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WHO GOD SAYS I
AM IN CHRIST
The Christian's Identity
Faith Shield
By: Norm Rasmussen,
Director
Romans Chapter 6 pointedly addresses who believers are in Christ (although the chapter would seem to address tackling sin issues as it's main thrust). But also in this chapter the symbolism of water baptism is being addressed. I personally believe that God wants us to understand more what water baptism represents and teaches about our identity in Christ than just obeying the command to be water baptized, though that doesn't lessen the importance of being water baptized. From how I perceive Romans 6, water baptism is God's way of helping us realize HOW we are given our identity in Christ. It is from that launching pad all else follows from God the Father's perspective concerning disciples of Jesus Christ. Afterall, it is HIS perspective that only counts anyway when all is said and done.
So then, launching from the extremely important foundation of Romans Chapter 6 ... Ephesians 6:10-18 alerts Christian believers that we are continuously in a battle with demonic forces in the unseen realm. Demonic powers constantly are firing poisonous darts of doubts and lies into the minds of disciples of Jesus Christ to keep them weakened, discouraged, joyless, faithless and as ineffective as possible. God says in Ephesians 6:16 that we are to - above all - use our "shield of faith" at all times to protect our thought life. Our "shield of faith" is constructed of the promises of God in His Word. The strongest and most effective "shield of faith" is what I call THE CHRISTIAN'S IDENTITY FAITH SHIELD.
Knowing our identity in Christ is crucially important - a major key - to walking in ever-increasing spiritual victory. You will struggle to one degree or another your entire Christian life if you don't learn and believe who God the Father says you are IN Christ.
Any time a believer is in disagreement with what God says about them from the scriptures below, (there are more promises than what we've listed, by the way) they must quit believing the devil's lies, and start believing what God's Word says about them, which is Truth (Godly FACT!). In so doing, one is waging wise, effective spiritual warfare against the devouring attacks of the devil against them.
1 Peter 5:8-9 alerts Christian believers: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings (attacks to devour your joy, peace and faith, in one form or another - explanation ours) are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Our ongoing, daily confession of what God's WORD says about us is one of the most vital means of "resisting the devil" God has given Christian believers. If we don't confess the promises of God, once we know what they are, it usually means we don't believe them either...which only gives the devil greater influence in our lives.
Remember ... Satan has little influence over the Christian believer when we refuse to believe his lies. But if we do believe his lies, that gives him increased influence over us...giving him an opening to harass (oppress - devour) us in even greater measure.
It is also important to note that if the Christian believer is walking in unconfessed, unrepentant sin, that gives the devil increased influence over them (anger; unforgiveness; bitterness; resentment; envy; backbiting; gossiping; slander; are some of the more common unconfessed sins) ... which can hinder Christ's protection around them - thereby giving Satan greater opportunity to devour (oppress; torment; depress) them.
Important Note: It is very important to not get trapped into confessing scriptures in attempts to try to "persuade" or "manipulate" God to grant us our desires that God determines may be little more than selfish lusts and we haven't discerned such yet. Maturity in Christ teaches that greater peace and joy comes from the Lord when we surrender what "I want" and seek more of what "God wants for me." Seeking what God wants for me is a powerful means of "resisting the devil" in and of itself!
Another important note regarding the promises listed below. These promises are ONLY given to us because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross. We must never think of ourselves as so "wonderful" or so "deserving" that God gave us His promises because we are worthy to receive them. God makes it very clear in scripture that no human is worthy to receive the unfathomable riches He has given us in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ alone is the only One worthy to receive God the Father's eternal blessings, and once we come to agreement with that fact, it makes the eternal salvation Jesus Christ has secured and given us even more priceless!
God forbid that any one of us thinks we deserve this priceless gift of eternal salvation and all the blessings that come with it through eternity. We must always remember that what we really deserve is eternal punishment in hell because we are sinners. Yet in God's love and mercy, He provided a way...He provided an escape from eternal damnation. The miracle of the exchanged life is our escape. Jesus became our sin ... so we could inherit His righteousness - His holiness. Jesus took our punishment at the cross for our sins...so we could be freed from punishment.
Arrogance and boasting about our exchanged life in Christ has no place for God's people. As believers in Jesus Christ, you and I are nothing but sinners saved by God's grace. That's the first truth God wants us realizing. But God says we are also something ELSE! He says that in Jesus Christ, we are also Godly saints who occasionally sin now...but one day in eternity will never sin again!
