The Christian life begins with a recognition of who we are in Jesus. Speak the following confession out loud so that you can hear yourself declaring what God has said is true. You are not declaring these things to make them happen. God says that they have already happened! This is God's answer to the human question "Who am I?" This is who you are in Christ. Speak it with confidence.
A. Personal Identity.
THE CHRISTIAN'S PERSONAL IDENTITY PROCLAMATION
"I believe that in Christ Jesus my sins have been fully and freely forgiven, and I am a new creation. I have died with Jesus to my old identity in Adam. I have been raised with Jesus to a new life. I am seated in the heavenly places in Jesus. God has given to me the full righteousness of Jesus. I am joined with angels, archangels, and all the saints in heaven. God is my Father, and if He is for me, who can be against me? Because of who I am in Jesus, I am more than a conqueror. In fact, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Christ Jesus is my life! Everything in my life here on this earth is working out for good according to the purposes of God. Jesus Himself dwells within me. I have been called according to the purposes of God. These things I believe and confess, because God, my Father in Heaven, says they are true. Amen!"
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This identity that you just confessed is true regardless of your day to day living. This is the meaning of grace. We are not worthy to be spoken of in this fashion. The Triune God does not look at us and declare that these things are true -- He is looking at Jesus. As we look at Jesus, we see what the Triune God sees. We identify ourselves as God identifies us. If you should fall, your identity has not changed, no matter what the devil might try to tell you. Rise up! Brush yourself off. Receive your forgiveness. Lift up your eyes to the throne, and go on your way rejoicing as the result of the life of Jesus dwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. While our identity is in the heavenlies, the in-dwelling Christ is our life.
B. The In-Dwelling of Jesus.
1. John 15:4 "Remain in Me and I will remain in you."
a. If we remain in Him (find our identity with Him in the heavenlies) and He remains in us (where we stay connected to His life within us), together we will bring forth much.
2. Colossians 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
a. Seeking to live the Christian life means that we find ourselves in Jesus and seek an on-going, life-affecting experience with the Christ who dwells in us.
3. The fact that Jesus dwells in us is not the source of our identity, nor is "the inner Christ" to be the object of our focus. A person might mistakenly declare, "Sure I am a sinner, but Christ dwells in me. Therefore, I must be okay." Being right with God is based upon what God has done outside of us, in Jesus. It is not based on the fact that Jesus has chosen to dwell within us. The stance of the Christian is always extroverted. We are always looking away from ourselves, to the throne, where we are seated in the heavenly places.
C. Jesus Is Our Life.
1. Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ".
2. 1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."
a. Contrary to the thinking of many Christians, God does not grant to us a host of spiritual benefits and experiences. Our human pride would like to have spiritual benefits and experiences in order to enlarge ourselves and be identified as "deeply spiritual people." God does not offer to us forgiveness, righteousness, love, peace, joy, gifts, ministries, wealth, and prosperity as separate entities. Since our identity is in the heavenly places, we cannot claim anything that comes from God as belonging unto us. God has only given to us one thing: His Son Jesus, who is our life. In Jesus are all of the blessings and benefits of life and salvation.
3. Colossians 2:2,3,6,7,10 "That they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge .... So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him . . . and you have been given fullness in Christ".
4. 2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
a. Watchman Nee wrote: "God will not give me humility or patience or holiness or love as separate gifts of His grace. He is not a retailer dispensing grace to us in packets, measuring out some patience to the impatient, some love to the un-loving, some meekness to the proud, in quantities that we take and work on as a kind of capital. He has given only one gift to meet our need: His Son Christ Jesus. As I look to Him to live out His life in me, He will be humble and patient and loving and everything else I need--in my stead ....It does not matter what your personal deficiency, or whether it be a hundred and one different things, God has always one All sufficient answer, His Son Jesus Christ, and He is the answer to every human need."
