!

Jesus was the only One that could perform this one act of righteousness. No one else was worthy. Through His Gift to us (the whole world), our sin has been justified. We, as born again believers, have been made "right" with God, by accepting Jesus' Gift (HIS Righteousness) to be counted on our behalf!

Titus 3:7, " ...so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. "

We have been justified by Grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:7-9). Once we become justified, we become "HEIRS WITH CHRIST!" Is that not amazing? Being an heir with Christ means we share in all things Christ has! How overwhelming to the human mind! And according to the scripture above, what is our hope my friends? What do we have to look forward to in the sharing of all this? It is eternal life! Amen! Eternal life! What a wonderful Savior we have in Jesus my friends and family! For through HIM all these things are possible! Without Him, we couldn't even dream of this!

Now there are those among us that would say I'm preaching universal salvation here. Well? Am I? Go back and re-read Romans 5:18... Doesn't it say that one act of righteousness justified"ALL"  men? Dear friends? ... If the sacrifice of Jesus alone is salvation, then truly Romans 5:18 would tell us that everyone is already saved. The doctrine of universal salvation would be true! No ifs, ands, or buts. This is where I'd like to drive an uncomfortable reality for many people home, for many are taught in error: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the sin of the world (every sin that has been, or ever will be committed) alone is not salvation. It was our "preparation" for salvation. Through Jesus' work on the cross, salvation was made possible, in that the penalty for the sin of the world was paid.

"If the sacrifice of Jesus alone is salvation, then truly Romans 5:18 would tell us that everyone is already saved. The doctrine of universal salvation would be true!"

But? As I hope we all come to understand, the Sacrifice for sin in itself is not the complete process to obtain salvation. We must also repent (Luke 13:3), believe in Jesus (John 3:15-16), and realize that JESUS ONLY offers us LIFE, to which we must receive ( Romans 5:16-18 ; Romans 6:23 ; Romans 8:11 ; 2 Corinthians 3:6 ; Colossians 3:3-4 ; 1Timothy 6:13 ; James 1:12 ; Romans 5:8-11 ) ! Friends? THIS is salvation! It includes loving Jesus, worshiping Jesus, adoring Jesus, wanting to please Jesus, obeying Jesus as best we can, listening to Jesus, having a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, being committed to Jesus... ALL these things! All this will happen within the heart of a person once they really and truly accept Jesus into their hearts!

I can say that it was a very important thing to me when I realized I had eternal life in Jesus. As a matter of fact, it shocked me to realize how important it was to me. But friends? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, even if there were no such thing as Heaven or Eternal Life in Christ... even if I knew I would never make it to Heaven, I would still serve Jesus as best I can... simply because I love Him. I love Jesus just for Who He is... Can we all say that same thing? The reason I ask is because if the only reason we serve Jesus is for fire insurance, you may unwittingly find out you never had that fire insurance. There is more to turning to Jesus than just the insurance. In all reality? With Jesus, there is no such thing as "insurance". But there is such a thing as "assurance"! Jesus assures us that we will live forever with Him! Amen! How absolutely wonderful!

"There is more to turning to Jesus than just the insurance. In all reality? With Jesus, there is no such thing as 'insurance'. But there is such a thing as "assurance"!

Justification is a free gift to us as believers in Christ. I do hope we come to understand just what it means to be a "believer". Justification is not based on our abilities to observe the Law of God, though we will inevitably desire to do so (and we will fail to be perfect in our best of efforts). Justification can only be received by faith in what Christ did on our behalf.

" ...nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. " - Galatians 2:16

This wonderful scripture clearly tells us that no man will be justified by observing the Law. It also says that a person is justified ONLY through our faith in Jesus! We can't be justified by observing the Law, because we can't keep the Law! Oh yes friends. We want to... Some of us desperately want to because we love and adore our Savior, Jesus... but in all our best efforts... we fall short... What a wonderful Savior we have in that even through our imperfections, Jesus has saved us! HE has saved us! We are saved! Glory to God! We are saved!

LIFE is salvation. Grace through faith in Jesus is the way. 

Not one second in eternity with God can be earned... OR BEGGED FOR! 

Through Christ, it has already been done!