God has given us His promises of our position in Christ for at least two reasons that I'm aware of:
1) To wage more
effective spiritual warfare against demonic powers -- actively applying the
Ephesians 6:16 "shield of faith."
2) To help us stay motivated to daily keep striving to live
up to what God desires for us to become.
What does God desire that we become? More Christ-like, in every way. God wills it to happen, but it's not going to happen by our just talking about it, or wishing it to happen. It will only happen as we make Christ-like decisions. That requires action on our part, doesn't it?
Therefore, let the promises from God below be the "ammunition" to fire back at demonic powers firing their poisonous bullets (fiery darts) at you ... using them wisely and appropriately for that reason, and secondly, use them as catalysts in striving to be more Christ-like:
IN and THROUGH Christ, I AM and/or HAVE THESE PROMISES ...
In Christ, God's child for I am born
again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God which liveth and abideth
forever.
I Peter 1:23
Through Christ,
able to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3
In Christ, forgiven of all my sins and washed in His shed Blood. Eph 1:7; Heb 9:14; Col 1:14; I John
2:12, I John 1:9
Through Christ, I
have eternal life. John 3:36
Through Christ, I
have passed from death into life. John 5:24
Through Christ, out
of my innermost being will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
Through Christ, the truth shall set me free. John
8:31-32
Through Christ, if
I ask what God has promised, in Jesus name, He will do it. (As long as
it is the Father's will for me, of course. What we can miss in
reading John Chapters 14 & 15 is that God desires above all things that
we make it our number one purpose as Christians to strive to allow the
Holy Spirit to grow Christ-like fruit
in our lives. [See: Galatians 5:22-24 to know what these "fruits" are].
Because God above all else is looking for Christ-like character growth
in our lives, we sometimes struggle wondering WHY God doesn't grant us
whatever we ask of Him. Though many will disagree with me,
which is their right, I have yet to find one ironclad guarantee in the
Bible that will motivate God to answer every prayer I pray the way I
want Him to answer it. God desires that we have confidence when we
pray to Him, but He also desires that we honor Him by our acknowledging
that we accept however He responds to our prayers, simply because He's
the only one who knows all things, understands all things, and knows
what is BEST for each of us at any given time, and for others we
pray for). John 14:14; John 15:7-8
I
am in Christ, and Christ
is in me. John 14:20
In Christ and through
Christ, peace is mine. John 14:27
In and through Christ, I
am loved by the Father. John 16:27
In Christ, I
belong to God. I am His. John 17:9
In Christ, I am protected from the evil one. (As I implement
Ephesians 6:10-18. This is not to assume I am exempt from periodic
demonic attacks however). John 17:15
Through Christ, I
am being sanctified by the truth of God's Word (as I believe it and obey
it). John 17:17
I
am in Christ and loved by the Father.
John 17:23
In Jesus Christ, I
have forgiveness of sins through Christ. Acts 13:38; 1 John 1:9
In Christ, I
am among the called of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6
In Christ, I
am beloved of God, called to be a saint. Romans 1:7
In and through Christ, I
have been justified by faith, and I have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
Through Christ, I am saved solely
by God's grace and the faith God gives me to trust Him for my salvation.