b. It is very important for our understanding and experience of the Christian life that we recognize that all Christian benefits, gifts, and fruit are found in the person of Jesus who dwells within us. They belong to Jesus, not to us.
c. Our "religious" focus is not to be directed at spiritual gifts and blessings but at the person of Jesus. If we desire the forgiveness of sins and a righteousness that is acceptable to God, God gives us Jesus. If we seek peace, joy, and love, God gives us Jesus. If we desire comfort in the midst of sorrow, hope when things look hopeless, assurance when plagued by doubt, and contentment through the changing scenes of life, God gives us Jesus. All spiritual gifts are simply manifestations of the new life of Christ dwelling with us, manifested spontaneously as we walk in the Spirit by directing our consciousness unto Jesus.
5. Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ"
a. The theme of the letter of Paul is the centrality of Jesus. The substance of the Christian faith, according to the apostle Paul, is found in the person and work of Christ.
6. Colossians 2:16 "Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to religious festival.... These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ"
a. He warns the Colossians against seeking spiritual substance outside of Christ.
7. Colossians 2:18 "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his un-spiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head"
a. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, all of the benefits found in Him become our possession. We have His peace and joy, His righteousness and holiness. His love is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Bible tells us that in Jesus we are complete and fulfilled. The gospel of Jesus is truly a message of good news that calls us away from and out of ourselves and unto Jesus! We discover everything "in Christ" and will find nothing "outside of Christ." "Christ is all and in all!"
b. John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life"
1)In the gospel according to John, our Lord Jesus speaks of Himself as being the very essence of all the blessings and promises of God. At Lazarus' tomb, Jesus did not speak of resurrection as being a reward for a life well lived. He said, "I am the resurrection." After feeding the 5000, He offered himself as being the very bread that came down from heaven.
c. John 1:4 "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men"
1)He is the light of the word. He is the water of life. He is the good shepherd.
D. Putting on Jesus.
1. Galatians 3:27 "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
a. When we came to faith in Jesus and were baptized, we received all of the blessings that are in Christ. He became joined to us, so that whatever gifts, grace, peace, joy, or contentment are manifested in us, they belong to Him. They belong to us because we have Jesus dwelling within us.
b. Because every Christian has Jesus dwelling within through faith, it must therefore follow that every Christian possesses God's everything. While it is true that some Christians, as a result of personal deficiency and need, have seemingly appropriated more of the blessings that have been provided than have other Christians, they dare not declare or even remotely suggest, "I have something you don't have."
c. For example, a person who has passed through times of grief and turned in faith to Jesus, discovered in Him the source of deep, abiding comfort. He is thereby enabled to declare, "Christ is my comfort!" One who possibly has not shared the same need might not have discovered the same provision. This does not mean that such a provision is not already his possession, ready to be grasped by faith. For if we have Jesus and have put on Jesus, we have everything.
d. We are seeking Jesus! There is nothing that we will find outside of Jesus, nor will we discover anything worthwhile inside of us apart from Jesus. We seek all things "in Christ"! This is a very important understanding. We don't say, "Jesus has given me a new life" as if he has provided us with an identity here on this earth. Rather we say, "Jesus is my new life." We don't say, "I am becoming holier and holier" as if our earthly identity is in a state of improvement. We do say, "Jesus is manifesting His holiness in me." We don't say, "God has given to me certain spiritual gifts," as if we are becoming somebody in this world. We do say, "The ministry and power of Jesus is manifested in my earthly body." We don't talk about the "great men of God" on this earth, for there are none. No matter how high and lofty a position a person attains in the church, or how much influence they are able to exert upon a large number of people, they remain a little, sinful person in whom is being manifested a great God and Savior.