 

" You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from Grace. " - Galatians 5:4
Oh friends and family! Please listen here very closely... Please pray and ask the Holy Spirit Himself to place the Truth of the scripture above into your heart forever! Search this out for a Truth that will forever change your life and set you free in Christ Jesus!

What is this scripture in Galatians 5:4 above telling us? It is telling us that if we are trying to be justified by Law, then we have fallen away from Jesus ... in essence been "alienated" from Christ! Oh my God! Enable us to understand! When all this comes together in our hearts, minds and spirits, we should be able to understand there is absolutely no way we can try to be justified by the Law and, at the same time, rest in the fact that we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ!

For those of us within the body of Christ that mis-understand or have been taught in error in that we try to be justified by the Law (our works), we very much need to realize that the Bible says we have "fallen from Grace" (Jesus Christ)! You see? That is how Jesus is there for us! That's why we call Him "Savior"! That's how He has SAVED us! HE, and only HE (Jesus Christ) has given us of Himself (Grace) !!!

"For those of us within the body of Christ that mis-understand or have been taught in error in that we try to be justified by the Law (our works), we very much need to realize that the Bible says we have "fallen from Grace" (Jesus Christ)!"

As plainly as the nose on our own faces, the Bible tells us here in Galatians 5:4 that when we try to mix Law and Grace (known as Galatianism) we have been ALIENATED from Jesus Christ and have FALLEN from Grace (Jesus Christ) ! So many people erroneously  think to "fall from Grace" means you have lost your salvation, when in reality it means you are trying to "EARN" through your good works what Christ has already provided for you... GRACE!

Now I will leave that one point for you to ponder personally, but any way you look at it, that is some pretty strong verbiage from the Bible! In the context of Galatians 5:4 the term "fallen away" means to be alienated from God in terms of personal relationship and quite possibly your salvation because you are not relying on JESUS ONLY for your salvation, or you do not fully understand and acknowledge everything Jesus has already did for you! Some of us think we must continually hang and re-hang Jesus on that cross to get forgiveness of our sin, like what He did for us wasn't good enough the first time, or that what He did did not stand good for the sins of the future! What a horrible mis-understanding and effective wile of the enEmy, saTan! This mis-understanding only leads one around in a never-ending circle that leaves us only able to chase our own tail... With this understanding, you could never say, It's all Jesus!" Amen? Or "Oh me!"?

So, my friends... In light of the last two verses of scripture from the Holy Bible, does the Law play any role in our justification? Absolutely not. The Law can only serve to teach us we need a Savior! Titus 2:11-14

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Romans 5:1

My dear fellow believers in Christ... Can you say this from the very depths of your heart? Have you came to know Jesus in such a Way that He provides you an unshakable peace? Is He your Rock in the most trying times? Have you came to know that your salvation is HIS to keep and not YOURS to manipulate? Can you trust Jesus enough to know that when you're mad enough, mixed up enough, mis-taught enough, untaught enough that you don't know which way is up or down that HE is able to hold onto your salvation? Can you see that HE has said many times (in places we have yet not yet examined in this expose') that HE ONLY can be trusted with your salvation and that HE is faithful even though we are so unfaithful, despite our best (and even sometimes not-so-best) efforts? Realizing Who Jesus is... What He is... What He has said... What He has promised... THESE are the only things that will provide you with unwavering peace, my friend. Despite popular belief, THIS is a peace that can be fully understood by the children of God (Colossians 2:1-3). THIS understanding in Truth will bring you total peace in that It will calm ANY storm in your heart!

Should we still respect God? By all means, yes! If we don't hold a natural, heart deep respect for Him... Friends? You don't have God within you at all. BUT... as a believer in Christ, we don't have any reason to FEAR Him anymore, in the context that we need be AFRAID of Him... In all that God has said He is to us, and all that He has said we are to Him, what could we possibly have to be afraid of? Only the lost have anything to be afraid of... And what they have at stake is their eternal judgment as objects of wrath. Now THAT is something so terrible... something to be afraid of... so horrible, I don’t think we can begin to wrap our minds around it! How so very horrible it would be to spend an eternity in the Lake of Fire! Oh God! Deliver all who hearkens unto Your voice in answer to Your call~!