Beyond trusting, there is absolutely nothing I could possibly do to
earn that salvation, nor must I ever think that I somehow deserve this
salvation. Salvation is the gift of God, from God. Ephesians 2:8
In and through Christ, I
have perseverance, character and hope, when I purpose to glory in my
tribulations, (rather than constantly complain about them, or become
angry and bitter at God for allowing them to happen to me!) Romans 5:3-4
Through Christ, the
love of God has been poured out in my heart through Jesus' death. Romans
5:5
In Christ, I will eventually
reign in life through the obedience of Christ Jesus to the Father. Romans 5:17
In Christ, I
have been made righteous through the obedience of Christ. Romans 5:19;
2 Corinthians 5:21
Through Christ, because I have been
given the righteousness Christ had and has, I now am commanded of God to
diligently strive daily to live up to this righteousness that Christ
secured for me. (Not giving into temptations to sin, in other
words, walking in obedience to the Word of Truth). 1 Timothy
6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22
In Christ, I
died with Christ when He died. Therefore I have Christ's power in
me to help me stop sinning. I have the right to appropriate this
power to conquer areas of sin in my life, for it is clearly God's will
that I stop sinning. Romans 6:2
In and through Christ, because Christ rose from
the dead, I have been raised from the spiritually dead to walk in newness of
spiritual life through Christ. Romans 6:4
Through Christ, I no longer need to be a slave to sin,
because God has given me His power in Christ to became a vessel to
holiness and obedience. Romans 6:6
In Christ and through
the strength and power of Christ, I AM an overcomer. Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
In my own strength and
own power, I can accomplish nothing that pleases God. John 15:5
Through Christ, what I purpose to do
daily is seek the help of the Holy Spirit to help me understand when I am
sinning; help me understand why God doesn't want me committing that sin;
and then help me overcome that sin(s) in my life. Romans 8:13
In Christ, I am not under law, but
under grace. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by my
keeping the Ten Commandments, but without the resurrection power that is
imparted to us in Christ and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we won't be
able to faithfully obey the Ten Commandments anyway for very long. Romans 6:14;
Galatians 5:18
I once was a slave to
sin before I was saved, but now that I am secure in my salvation in
Christ, I desire to be a slave of righteousness (addicted to
righteousness). Romans 6:18
In Christ, I
have now no condemnation because of who I am in Christ, (though I
BETTER
have Holy Spirit
conviction when I've offended God!)
Romans 8:1
Through Christ, I
have been set free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2
In Christ, I
have spiritual life in my mortal body through His Spirit who indwells me.
Romans
8:11
In Christ Jesus, I
am a child of God. (When I wasn't in Christ Jesus, I was a child of
Satan). Romans 8:16
Through Christ, I
am an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ. Romans 8:17
In Christ, all
things are working ultimately together for my good, as I walk in God's
purposes and His will, in love. Romans 8:28; 1 John 5:3
In and through Christ, I
have been justified and glorified in the mind of God, and I now strive to
walk in obedience to the Word of Truth to glorify the One (Jesus Christ)
who secured my justification and glorification. Romans 8:30
Through Christ, I
have a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
In Christ, I
have been given gifts, though I also know that I'm to desire supernatural
gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians
14:1
In and through Christ, I am to desire spiritual
gifts, but diligently PURSUE love, because it was love that
motivated and keeps motivating God to pursue me and you. 1 Corinthians 14:1
In and through Christ, whether
I live or die, I am the Lord's. Romans 14:8
In Christ, I
am a sanctified saint, (but living it out daily is a
different matter!) I Cor. 1:2
In and through Christ, I
have been given the grace of God. I Cor. 1:4
In
Christ, I have been enriched in every way. I Cor. 1:5
In Christ, I
am called into fellowship with God. I Cor. 1:9
In Christ, I qualify to
be given wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption. I Cor. 1:30
Because of the death,
burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and my choice to identify with
Him, I
have been given God's Spirit so I can understand what God has freely
given. I Cor. 2:12
Through Christ, I
am God's fellowworker, I am God's field, God's building. I Cor. 3:9
In Christ, I
am a temple of God in which the Spirit of God indwells, though I also
realize that I can grieve the Spirit of God by giving place to ongoing
sin...disobedience...teaching false doctrine...twisting scriptures
out of context and/or proper scripture application. (Grieving the
Holy Spirit for any length of time almost always brings chastisement and
discipline upon us, which is always painful to one degree or another).
I Cor. 3:16; Ephesians 4:30
In Christ, I am a holy temple of
God (but my flesh is likened to an unholy temple where demons frequent when I continue in sin!)
I Cor. 3:17
Through Christ, I am one
spirit with God's Spirit, (though my flesh begs to differ far too often!)
