| We have been set free from the power of sin. Yet, we still struggle with it. Why? There are many reasons, but two to be pointed out in this discussion are: #1 Doubt and unbelief. They're killers!! As I said above, if we don't believe God's Word (truth) over our old patterns of thinking, emotions, what others say and do ... then we will fail to see His power released in our lives. #2 Even though our spirits have been renewed, we still come into this new relationship with Jesus with a lot of old "baggage" in our thought processes and emotions. Wrong and unGodly patterns of thinking, old hurts and pains, unresolved issues, etc. ... all are issues that take time to resolve and reconcile. We will be learning and growing all of our lives ... line upon line, precept upon precept. Romans chapters 6, 7 & 8 are good chapters to learn about where we "were" and where we "are" now. It is important to realize as Romans 8: 2 says ... Jesus Christ has already set us free! Does this mean that we will never again sin? NOT HARDLY!! What it does mean is that every time we do something wrong ... EVERY TIME ... we have the awesome opportunity to confess that sin and ask to be forgiven. God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Once again, we are clean and made whole. And once we begin to believe that, our actions will begin to follow suit. |
| Years ago in church circles there were discussions about "original sin." Were we born with "original sin?" Or not? Through study, I found that God made man "upright," but when sin entered the world through Adam, we (everyone since Adam), sought out many "inventions." In other words, we sought out our own path ... our own way of doing things. We were not born with a "physical" sin. The Bible tells us that out of the heart of man comes what defiles him. It was self-centered, sin nature that we were born with. But when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become new creatures. Old things are passed away and all things are become new. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, raised us to new life as well. We were "dead" in sin ... but now brought to life. One amazing fact about that, is that He chose us! We were not born by the will of man, but by the will of God! And we now have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us! Every Christian has the resurrection power of God living within them. But, we need to believe it in order to see it released in our lives! |
| Many folks have said, "I'm just an old sinner, saved by grace." Well, we were saved by grace. But now that we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, we are a new creature. His blood has cleansed us. We were "old sinners," but now we are children of the King of kings and Lord of lords! Our "old man" (that old sin nature) was crucified with Christ, and it is no longer us that lives, but Christ that lives in us. We have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb! |
Let's take some time now to see what the Bible says about who you
really are, now that you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart
...
1. So precious to Him that He created you in His very own image.
2. Redeemed and forgiven.
3. Delivered from the power of darkness.
4. Sealed in Him.
5. Partakers of His divine nature.
6. God's child.
7. God's heir.
8. Valuable to God.
9. Chosen.
10. The elect.
11. The righteousness of God.
12. A saint.
13. Precious in God's thoughts.
14. God's friend.
15. God's treasure.
16. Holy.
17. An ambassador for Christ.
18. An overcomer.
There are many more Scripture references concerning who you are
now that you are found in Christ. Some, including for those above, are
listed below. Nowhere in there does it come even close to indicating
that we are "just old sinners" now! God's Word is true! Believe it!
really are, now that you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart
...
1. So precious to Him that He created you in His very own image.
2. Redeemed and forgiven.
3. Delivered from the power of darkness.
4. Sealed in Him.
5. Partakers of His divine nature.
6. God's child.
7. God's heir.
8. Valuable to God.
9. Chosen.
10. The elect.
11. The righteousness of God.
12. A saint.
13. Precious in God's thoughts.
14. God's friend.
15. God's treasure.
16. Holy.
17. An ambassador for Christ.
18. An overcomer.
There are many more Scripture references concerning who you are
now that you are found in Christ. Some, including for those above, are
listed below. Nowhere in there does it come even close to indicating
that we are "just old sinners" now! God's Word is true! Believe it!