But... As children of God? Heirs to Jesus Christ Himself?

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. " - Romans 8:31-34

Thank You my precious Lord Jesus... Isn't all this wonderful Truth from our own treasured Holy Bible just exciting? Amen! Since we have been justified as born again believers in Christ, we are told that, "God is for us!" Glory to God only! Now if GOD is FOR us, it doesn't matter who or what is against us, does it? NO! Glory to God only! Can anyone now accuse you? Only saTan will now try, but even he will be ineffective! Glory to God only! Since God Himself has declared us totally righteous, does it matter what saTan or anyone else says? No one stands against God! It doesn't matter one iota!

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His Grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;" - Romans 3:23-24

How many people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? Every one of us! Every human being that has ever been, save Jesus Christ, Himself! According to this blessed holy scripture, these same people are justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ! Glory to God alone! Only Jesus Himself can offer this redemption, therefore the only glory to be had in all this belongs to Jesus Christ! Glory to God alone! If each and every one of us are justified in the very same way, this will definitely affect the way we see others, will it not? There will be none any better than the other... no worse than any other... all of us saved the very same way... through Christ ALONE! Glory to God alone!

Friends? Being made right with God, or said another way, justified, not only affects our relationship with God, but also our relationship with others. Your right-standing before God "frees" you to enjoy that perfect fellowship with Him. It is much easier to be at peace with man when you know you are at peace with God. Amen & Amen.

I do hope and pray that each and everyone is taking Joy learning of who we are in Christ. For me? There is an excitement lit within me that is unquenchable! I learn daily of yet something else Jesus has provided for us. With every new horizon reached in understanding, there lay yet another far-off horizon to reach! I am fully convinced than when God tells us He is eternal, He was not only speaking of time, He was speaking of His essence... I truly believe there to be no end to the knowledge and wisdom of God...

I do hope you continue to journey with me in the expose', in that the next topic I have planned in Part 10 is, "You Are A Part Of The Body Of Christ"! Chances are there will be some things exposed you maybe didn't stop to realize before. I know it has been an eye-opening adventure for me!

God bless you all as you take the time in prayer and study to discover more about the overwhelming victory available to us in the Truth of God's Revelation!

God be with you all, and to God be the glory! Amen!

(Pt.7) In Christ You Are REDEEMED!

In Christ, you are REDEEMED!
Who We Are "In Christ" 
In Search Of Our Identity (Part 7)
Questions Answered

As children having walked out the door for an evening of fun, parents have been known to say, "Remember who you belong to." Perhaps the parents were hoping that the knowledge of who you were and to whom you belonged would influence your decision-making process, should you be tempted with the ways of this awful world.

I think too, that through our identity in Christ, God reminds us "who we belong to". As children of God, we have been redeemed. Now I don't know about you, but my understanding of exactly what it means to be redeemed used to be somewhat fuzzy. To "redeem" someone literally means to "buy back", then to "set free".

There is a famous story of how a man once saw a slave on the open market. The bids were quite high for this particular slave because he was very physically fit, able to do the work of two men supposedly. But also, this man's wife and child were for sale as slaves. During the slave trade, families were frequently split up at auctions, as it was rare the whole family would be purchased by the same owner...

However, in this particular case, this man out-bid all others at this particular auction and gained the deed to the slave. This particular man also out bid the crowd on the slaves wife and child. For all practical purposes, he had deed to a male slave, the slave's wife, and the slave's child.

Upon completing payment, the slave owner stood with deeds of parchment in hand, and his slaves before him. As the owner looked into the eyes of this family, he then took ink in hand and did what he had intended to do all along... He signed the "deeds" of ownership, accompanied by a signed statement that the persons in these deeds were now "set free" by the owner.

You see, if a slave owner wished it so, he could set his slaves free... totally free... and this action was irrevocable. No one else was allowed to legally enslave these people again once the owner had set them free.

The owner of the slaves then handed his signed and sealed documents of freedom to each of the three in the family. Looking into the eyes of the male slave, he simply said, "You are now free." ...

How do you feel, knowing you have literally 

been "bought back" by Jesus, Himself?

