WHO ARE YOU?
For years I sat under preaching that told me that Christians are sinners, are failures, and are the problem with the world. Over time all the joy that I once had as a young follower of Christ left me. I lived under a constant cloud of guilt, feeling beat up every time I went to church.
Then, one day, it dawned on me that the devil is the accuser of the brethren and he has been defeated by our testimony! “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
(Revelation 12:10-11 NIV).
Then I read in the Bible how that we are more than conquerors. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:37-39 NIV). We are victorious through Jesus Christ. We are the saints (holy ones).
The Bible says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20 NIV). If Christ is living in me and it is no longer l that am living, but Christ, then to call myself a sinner would be to call Christ a sinner!!! The Holy Spirit who leads me would never lead me to sin!!!
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
(Romans 8:12-16 NIV)
I have learned that the Christian life is not about trying harder. It is just about letting Christ live through us: “...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6 NIV) It is learning about who we are through Jesus and then just living out and being who we are.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh!”
(Romans 8:1-3 NIV)
I am not just a poor sinner, saved by grace! “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”
(1 John 3:9 NIV).
Are We Sinners or Saints?
Once we accept the sacrifice and the gift of salvation that Jesus bought and paid for then we are no longer sinners. We exchanged our filthy rags for his robe of righteousness.
Now, do we sin? Do we make mistakes? Yes! But we have an advocate with the father...Christ Jesus. 1 Jn. 1:9 - If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I no longer identify as a sinner. When I did, I sinned every day and felt like God did not love me. I was bound by the sin mentality and could not break free. I got born again...and again... and again until I lost hope in myself because, in myself, I was not good enough. But...I am no longer a slave to sin. I don't have to sin nor do I sin everyday. I am the righteousness of God. I am a child of God. "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death". Rom. 8:2
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
John 8:34-36 NKJV
Satan may accuse you before God night and day but you must not continue to sin and thereby give the devil ammunition to use against you!
I am learning my identity in Christ. As I grow in the knowledge of who I am in Christ, joy grows in my life.
Barney E. Warren, prolific hymnist of over 400 hymns and spiritual songs of faith, penned these words:
“Praise the Lord, my heart with His Love is beaming!
I am a child of God!
Heaven’s Golden Light over me is streaming!
I am a child of God!
Let a Holy life tell the gospel story,...how He fills the soul with His Grace and Glory!
I am a child of God!
Saved from sin today, every band in riven!
Through the tests of life, I have peace from Heaven!”
(From “A Child of God” by Barney E. Warren)
