Now is the time to awaken in my love. My people perish because they do not know my love and acceptance. They are thirsty and dying when water flows freely around them. All they have to do is drink. Show them the water – the fountain is within. It flows freely for those who see it. Eyes will open when my love is proclaimed. Refreshing waters of the Spirit will flow forth. Declare my love and provision for my children, and they will drink from the fountain of life.
Tag: child of God
Who Are You in Christ?
If we truly understood who and what we are in Christ Jesus, would it change the world? I think so. The early followers of Christ lived a supernatural lifestyle, and turned the known world at the time upside down. I believe they knew who they were in Christ and lived from that place instead of trying to achieve something they already had. The following list from the writings of Paul describe who and what we are in Christ now. It isn’t a description of what we are trying to become. Let us strive to grasp the reality of who we are and live from that place of total victory.
From Galatians:
Dead to the Law
Alive to God
Crucified with Christ
Christ lives in us
Children of Abraham
Redeemed from the curse of the law
Children of God
Clothed in Christ
Heirs of the promise
Children of Promise
Born through the Spirit
Children of the free woman (Sarah)
Living by the Spirit
Free
Adopted by God
Led by the Spirit
From Ephesians:
Blessed with all spiritual blessing of heaven in Christ
Holy
Faultless
Adopted Sons
Free
Forgiven
Stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit
Raised with Christ and placed with Him in heaven
God’s work of art created in Christ Jesus
Brought to life with Christ
Fellow citizens with the Holy People of God
Part of God’s household
Brought close to God
A new man
Reconciled to God
Holy Temple in the Lord
Dwelling place of God in the Spirit
Body of Christ
God’s dear children
Children of light
Filled with the Spirit
Glorious, with no speck or wrinkle, holy, faultless
From Colossians:
Free
Forgiven
Fortified with His glorious strength with all power
Rescued
Transferred to the kingdom of Christ
Reconciled
Holy
Faultless
Irreproachable
Christ in us, the hope of glory
Living in Christ
Rooted in Christ
Built up on Christ
Fulfilled in Christ
In Christ circumcised – the complete stripping of natural self
Buried with Christ
Raised up with Christ
Brought to life with Christ
Hidden with Christ in God
Our life is Christ
Chosen of God
Holy people whom he loves
Two Viewpoints
I see two viewpoints regarding our relationship with Father God being proclaimed by Christians. One that sees us, even as followers of Christ, as slaves. We are to work to do the will of God and be obedient servants. We are sinners saved by grace who perform to be acceptable and valuable. It may not be stated quite so bluntly, but that is the gist of it.
The other viewpoint is that Father loved us so much, he sent his son, Jesus, to buy us out of slavery. We were purchased with a great price and then adopted as sons.
So which viewpoint is correct? Paul clearly states that Christ was the firstborn of many sons of God. He also says that all of creation groans waiting for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8). In Galatians 4:6-7 Paul states, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
So are we slaves/servants or sons/daughters? Seems clear that Jesus made it possible for us to be sons and daughters of the most high God. Jesus made it possible for us to call God, “Abba (Daddy), Father. The slave/servant mentality is the attitude of the older brother in the parable of the Good Father (a.k.a the Prodigal Son).
What I see in myself and in other Christians is a tendency to not understand that Jesus made a way for us to be children of God living from Father’s inheritance. When we act and teach from the viewpoint of the slave, we dishonor Jesus. To be truly victorious, we have to fully grasp that we are children of God, adopted into His family, living from inheritance, and hidden in Christ. Father has freely given us all things in Christ Jesus. Let us not dishonor Him by acting and believing like the older brother.
Love Pursues 