Try if you can, to imagine a man who's entire family was caught up in a society that endorsed human slavery... and try to imagine what happened within the heart of the "used-to-be-slave" when suddenly and quite unexpectedly he realized he AND his family were free... What do you think the ex-slave felt toward the man that had just paid quite a high price for his entire family, then without any personal benefit from them what-so-ever, he just "gave them away" to freedom?

This is a true story. And the man that purchased the slaves was quite a famous man... that ended up having quite the key role in freeing ALL slaves in the United States of America... His name was Abraham Lincoln.

The Incomparable Christ

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." ~ Colossians 1:13-14

What a powerful, loving statement in the Word of God! We have been "rescued" from the dominion of darkness by Christ, Himself! We have now been transferred out of darkness, INTO the KINGDOM of God's Son, Jesus Christ! In THIS Kingdom, we have redemption, which is the forgiveness of sins! According to this scripture? We ALREADY have redemption! The verbiage is PAST TENSE!We have been "bought back"! It's DONE! We are FREE from DARKNESS!

How does that make you feel? Toward the One who "bought you back" from darkness, then "set you free"?

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." ~ Galatians 4:4-5

Here we are told that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to redeem (buy back) those that were under the Law (you and I). Jesus did this for us so that we would receive "full rights" as children of God. Why is it important that we fully understand this? The list is almost endless, but to start, it is so we can rest assured of just who we are in Christ that we may have the peace of heart, boldness in spirit to deal with the flesh that resides within us all, and perseverance to endure this spiteful world. We are supposed to understand that we are now free to "live by the spirit" (which has eternal life by the power of Christ), despite this flesh that will one day die and pass away. But, even though it will remain with us for a little while (our flesh), it is, can, and will be dominated by the Holy Spirit that now resides in us as born again Christians! Will we ever be "perfect" in this flesh? Probably not... But there will most definitely be "major changes" and it (our flesh) will be more and more subdued as we "mature" in the power of the "Spirit of God"! Glory! How absolutely INCREDIBLE!

"The Robe and The Ring"

"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'"

"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate." ~ Luke 15:17-24

Even though you could never deserve 

God's acceptance, what does the story of 

"The Prodigal's Son" in God's Word confirm for us all?

In the story of the prodigal son, the son took his inheritance and squandered the wealth on the ways of this world. After he squandered the money, he came to a place to where he found himself eating with the pigs. In reference to the verses above, what can we conclude in how the son felt about his relationship with his father? Well? Scripture plainly says his thoughts were that he had so greatly sinned against heaven and in the sight of his father, that he thought himself no longer worthy to be called his son... And you know what? He was right. He wasn't "worthy" enough! Now the son simply desired to be as one of his fathers servants.

But? As was the case, the father had something totally different in his heart. In the heart of the father was celebration because a son that had been lost was now found. Did the father feel as if the son was no longer "worthy" to be his son? The fact that the best robe and the ring was fetched for the son, was symbolic of all rights of son-ship being restored to the son... You see, it wasn't up to the son, but the father as to whether or not the son would remain his son!

With all that is within me, I must conclude that our heavenly Father feels the same way about us IF our heart was ever given to Him in earnest. Even though we may, for this reason or that, go off and sin and/or to do our own things, from God's vantage point, does this make us slaves again, or are we still His sons/daughters? Scripture tells us that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God! How extraordinary!

When you sin (notice I said, 'when'), do you sometimes feel exactly the way the prodigal son did -- that you are no longer worthy to be called God's son/daughter? If you're anything the way I was, you may fall prey to that self-condemnation, not fully realizing that it is up to GOD to determine such a thing... And that He has told us what His determination is already concerning His children!

God redeemed us so we would have full rights as His sons and daughters. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to fully understand that we HAVE BEEN redeemed!

As I have said many times, in many different places, for twelve years in my walk with God, I had mis-understood my salvation. I had adopted the attitude that, "If I make it to heaven God? That will be fantastic! But if I don't, I'm going to do for You what I can anyway." That was the best I could do. You see, I had thought myself no more than a "hired man". But God? He finally showed me that He stood before me with the best robe! He stood before me with the ring! Undeservedly, I accepted the robe and the ring that only HE could offer me... I have never gotten over that, and I'm quite sure I never will... That totally overwhelms me in my flesh every time I dwell and meditate on it... What a loving God we serve!