I Cor. 6:17
In Christ, my
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in me, and because God says it is
His temple, I strive to make it a holy temple daily through the help of
Christ in me to walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh. I Cor. 6:19
Through Christ, I have been bought with
a price, and I desire to honor God with my body, (which encompasses my
spirit, my soul, and my physical body). I
Cor. 6:20
Through Christ, I am Christ's slave
(though I'm not so arrogant nor naive to believe that my selfish and fleshly
carnal nature has been
stripped fully of its power to keep me from being a slave to it's sinful
desires, which is why I need to daily purpose to walk in the Spirit, so
I don't fulfill the lusts of my flesh). I Cor. 7:22; Galatians
5:16-17
Through Christ, I
will be raised from the dead imperishable. I Cor. 15:52
Through Christ, I
will put on immortality. I Cor. 15:53
In Christ, I
am comforted by God, so I can comfort others. 2 Cor. 1:4
Through Christ, I
am delivered from the peril of spiritual death, providing I'm willing to
give my ALL to God in obedience to maintain my deliverance. 2 Cor. 1:10
In and through Christ, He
anointed me, and put His seal of ownership on me. 2 Cor. 1:22
In Christ, I
am a fragrance of Christ to God among both the saved and the lost, as I
behave like Christ would behave. 2
Cor. 2:15
In Christ, I
am a letter of Christ being written. 2 Cor. 3:3
Through Christ, I
am a minister of the new covenant of the Spirit of life. 2 Cor. 3:6
Through Christ, I
am being transformed into the likeness of the Lord ever increasingly with glory
from God as I walk in obedience to His Word of Truth. 2 Cor. 3:18
In Christ, I
have received mercy, and do not lose heart through Christ who strengthens me
and by the help of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 4:1
Through Christ, I
have the Holy Spirit in my body. 2 Cor. 4:7
Through Christ, the
life of Jesus is manifested in my body, as I diligently work in cooperation
with the Holy Spirit to help me. 2 Cor. 4:10
See: Romans 8:13
Through Christ, my
inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16
In Christ, I
have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor. 5:1
Through Christ, I
live by faith, not by sight. (That is, I live by faith
in God's promises in His Word, and
any rhema word(s) God has imparted to me. Otherwise I may be living
by presumption and/or assumption without even knowing, which can give
demons an open door to trip me up). 2 Cor. 5:7
In Christ, I
am a new spiritual creation; old things have passed away, and all things
have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17
Through Christ, I
am reconciled to God, and I have been given the ministry of
reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:18
Through Christ, I
am an ambassador for Christ, imploring people to be reconciled to God.
2 Cor. 5:20
In Christ, I
am the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21
Through Christ, I
have grace from God so I can abound in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8
In the love of God, I
am Christ's. 2 Cor. 10:7
Through God's love and
mercy and grace, Jesus
Christ is in me. 2 Cor. 13:5
I am crucified with Christ, as the Apostle Paul was
qualified to state, so I too in Christ want to be able to confidently
proclaim this. I no longer live but Christ lives in me, and
the life that I live now, I live by faith." Gal. 2:20
I
am a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:26
I
am one in Christ Jesus with all believers.
Gal. 3:28
I
belong to Christ. I am an heir through Christ according to the promise.
Gal.
3:29
In Christ and through
Christ, I
am a son of God. Gal. 4:6
Through Christ, I
am no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through
God. Gal. 4:7
Through Christ, I
have grace and peace. Eph. 1:2
In Christ, I
am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Eph. 1:3
Through Christ, I am chosen in Him. Eph. 1:4
In and through Christ
Jesus, I am holy and blameless in God's sight. Eph. 1:4
I
am a son through Jesus Christ. Eph. 1:5
In the beloved
(Christ) I
am accepted by God the Father unconditionally,
which also means that I am loved unconditionally by God the Father in
the beloved (Christ). Eph. 1:6
Through
Christ
I
have redemption and forgiveness.
Eph. 1:7
Through
Christ
I
have obtained an inheritance.
Eph. 1:11
I have been sealed
in
Christ with the promised Holy Spirit. Eph. 1:13
I am seated positionally with Christ in the heavenlies
because of all that Christ accomplished for me by His going to the
cross; fully realizing how secure I am in my relationship with God, but
again, in and through Christ. Eph. 1:20
In Christ, I
am loved by God, and because I am loved by God, I demonstrate my love for
Him by earnestly striving to keep His commandments. Eph. 2:4; 1
John 5:3
Through Christ, I
have been made alive together with Christ. Eph. 2:5
In Christ, I
have every right to feel confidently secure that I have been raised with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places.
Eph. 2:6
Through Christ,
I
have been saved from my sins by grace through faith -- this salvation of His
forgiveness for my sins is a gift of God.
Eph. 2:8
In and through Christ, I
am God's workmanship created for good works. Eph. 2:10
I
have been brought near to God by the (shed) blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13
Christ
is my peace because He is at peace with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and
He IS peace personified. Eph. 2:14
Through
Christ I have access in one Spirit to the Father. Eph. 2:18
In Christ, I am no longer a stranger and alien, but I am a fellow citizen with the
saints. Eph. 2:19
In Christ, I am a fellow heir and fellow member of the body
of Christ.