2. Galatians 5:17 "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
a. We are born into this world in Adam, and the old nature of Adam was joined to us. As a result of coming by faith to Jesus, we were born again, and the life of Jesus was joined to us. This is our condition. As a result of this double life, the normal Christian experience is conflict. Attempting to change our natural earthly life and become more loving, kind, self-controlled, and considerate is a hopeless task. Our human life will not cooperate with our desire for self-improvement. Because of this, many Christians strive to live a charade and give the impression of deep spiritual maturity. Those of us in the public ministry often try to give the impression to our people that we have it together and are totally in control of our lower passions and desires. But, if you lived with any of the alleged "great Christians" and watched them in all situations of life, you would soon discover that they too live a double life. The fact of the matter is, every Christian who dresses up in his Sunday best and tries to impress others with his deep spirituality is a phony!
b. If a Christian does not experience conflict, it is not because they have been conformed to His heavenly identity, but is more likely because they simply do what comes naturally and lives according to the old sinful nature under the guise, "After all, I am only human." Many Christians simply give up on themselves and say, "This is the way I am." While their assessment of their earthly human condition is accurate, they do not take into consideration that they possess an alternative, alien life through Jesus, "the heavenly person" dwelling within them. Our desire should not be for self-improvement but to abide in this life of Jesus dwelling within us.
E. Walking in the Spirit.
1. Galatians 5:16 "Live by the SPIRIT, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
a. Living the Christian life simply means that we live according to our new life in Christ and not according to our old life in Adam. Understanding this reality is not difficult. It is like having a single water spout with both a cold and hot water faucet. What you turn on will be what you get. Either faucet we turn on will produce different results.
b. The old sinful nature which adheres to us as a result of our birth in Adam is proud, rebellious, self-centered, worldly, and an enemy of God. It is continually demanding our conscious attention. Being dead, it produces dead works. By indulging our old sinful nature, we also reap the results of worry, fear, discontent, self-pity, anxiety, depression, and all of the other "blessings" of being human.
2. Colossians 2:6 "Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH HIM
a. The new life of Jesus which, as a result of our faith in Jesus and our baptism whereby we "put on Christ," also adheres to us and is obedient, submissive, kind, loving, gentle, and a "friend of God." It produces life! The Holy Spirit is at work in us, urging us to live and walk in Jesus.
b. While the concept of living the Christian life is quite simple, the difficulty arises when we attempt to identify in our daily experience what is of Adam and what is of Jesus. If we want to grow in our relationship with the Lord and "abide in Him" as He has commanded, distinguishing our "old dead sinful nature" from the new life of Jesus is very important. If we are unable to make such an identification, we will not know when to repent. How can we turn away from "old Adam" if we are not able to identify him? As is characteristic of Adam, he does not want to come out in the open. He hides himself. When the Bible talks about "abiding in Christ" or "walking in the Spirit," it is not speaking about camouflaging "old Adam" behind a spiritual veneer. This is a common practice among so-called "spiritually renewed" people. One who by nature has a bad temper now speaks of himself as being filled with "righteous anger." One who may normally be very critical of others is now "practicing discernment." A person who manifests a "pushy" or over-bearing personality is now "zealous for the Lord."
F. Identifying the "Old Man."
1. Galatians 5:19-23 "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension's, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. But on the other hand: The fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
a. The Bible gives to us a way of clearly distinguishing our old sinful nature from our new life in Jesus. We identify which is in control on the basis of results.
b. While we may be able to identify within ourselves and within others specific sins or actions that are contrary to the Ten Commandments, we fall short in identifying many of the actions and attitudes that proceed from our old sinful nature. "Old Adam" often hides behind what we might consider being natural "human characteristics." While we may be willing to acknowledge and repent of obvious sins against God, we often ignore what we think of as the less serious manifestations of our old sinful nature. This failure to identify "old Adam" greatly hinders our growth.
c. Have you ever wondered how the various churches in the first century were able to survive? Paul would journey into a city, preach the gospel, and the Holy Spirit would create faith in the hearts of people, bringing a church into being. Paul would then leave and travel to the next city. The church had no Bible, except the Old Testament. They had no pastors or trained counselors. Yet, they survived and grew.
d. The letters that Paul wrote to many of these churches, especially Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, reflected a level of spiritual maturity that most within the church today have not even touched or, for that matter, are even able to understand. It seems to me that the answer is found in the fact that Paul did not teach only doctrines and theology that were removed from life. He also taught the Christians how to stay joined to Jesus. It was the life of Jesus within the individual Christians that produced the results.