Where are you in your understanding? Do you think yourself a "hired man/woman" of God? Or are you ready to wear "The Robe and the Ring?"
__________________________

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." ~ Romans 6:15-18

There is constant criticism concerning the teaching of Grace and our truthful identity in Christ is that it gives a "license to sin". As a fellow I know would say, "We don't need a license to sin. We did that just fine without one." But? I do suppose it is a valid question. I remember asking it myself before I understood God's Grace.

And so it must have been even in Paul's time. You see, the Jews, steeped in the Law of God asked the same questions. Paul's reply was clear and very concise: "By no means!" To further elaborate , Paul used the idea of slavery so everyone could visualize in their minds what should be going on in the heart of the recipient of God's Grace.

In this explanation, Paul makes some interesting points concerning "slavery". First, you "offer" yourself to someone to "obey" him as if a slave. In this particular case, we have two clear choices as to who will enslave us, which would be slavery to sin which would ultimately lead to death, or slavery to "obedience" (unto Jesus Christ, of which Jesus only had two commandments) which leads to righteousness (the righteousness that can only be seen through the blood of Jesus and enabled by our acceptance of the Life Jesus demonstrated for us through His Resurrection).

We all know that when we were lost, we were definitely "slaves to sin". No rocket science there is there my friends? But by "obeying the gospels", what have we willingly become slaves to? That's right... The "Righteousness" (Jesus Christ) mentioned above. We can also thank God for The Holy Spirit, for without Him, subduing the flesh would be a total impossibility and neither could our minds be "renewed".

What Paul describes here and in many other places in the New Testament is "freedom". This freedom, as has been described elsewhere is a total freedom. But, as is always the "context" of the Gospel (Good News), anytime freedom is mentioned describing the born again believer in Christ, it is ALWAYS A REFERENCE TO FREEDOM FROM SIN! Some of us have been blessed with the understanding that spiritually we have been freed from sin entirely, and this was what Jesus dealt with over 2000 years ago to "prepare" us for salvation. Jesus has already paid the price for every sin in all the world, in all time frames, forever! IT (dealing with sin) Is Finished!

But in the here and now? In this flesh? Evidence of this is a gradual physical process of which the physical manifestations become more and more evident as our minds and hearts grow in the "renewal" process... Our flesh is actually becoming more and more "subdued" by the Holy Spirit as we choose to be more and more "obedient" to the will of God in our character. Since we have been "set free" (freedom) from the law of "sin and death" it wouldn't make a bit of sense to return to a lifestyle of sin would it? Truly, when we really realize the Truth about our redemption in Christ, we can then realize that by faith we simply do not have to participate in sin any longer the way we did before. Before we were born again, we had no real choice according to our nature... Now? It's quite different, praise God! We are literally free in our spirit NOT to sin!

So? Spiritually, freedom from sin is a matter of history for the born again. Physically? It is an ongoing process made possible only through our willingness to obey God, and that is only possible through the ministry of the Holy Spirit within us all... Physical obedience to the ministry of the Holy Spirit promotes what is described as "living by the Spirit"! Amen!

"Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

In the previous segment we discussed Paul's address to what was going on in the Corinthian church at the time, which namely was an "abuse of God's Grace". The Corinthian church mis-understood their new-found "freedom" in Christ. Their flesh grabbed hold of the idea that "Now we can do as we please without fear of judgment from God!" (my paraphrase). Paul sought to address this error in understanding, thus, the scripture above is one instance where Paul attempts to explain to us what our basic "motivation" should be in our hearts and minds so our flesh will be properly directed (subdued) by the Holy Spirit. He does this by explaining some very important facts about the changes that should occur within the born again believer.

In this particular instance, the issue of promiscuous sex within the church is being addressed because it was literally rampant within the Corinthian church at that time (*Oh how horrible! That wouldn't be possible today among believers would it?). But the basics that explain the Truth of Grace not only sheds light on this error in understanding of sex, but also lays the foundation of the believers "motivation by Grace" which enables our freedom "NOT" to abide in sin!