Eph. 3:6
In and through Christ, I am a fellow partaker of the promises
of God. Eph. 3:6
In
Christ and through faith in Him, we have boldness and confident access to
God the Father. Eph. 3:12
Through Christ Jesus, I
am strengthened with power through His spirit in my inner man. Eph.
3:16
Through Christ, I
have a power source within me which is able to do abundantly beyond all that
I ask or think. Eph. 3:20
In and through Christ, I
have been given grace. Eph. 4:7
In Christ, I have been forgiven, so
I forgive others through the strength (ability) Christ provides when I need it.
Eph. 4:32; Phil. 4:13
Through Christ, I
am confident that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the
day (return) of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6
Through Christ, God
is at work within me both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Phil. 2:13
Through Christ Jesus my
Savior and Lord, I
am a spiritual light in the world. Phil. 2:15
In Christ, the
peace of God guards my heart and mind as I pray with thanksgiving in
everything. Phil. 4:6,7
In Christ, I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me. (In accordance with the Father's will, of course)
Phil. 4:13
In Christ, God
shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. Phil. 4:19
In Christ, the
Father has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom
of light. Col. 1:12
In and through Christ, I
have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the
kingdom of His beloved Son. Col. 1:13
In and through Christ
Jesus, I
have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:14
Christ
is in me, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27
In
Christ I have already been made complete, yet until I reach heaven, I'm to
live UP to that completeness! Col. 2:10
In Christ I
have been buried with Him in baptism. In and through Christ I have been raised up with Him
through faith. Col. 2:12
In Christ, I have been made
spiritually alive together with Him. Col. 2:13
Through Christ, all
my sin debt was paid in full at the cross. Col. 2:14
I
have been raised with Christ, and I set my heart on things above (things
that are most important to God). I
have died (to my carnal, fleshly sinful nature), and my life (whatever
pleases the Father) is hidden with Christ in God.
Col. 3:1-3
Through Christ, I
have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image
of the Creator. Col. 3:10
I
am rescued by Jesus from the coming wrath. I Thess. 1:10
Through Christ, I
am taught by God to love others (treat others the way I want to be treated,
in other words). I Thess. 4:9
I
will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and be with Him forever. I Thess. 4:17
I
am loved by the Lord. God has chosen me
in Christ
from the beginning for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2 Thess. 2:13
The faithful Lord will
strengthen and protect me from the evil one because of who I am in
Christ (but I must
also use my Ephesians 6:10-18 weapons of warfare that God has given me
to use...not to let them sit in some dark corner of a closet to collect
dust.) 2 Thess. 3:3
In and through Christ, I
have been called to eternal life. I Tim. 6:12
Because of who I am in
Christ, God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound
mind -- which happens to be nothing less than the very mind of Christ.
2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Cor. 2:16
The
Lord has saved me and called me to a holy life, not according to my works,
but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted me in Christ
Jesus for all eternity. 2 Tim. 1:9
I
am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until
that day (He returns to earth) because of what God secured for me in and through Christ Jesus the
Word. 2 Tim. 1:12
Because of what Christ
accomplished for me at the cross, The
Holy Spirit dwells in me. 2 Tim. 1:14
In His love for me, He
has purposed to redeem me from every lawless deed and purified me for
His own possession as I purpose to walk in obedience to His commandments, yet knowing
full well I may fall short of doing that from time to time. Titus 2:14
The
Holy Spirit has been poured out upon me richly through Jesus Christ my
Savior. Titus 3:6
I
have been justified by His grace in Christ and made an heir
through Christ
in having the hope of eternal
life. Titus 3:7
Through the help of the
Holy Spirit, I fix my thoughts on Jesus (what is important to Him), the apostle and high priest who I confess.
Heb. 3:1
Through Christ, I am a house of Jesus Christ.
Heb. 3:6
I
have become a partaker of Christ through the divine will of the Father.