G. Setting Your Mind and Looking To Jesus.
1. Romans 8:5,6 "Those who live according to the SINFUL NATURE have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with THE SPIRIT, have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."
a. After encouraging the Roman Christians to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, Paul provides some very practical and applicable instructions for living in Jesus.
H. We Are Dead.
1. We DIED with Jesus.
By setting the mind on our old sinful nature inherited from Adam, we are focusing upon the "dead thing." By our conscious attention we are "digging up the corpse," so to speak. By setting our minds upon the desires of the Spirit, we are living in Jesus. His life is stirred within us. His peace is our experience.
a. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS."
1). This theme of setting our conscious thinking upon the things of the Spirit is an important ingredient in the theology of Paul.
b. Colossians 3:1,2 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your HEARTS [affections, the desires of the mind] on THINGS ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."
2). Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.
c. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the WORLD.
- On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ".
3). This speaks of our battle plan and the purpose of our spiritual warfare.
d. Ephesians 4:22-24 ".. Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire; to be made new in the ATTITUDE OF YOUR MINDS, and to put on the new self, created in true righteousness and holiness..
e. Romans 12:2. "We are not to be conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds."
The very word "repentance" means to "change your mind." We are urged to rejoice in the Lord, to be filled with thanksgiving to God, not to be anxious, fearful, or filled with worry. We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to the Lord. All of these instructions are intended to direct our hearts and minds away from our old sinful nature and unto the new life that we have in Jesus.
I. Beginning in the Mind.
1. Galatians 5:19-21 "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension's, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like"
a. The works of the flesh listed in are either characterized by or initiated by the attitudes of the heart and mind. The actions of the sinful nature begin as thoughts. Adultery and fornication, for example, begin with the mind occupied with lust. Stealing begins with coveting. Murder is identified with hatred. The Sermon on the Mount disturbed the religious Pharisees by equating the attitudes of the heart and mind with the sinful action itself. Even the foolish involvement in various elements of occultism or witchcraft is initiated via emptying the mind of all thoughts and entering into a mental trance.
b. Since our minds are at the very center of our being, whether we live in old Adam or live according to our new life in Christ is related to the direction and substance of our thought life. This truth is the most important practical aspect of living and walking in the Spirit.
c. The problem is, we are not able to control the thoughts that come at us. Worry, fear, lust, anger, hatred, and self-pity will come knocking on our door, seeking to be entertained by us. The devil, the world, and our self-centered, sinful flesh are continually bombarding our minds with worries, fears, thoughts of sexual impurity, self-pity, resentment, bitterness, envy, and the like. It is one thing to have these thoughts enter your mind. It is something quite different to entertain them and dwell upon them.
d. One of the old Church fathers, in speaking about evil thoughts, said, "You cannot prevent the birds from flying in the air over your head, but you can certainly prevent them from building a nest in your hair."
J. Positive Thinking, Right Or Wrong?
1. Possibly some will respond to this by saying, "What you are saying is no different than the 'positive thinking,' 'positive mental attitude,' 'possibility thinking' teachings that are so popular today." While it may appear on the surface that these techniques are of the same nature as the biblical teachings of the apostle Paul, there is a world of difference. It is very important for us to make a clear distinction.
2. Much "Christian" teaching today has become a mixture of theology, psychology, and New Age practices. The methods employed in modern psychology and the New Age movement are very similar to the practical instructions of the New Testament, with a singular, glaring exception: The New Testament focuses upon Jesus Christ.
