WORD24/7 INSPIRATIONS FROM JOEL ASIAW
IDENTITY CRISIS 5
It’s my prayer that after this series of identity crisis,many will not allow the enemy to drive them out from having fellowship with God because of a sin problem.
Most believers have this old cliche in mind,”I am an old sinner saved by Grace “.
We must be careful of the word I am because it tells us who we are.This cliche is rendered invalid because we are not sinners saved by Grace but rather were sinners saved by Grace.
2 Corinthians 5:17,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
Apostle Paul helped us with His confession when he declared in 2 Corinthians 7:1 that,”Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.”
Paul knew he was not the same wicked man who killed people and persecuted servants of the Lord.
The old life and it’s nature are dead by the death and resurrection of Christ because the old nature died when He died.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:… 2 Corinthians 5:14-16
I believe the reason why most believers struggle with this is because of ignorance and lack of understanding of our new identity.
The fact that you sin after been born again does not mean you are still a sinner.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3
When you got saved,it was your Spirit man that was regenerated but your soul was not.This confirms the reason why we still have bad thoughts because the soul must line up with the thoughts of the spirit man to rule over the body.This is the process to true Holiness.
Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.Romans 8:7
The mind which is part of the soul still contains carnal thoughts which wages war against the new man in you.This explains why carnal believers think and behave as unbelievers.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.Romans 8:9-11
How does the Spirit quicken our mortal bodies with it’s sinful thoughts to think right?
By submitting to the righteousness of God as Romans 6:19 made it known to us.
Paul once again prayed this way for us in Philippians 1:9-11 about this.Let’s look at the 11th verse in the amplified version.
May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]
The manifestation of Holiness is through the knowledge of Christ arresting all the carnal thoughts of the mind and renewing our mind to believe right and do right as 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 states it.
(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This is why daily meditating of the word is essential to our Christian growth.That’s the only process the fruit of righteousness which is holiness can be manifested.We already have holiness deposited in us.
For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy. Hebrews 10:14
Let’s look at another analogy.
NEXT:IDENTITY CRISIS 6