Heb. 3:14
As
God has rested from His work, I have rested from my works (not trying to
somehow be "good enough" to earn salvation (forgiveness for my
sins), in other words, or be
"worthy
enough" to receive salvation), knowing that
in Christ, I can feel secure
that all the work necessary was accomplished by Christ on the cross to
qualify me to stand in the presence of my Holy God this very moment
without fear of eternal condemnation. Heb. 4:10
Through Christ, I
have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. Heb. 4:14
Through Christ, I
have a high priest who can sympathize with my weaknesses. Heb. 4:15
In and through Christ, I
can
approach the throne of grace with confidence, so I may receive mercy and
find grace to help me in my time of need. Heb. 4:16
In Christ, I
have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
for all. (Although I realize that as long as I'm on
this planet prior to Christ's physical return, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit will be ongoing in
my life). Heb. 10:10
Through Christ, my heart has been
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure
water. Heb. 10:22
Because of Christ, I
have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me who are also in Christ. Heb. 12:1
Because I belong to
Christ Jesus, God
disciplines me for my good that I may share His holiness (this is referred
to as the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Positionally, in
Christ, I have already
been made holy and
righteous. Because of that truth, I am now to pursue holiness and
righteousness, seeking to imitate the character of Jesus Christ in every
way - daily). Heb. 12:10; 2 Cor. 5:21
In Christ, I
have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, and I am thankful and
worship God. Heb. 12:28
Because of the security
I have in and through Christ, God
will never desert me nor forsake me. Heb. 13:5 (Although I realize I'm not exempt from God's testing,
and the test of feeling forsaken is perhaps the most difficult test to
go through, though God strongly desires that we pass it.) Heb
13:5
Through the sacrifice
Jesus Christ gave for my sins on the cross, I
am made holy through Jesus' own blood shed on the cross. (Although I have not obtained a state of sinlessness either; until I
receive my glorified body, I'm still fully capable of sinning). Heb.
13:12
Jesus
has equipped me in every good thing to do His will, working in me that which
is pleasing in His sight because I have chosen to identify with Him. Heb. 13:21
In Christ, God generously and without reproach gives to me
wisdom if I ask Him, but I must be patient to get it sometimes, and I
must be willing to seek Godly counsel from others at times or it may not be given to me.
James
1:5
In Christ, God has promised to me the crown of life when I persevere under
trial. James 1:12
In
His great mercy, I have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead. I Peter 1:3
In and through Christ, I have obtained an
inheritance which can never perish, spoil, or fade away, reserved in
heaven for me. I Peter 1:4
I
am protected by the power of God through faith until the coming of the
salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time because of who I am in Christ. I Peter 1:5
Because
He is holy, I am holy. (Positionally
speaking, I am holy in Christ, which was given me as part of the
eternal gift of salvation, accomplished on the cross for me by Christ. Experientially, I must strive daily with the Holy Spirit
to not give in to sinful temptation). 1 Peter
1:16
I
was not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold but with the
precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. I Peter
1:18-19
I
have been born again in and through Christ, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that
is, through the living and abiding Word of God. I Peter 1:23
In Christ, I
am a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a person for God's own
possession, that I may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called me
out of (spiritual) darkness into His marvelous light. I Peter 2:9
In Christ, I
am part of the family of God, and I have received mercy. I Peter 2:10
Through Christ Jesus, and by His wounds I am healed (the day He went to the cross for you and I and received the punishment for our sins), and have every right to trust Him for healing. This promise first addresses my Spiritual relationship with God, because our spirit man is what God is more concerned about than anything else - where we will spend eternity.
Refusing to obey James 5:14-16 may be another reason we don't receive our healing. We may be insulting God by trusting our medical doctor's counsel only to help us receive our healing. God uses "spiritual doctors" and He uses medical doctors, (and some of those medical doctors would rather you not even seek the counsel of a qualified Nutritionalist, by the way). We're to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to know when to use both "spiritual doctors" and those in the medical profession (which includes nutritional specialists), and in what priority, when trusting God for physical healing. (1 Peter 2:24)
In Christ, I
have been made alive in the Spirit. I Peter 3:18
The
Spirit of glory and of God rests upon me because of who I am in Christ. I Peter 4:14
Through Christ, His
divine power has granted to me everything pertaining to life and godliness,
through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and
excellence. 2 Peter 1:3
Through Christ, He has granted to me His
precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them I might become
a partaker of the divine nature, purposing to escape the
corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4
In and through Christ
Jesus, I
have been purified from my former sins. (Any future sins I commit, I appropriate 1 John
1:9 and strive diligently to obey Romans 8:13 as I am temped to sin
after that, yet fully realize that no one living on this planet obtains
a state of perfect sinlessness (for any length of time that is) prior to receiving their
glorified bodies at the resurrection of the just). 2
Peter 1:9
If
I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive me and purify me
from all unrighteousness, but I realize that I'm also to repent of my sin(s),
which means to diligently strive to stop committing that same sin(s) in
the future. I John 1:9
In Christ, I
am now a child of God. I John 3:2
Because I
keep His commandments through the
power of Christ and the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God, and
do the things that are pleasing in
His sight, whatever I ask, I receive from Him.