K. Rejoice In The Lord.
"You have as much laughter as you have faith!" -- Martin Luther
We do not speak forth the Word and promises of God in order that they might be brought into reality. We declare God's Word because it is reality. We do not affirm over and over again, "I'm a new creature." "I'm a new creature," "I'm a new creature . . ." in order that we might be identified as new creatures. Our declaration is based on the fact that we have been raised with Jesus and seated in the heavenly places. Whether I declare the truth or deny the truth does not change the truth.
1. GIVING THANKS.
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".
1). We give thanks in all circumstances because God has declared that all circumstances work out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Our joy in all situations of life is directly in proportion to our faith in the Word and promises of God.
2. BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
a. Ephesians 5:18-20 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
3. SING TO THE LORD.
a. Psalm 89:1 " I will sing of the Lord's great love forever;"
1). It is very clear that singing songs and choruses of praise and worship is a vital ingredient in walking in the Spirit and abiding in Jesus.
2). When the desires of our sinful human nature cry out for attention and when the devil stands ready to bring us into worry, fear, depression, self-pity, and the like, there is no better means for turning away from ourselves and abiding in Jesus than by singing a song of praise and worship unto Jesus. Anger, fear, bitterness, lust, and envy must give way to the joyful sounds of praise and worship.
4. PRAISE HIM.
a. Philippians 4:11-13 "I have learned to be CONTENT whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH."
1). If it wasn't for the adverse situations of life, the attitudes of other people, the plans that go awry, and the circumstances which are beyond our control, then turning away from ourselves and living and walking in Jesus would not be difficult. Anyone can rejoice in a joyful situation. Anyone can be happy when everything is going according to plan. Anyone can love lovable people. Anyone can be at peace in the midst of serenity. But, living and walking in the Spirit by abiding in Jesus is most productive of good fruit in the midst of adversity. The fruit of the Spirit is not a gift. It is worked in us as we abide in Jesus when everything is seemingly going wrong.
2). While Paul had learned the secret of abiding in the living Christ in the midst of adversity, we are in the process
of learning it.
3). All of us find ourselves from time to time in the midst of situations and circumstances which might lead us into lust, worry, fear, anger, self-pity, discontent, and resentment. In such situations, we should not fight the temptation with a head-on assault. Rather, this is the time to disconnect and detach ourselves from ourselves by directing our thoughts to Jesus in praise and worship.
QUESTION: Are we victims of circumstance?
a. As much as we would like to, we will not be able to change all the basic circumstances of life. The situations that we encounter from day to day are not within our control.
b. The time to turn away from yourself, stir up the Holy Spirit, and act on the basis of the Word and promises of God is in the midst of unfavorable circumstances, especially when we sense the pressures of adversity beginning to close in around us and are tempted to turn in on ourselves.
1). Acts 16 (read all)
i) Here, Paul and Silas have been beaten and thrown into jail at Philippi, even though they had done nothing wrong. In fact, Paul was a Roman citizen who was not given a fair hearing. They were being punished because they delivered a girl from demonic bondage. They had every reason to complain and gripe about their situation and feel sorry for themselves. God had seemingly let them down.
ii) They were singing hymns and psalms of praise. They knew that they were being led by the Lord and that He would work everything out according to His will and purpose. By singing hymns of praise, they retained their peace of mind, their joy, and emotional stability in the midst of a negative situation. As a bonus, God opened the prison doors.
2). Romans 8:2 "Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me FREE FROM the law of sin and death."
i) When we talk about directing our conscious minds to Jesus, stirring up the Spirit by praise and worship, or allowing the Word of God to be engrafted into our confession, we are not speaking about "positive mental attitude" or promoting a thinking technique. Such is silliness.
3). 1 Corinthians 15:45 "The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam [Jesus] a life-giving spirit."
i) We are speaking about being consciously joined each day unto the life that is in Jesus. Jesus speaks of Himself as being the life.