Paul starts by making a distinction between sexual sin and all other sins, in that sexual sin is against the body, where as all other sin is outside the body. Paul implies this should be especially despicable to us as born again believers because we sin against the "temple" of the Holy Spirit, which "lives" in... US!

He also teaches us that "our bodies are not our own"... In all things this is true, not only in the arena of sexual sin. Then Paul goes even deeper into our understanding to explain "we are not our own" because "we have been bought with a price"! Friends? What "price" was that? What was the only thing valuable enough to "purchase you" from the kingdom of eternal darkness? How absolutely incredible that God's Son, Jesus... God Himself would shed His own blood to buy us back...

Now how does that make us "feel" in our hearts? Has it been said so much, by so many people, for such a long time , that we no longer have a "debt of appreciation" of what God did? Ok... So we're imperfect... But we have God's Grace... All things are lawful, right?

"I have this feeling of being fed up with a great many things in this world. I'm tired of how I'm treated. There are even a few types of people I hate, and others I hate what they do. I'm that way, and I'm free to do so!"

True enough, all things are lawful to the born again believer. Freedom wouldn't be freedom if God's Law remained in judgment of any part of our lives... But the "Law of The Spirit" also says, "not all things are profitable" to the character, integrity and purpose of God which is inside each and everyone of us through the ministry of The Holy Spirit (of Whom we now belong)!

So? Clutch all your imperfections that you have come to treasure! Hold them as tightly as you can in both arms! Then walk into the shadow of the cross and look into the eyes of Jesus and see if His Grace allows that you should keep them for a lifetime... Search the heart of God... then search yours... Do you possess a "debt of gratitude" for the Sacrifice made on your behalf so that you can now know what it is to "LIVE" and eternal life made available to You through Jesus, expressed to us through His glorious resurrection?

"So? Clutch all your imperfections that you have come to treasure! Hold them as tightly as you can in both arms! Then walk into the shadow of the cross and look into the eyes of Jesus and see if His Grace allows that you should keep them for a lifetime..."

That is what Paul was trying to tell us... He was trying to tell us this in hopes that we could tap into the Holy Spirit within us that is more than able to enable us to "Glorify God in our bodies"... Amen & Amen

But that's not nearly all:

"Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." ~ Galatians 4:6-7

My God! I cannot find the words to adequately express the power and the love God has for us that He would not only save us, but He would actually "send forth the SPIRIT OF HIS SON" into our hearts! Friends? How can we have JESUS living and breathing inside of us and hold our bibles in one hand and our hate and/or disdain for others in the other (Wow. This question just kicked my teeth in)? How can we read and study the things of God and sneak out the house for a sexual encounter with someone besides our mate? How can we hold our bibles in one hand and hold ANY sin in the other hand? As ugly a thing as it is to admit, the way we do this is with the flesh. And THAT is exactly what we are to engage in battle with the Holy Spirit at our stead! We can make headway in defeating and subduing our flesh through the Spirit of God's Son that lives within us! Spiritually that battle has already been won... But in this flesh? Well, stand in the shadow of the cross and see what the Spirit of Jesus has to say to you. Eh?

But we also need to know that God knew of everything we would be through Him? And He also knew everything we would not be and He has delivered us through it all if we are truly born again... Can you imagine? We are no longer slaves to sin... We have been given the gift of Son ship. We have been made sons and daughters of God! We are an "heir"! You know "heirs" inherit things... And our ultimate inheritance is eternal life as sons and daughters of God!

If the Truth of these scriptures doesn't stir an "undying debt of gratitude" within you my friends, I would take a serious look at myself, for there is something terribly wrong with our condition... It will be up to you and God to find your motivations by Grace in all things...

Knowing we have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus and having been set free from the law of sin and death enables us to fully enjoy the "riches of God's love and Grace" with a heart free of all malice and immorality, despite any momentary lapses we may have in this learning process. In light of the fact that despite all the obstacles saTan would have you think exists, you have totally been "redeemed". it just wouldn't make any sense what-so-ever to go back to our lives of bondage!

Glory To God! All praise belongs to Him! All honor! All Glory! Thank You Jesus for Who you are to us... Our Savior, our Teacher, our Grace... our Motivation!

Amen & Amen!

~~Next? "In Christ, You Are Sanctified!"~~