GRACE AND TRUTH (1)

Who Do You Think YOU Are?

 From our initial faith in Christ, our spirit is quickened to life. It is precisely here, in our spirit where Christ now dwells, that we are to draw forth our true identity. In Christ we receive, ‘’ newness of life.’’ This new life is identified as, Christ in you. Yes, our new identity is now found in Him. Whereas, before our being born again, we were, children of the flesh; Now, after our new birth, we are called children of God. According to Hebrews 12:9, He is the Father of our spirit. Wherefore, Spiritual birth now gives us a new identity. ‘’ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’’ [ John 3:6 ] Our birth determines our identity. Your identity is now derived from this inward man of faith in Christ. The scripture reads, ‘’ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’’ [ 2 Corinthians 5: 17 ] There is also a verse found in Ephesians 2:10 which says, …’’ we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..’’.

In Romans 8:12 to 16 Paul writes, ‘’ Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ‘’

We are no longer children of the flesh. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit! It is here, in our spirit that we now lay hold on our new identity in Christ. The Spirit of God bears witness! I remember once being in an annual conference gathering in Georgia, where a minister was speaking on a particular scripture. He was reading the verse in second Peter 1:4. ‘’ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’’ Just as soon as the minister read this verse, the Holy Spirit quickened these words in my spirit whereby I could see, that I could be free from the flesh! Partakers of the divine nature! Oh, such a glorious concept of grace toward man! A miracle of miracles! How marvelous are His wonders to perform! His divine nature is love. Every thought, every doubt, every fear, and every emotion brought under submission to the love of God. Whereas, the flesh did once hold the governing reigns of your life, and did lay claim to your identity, but now, Christ in you is the hope of glory! Our walk is now after the Spirit.

Through His death on the cross, Christ has crucified the flesh/self-nature of fallen man. The flesh/self-nature, could not be removed nor taken away by any other means except through death. You yourself, as a believer on Christ, was crucified with Him. Since ‘’ nature ‘’ was in man’s body, the body had to be crucified, in order to destroy the nature of sin. ‘’ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body have you prepared me: ‘’ [ Hebrews 10:5 ] According to scripture, Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [ Romans 8:3 ] In so coming, Christ has taken you, as a sinner, to the cross and crucified you. Wherefore, your old identity has been put to death with him. ‘’ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.’’ [ Romans 6:6&7 ]

How is it brethren, that this glorious truth may be realized, and how does it transpire into our daily walk? It must be embraced by faith! It is by faith that I lay claim to Christ, Who is now my new life within. Of course, it is He who has laid claim upon us, and we simply embrace His claim through believing. This testimony of our faith in Christ, is a holy fire. It is through the fiery trial of our faith, that we come to know, ‘’ Christ who is our life.’’ Our faith may undergo severe conflict while the self-nature, the weakness of the flesh, sin, and yes, even the world, all combat against this testimony of faith in Christ. Let us not think for one moment, that we have become passive by saying, it is He who has laid claim upon us. No, for your believing is the most active thing that you can do. Your believing, gives God His means of working in your heart. If there is no faith, then there is no means. ‘’ This is the work of God that we believe on him whom He has sent.’’ [ John 6:29 ] You may say, well brother, I just don’t have any faith. If this is your answer, then I would like to invite you to look to Christ, for it is by Him that we do believe in God. [ 1Peter1:21 ]


- ADAPTED FROM RICHARD MANUS