| The Balance In It: There is a catch to all this. (Ha! You knew that ... didn't you?) The "catch," or balance in it, is this ... without Jesus, we are nothing. Without Jesus, we can do nothing. It is only in Him that we can stand in the above Scriptures. Everything good that we are is because of Him. Nothing good within us has come about by our own doing. Therefore, we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Even Jesus questioned one who called Him "Good Master," saying "Why callest thou Me good?" There is nothing good in us either ... except what Jesus has put there! So, be grateful and use the goodness you received from Him for His glory. |
Scripture References:
Ecclesiastes 7: 29 Romans 5: 12 - 19 Matthew 15: 17 - 20
II Corinthians 5: 17 Ephesians 2: 1 John 1: 12, 13
I Corinthians 3: 16; 6: 19, 20 Romans 8: 4
Ephesians 1: 13; 4: 30
Ephesians 6: 6 Galatians 2: 20 II Peter 1: 9
I John 1: 7, 8 - 10 Romans 5: 10 - 21 Hebrews 10: 10
Romans 6: 2, 11, 18 Romans 8: 34 Romans 6: 6
Genesis 1: 27 Ephesians 1: 6, 7 I John 1: 7
Colossians 1: 13 II Corinthians 1: 22 I Peter 1: 23
II Peter 1: 4 Romans 8: 15 John 1: 12
Galatians 4: 7 Ephesians 4: 6 John 8: 31
Matthew 6: 26; 10: 31 Deuteronomy 7: 6 Ephesians 1: 4
Matthew 24: 22, 31 Romans 8: 28, 30 Psalm 4: 3
II Corinthians 5: 21 Romans 1: 7; 2: 19 I Peter 2: 11
Psalm 139: 17, 18 Matthew 25: 34 John 15: 14, 15
Deuteronomy 32: 10 Exodus 19: 5, 6 I Peter 2: 9
Isaiah 62: 3 Deuteronomy 16: 19 Matthew 5: 13, 14
Psalm 91: 11 Isaiah 41: 10 Matthew 10: 30
II Corinthians 5: 20 Ephesians 2: 10 Luke 1: 17
John 15: 5 Romans 8: 37 I John 5: 4
Philippians 4: 13 I Peter 1: 5 Hebrews 13: 5
Isaiah 54: 17 II Timothy 4: 8
Romans 12: 3 John 15: 5 I Corinthians 1: 25
II Corinthians 12: 7 Matthew 19: 17
Ecclesiastes 7: 29 Romans 5: 12 - 19 Matthew 15: 17 - 20
II Corinthians 5: 17 Ephesians 2: 1 John 1: 12, 13
I Corinthians 3: 16; 6: 19, 20 Romans 8: 4
Ephesians 1: 13; 4: 30
Ephesians 6: 6 Galatians 2: 20 II Peter 1: 9
I John 1: 7, 8 - 10 Romans 5: 10 - 21 Hebrews 10: 10
Romans 6: 2, 11, 18 Romans 8: 34 Romans 6: 6
Genesis 1: 27 Ephesians 1: 6, 7 I John 1: 7
Colossians 1: 13 II Corinthians 1: 22 I Peter 1: 23
II Peter 1: 4 Romans 8: 15 John 1: 12
Galatians 4: 7 Ephesians 4: 6 John 8: 31
Matthew 6: 26; 10: 31 Deuteronomy 7: 6 Ephesians 1: 4
Matthew 24: 22, 31 Romans 8: 28, 30 Psalm 4: 3
II Corinthians 5: 21 Romans 1: 7; 2: 19 I Peter 2: 11
Psalm 139: 17, 18 Matthew 25: 34 John 15: 14, 15
Deuteronomy 32: 10 Exodus 19: 5, 6 I Peter 2: 9
Isaiah 62: 3 Deuteronomy 16: 19 Matthew 5: 13, 14
Psalm 91: 11 Isaiah 41: 10 Matthew 10: 30
II Corinthians 5: 20 Ephesians 2: 10 Luke 1: 17
John 15: 5 Romans 8: 37 I John 5: 4
Philippians 4: 13 I Peter 1: 5 Hebrews 13: 5
Isaiah 54: 17 II Timothy 4: 8
Romans 12: 3 John 15: 5 I Corinthians 1: 25
II Corinthians 12: 7 Matthew 19: 17
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