As Christians, you
and I have the privilege of claiming this promise. God wants us to be
confident when we
pray to Him, but experience will teach a Christian that you can quote
all the scriptures you want, fast as long as you can, throw holy-ghost
hissy-fits in your frustration if you feel you must ... yet God is not a
"magical genie" that ever allowed one of His created beings to get their
selfish way for very long, if at all, if they wanted God's blessings on
their life. If anyone reading this has a "secret formula" for
having God grant them their every request, please identify
yourself! 1 John 3:22
As an ending side-note,
once I personally began to fully comprehend the importance of knowing and
believing why it is so
crucial to know what my identity in
Christ is ... I might be about as miserable
as I've ever been at the time, but when people ask me how I am, simply as a
friendly greeting usually, my very first response to them now is, "Blessed
in Jesus! Rotten in the flesh...yet blessed in Jesus
beyond what the human mind right now is capable of fully understanding!"
Sometimes people are taken back by that, because it's not the world's way of answering them, but it preaches a very LOUD MESSAGE to the demons lurking in the unseen background, and it conveys a crucially important truth to other Christians: Norm Rasmussen is fully aware of the importance of constantly reminding myself of WHO I AM IN CHRIST. I can't possibly recount the number of times when I've been under major demonic attack, yet as soon as I make that confession, oppression lifts off of me. Try it for yourself, be persistent, and monitor the results. You'll find it pays huge dividends!
For people who are under continuous mental oppression of various sorts, I would strongly encourage you to consider starting your day by thanking God, OUT LOUD, (so demons can hear) of who God's Word says you are in Christ. The more you repetitiously speak out loud WHO YOUR ARE IN CHRIST, the more you'll begin to BELIEVE it. Some people simply have a very difficult time breaking through to begin believing the promises of God of WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST, and the more they confess those promises out loud, the quicker the Holy Spirit will help them begin BELIEVING it, and as that takes place, demons will then go look for another victim...knowing they no longer have the opportunity they once had in keeping you spiritually and mentally ensnared.
Another writing on the importance of knowing who you are in Christ can be read by clinking on the following link: What Does It Mean To Be In Christ?
You may want to be aware that this page is what I call "a work in progress." From time to time, changes may very well be made in hopes of making it more effective. If you feel that the wording on this page is untrue, misleading, or could be expressed in a more understandable way, I encourage you to write me and let me know. I can't promise I'll respond back, but I will certainly pray about any positive and/or constructive suggestions you may make. Learning all we clearly can about our identity in Christ will only benefit all Christians. Thank you.
Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from the Holy Spirit that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. Either Jesus Christ died for yours sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to cover your sins? We plead with you ... please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To be at peace with God; to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity; to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life.
The staff and our ministry supporters so greatly appreciate hearing how God is touching lives for His glory through this outreach. If this ministry has blessed you in some special way, would you please consider taking a brief moment and share your blessing with us? Simply email us at: ptoffice@precious-testimonies.com
We truly thank each of you who allow us to publish your testimony, for those who faithfully pray (and fast) for this outreach, for those of you who help support the ministry financially, and for those of you who pass along these testimonies and other ministry writings to others. The part the Holy Spirit has you play is vital in helping win lost souls and being engaged in discipleship, and we can never thank you enough for the labor of love and support you provide on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Precious Testimonies
is supported financially by those God directs to sow into this ministry. We ask each person reading this to please ask God on an on-going basis if He would have you sow a financial gift to this evangelistic outreach of His - trust that He will clearly communicate His will to you in the matter - then simply be obedient. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the current financial needs of this outreach, or any other questions you may have.For convenience, you can simply click on the secure Pay Pal donate button below if you want to donate by credit card. Otherwise, you can send your precious gift to:
Precious Testimonies, P.O. Box 516, Jenison, MI 49429.Precious Testimonies
is a non-denominational 501-C-3 evangelistic ministry, and financial love offerings to this ministry are tax-deductible for those who qualify. A financial summary can be viewed by clicking on the following link: Financial Summary.Inquiries or comments are welcome at our E-mail address:
Thank You, and God bless you!
