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Who Are You In Christ?
In Christ we are a new creation. We no longer live by the “self I”, but rather
by the “Christ I”, Christ lives in us and we are unified with Him. We do not do
things of our own initiative, like Christ, should do things only what the Father
would have us do. So, what are the distinctions between the “self I and the
“Christ I” and what is the Biblical foundation for them?
Distinctives:
Distinctives:
Self initiative = puny Divine initiative = mighty
Self
awareness = limiting Divine awareness = unlimited
Self’s flow = ineffective
Divine flow = effective
Self’s imaginations = vain Divine pictures = powerful
and healing
Self’s reasoning = vain Divine thoughts = a wisdom not of this
age
Self’s love = limited Divine love = unlimited
Self’s efforts = puny
Divine enabling = mighty
Self’s focus = limited Divine focus =
unlimited
Self worship = pride Divine worship = humility
Self’s
accomplishment = weak Divine accomplishment = mighty and
majestic
Verses confirming the above “Christ I” distinctive:
I
do nothing on my own initiative.
“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I
tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his
Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father
loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater
works than these, so that you will be amazed.’ (30) By myself I can do nothing;
I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself
but him who sent me.” - Jn. 5:19,20,30.
It is Christ at work in us to
will and to work of His good pleasure
“for it is God who works in you to will
and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” - Phil. 2:13.
Out of
your innermost being shall flow…
“On the last and greatest day of the
festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come
to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living
water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who
believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been
given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” - Jn. 7:37-39.
Young men
shall see visions and old men will dream dreams
“’In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’” - Acts
2:17.
Come let us reason together…
“’Come now, let us settle the
matter,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” - Is.
1:18.
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.
“Jesus returned to
Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole
countryside.” - Lk. 4:14.
The love of God has been poured out within our
hearts.
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been
poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -
Rom. 5:5.
The Spirit of God is upon me because He has anointed me
to…
“’The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind to set the oppressed free,’” - Lk.
4:18.
Looking to Christ, the author and finisher…
“Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer
and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Heb.
12:1,2.
God gives grace to the humble.
“But he gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the
humble.’” - Jas. 4:6.
Jesus healed all who were oppressed by the
devil.
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power,
and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of
the devil, because God was with him.” - Acts 10:38.
Mark Virkler is with
Christian Leadership University. CLU is a Christian University and Online Bible
College offering Christian education including Christian counseling and Christian theology
seminaries and offers certificates, undergrad, Masters, and Doctorates in
the various Christian
colleges of CLU.
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Tags: Religion : News / Society
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