For years, we've been taught we're to identify with Jesus on the cross because of our sin. What we really haven't been taught is was Jesus Who identified with us on the cross of Calvary. We actually are to identify with Him on the other side of the cross. If we will realize what Jesus did on the cross wasn't only for us, but in the court of God's justice, it was us. When Jesus suffered all the consequences of what Adam did when he fell from the presence of God, He legally paid the debt God (being a just and righteous judge) demanded be paid. Man could no longer pay this debt because through Adam, sin had been transmitted to all mankind.
We've somehow had no problem with identifying ourselves with Adam and in what he had done. But, we've had a hard time identifying with Jesus in what He has done. We quote how, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," but have a difficult time believing what Romans 5:19 (Amplified) says, "For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, So by One Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him)."
Legally, we were identified with Adam in sin and death. Spiritually, we were separated from the right standing of God. Legally, then, we were also completely identified with Jesus when He was raised from the dead. In the court of God's justice, when He allowed Jesus to go to the cross, it was as if I had underwent the same thing. In the Supreme Court of Heaven's justice, Jesus actually took my place. When Jesus died and was separated with God, it was me who died and was separated from Him. When Jesus was acquitted and raised from the dead, so was I.
As believers in Christ Jesus, we can truthfully say what the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion); it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Verse 21 goes on, "(Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose) I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if (justification, righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through (observing the ritual of) the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain (His death was then wholly superfluous)."
If I now try establishing faith in His grace through my own works, then I'm frustrating and nullifying His grace. I've put my faith in God's grace for forgiveness of my sin and trespasses and God forgave me. Now, I need to put my faith into the same grace that has counted me with Jesus' resurrection.
When we deny being righteous or justified, sinless or sanctified by Jesus, then we frustrate God's grace. To have the mind of Christ, would mean we have the knowledge and assurance that I'm without guilt of shame and as Jesus is in this world. 1John 4:17 (Amplified) says, "In this (union and communion with Him) Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we have confidence for the day of judgement (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is so are we in this world."
These scriptures aren't for only when we get to heaven, but are so we can finish our earthly lives with assurance (by faith) that we've already received by our heavenly Father. His grace has made it so perfect through Jesus, that God now sees us the way He sees Jesus, in the throne room. By faith, we must believe in God's grace and that He's already done this.
Many believers live in a perpetual state of fear and unrest and are unsure of even going to heaven when they die. 1John 4:17 just told us that faith in God's grace gives us boldness and assurance making us able to face God in the day of judgement. Our God judged us in Jesus, punished us in Jesus, vindicated us in Jesus, raised us up together in Jesus, declared us righteous or in right standing now with Jesus and in Jesus. We're also seated together with God in Jesus and have been declared without sin and iniquity in Jesus. He has given us His name, His place with Him at God's right hand, His authority and has made us to be joint heirs in everything Jesus has, all by His grace and love for us.
The amount of faith we place in God's act of grace, determines the degree we walk in the power of His Spirit on this earth. If by faith, we believe what grace has provided us, then we can walk in perfect, unbroken fellowship with our Father. By putting faith in what God's grace has made available to us, we can walk in this world without the guilt and shame identified with the old man who died with Jesus.
All of these things belong to the believer through Christ Jesus. If you trust in these things and Him and His grace, then you can live in them and enjoy them. If for some reason, you don't believe these things are for you, then you will never enjoy them here (even though they belong to you through Jesus' sacrifice).
Many Christians continue having a difficult time approaching God because of their past. You probably know some of these people. Grace has declared, "Their sin and their trespass, I remember no more." Does your faith totally agree with this grace? Or, are you still in a state of doubt and walk outside your place of acceptance with the Father?
Grace has done it all, but faith has to accept the liberty God wants us to have. This isn't for just some of His children, but for all of God's children. Can you see what a difference it would make for the Church if we will mix faith with God's Word? Can you see how it would change the boldness of our prayer life or how it would affect our laying hands on the sick? Can you see how it would glorify the Father if we would put our faith in the fullness of His grace and go forth to set the captives free?
We've operated in limited faith for so long, we actually believe this is how it's supposed to be. We've accepted forgiveness (to some degree), but then struggle with this part of grace. Grace, through faith, has made us so free that to those who are just religious, we seem out of place.
To those who are in Christ Jesus, this mighty grace has set us free. I have the liberty, by grace through the Holy Spirit, to eat what I wish and worship without ceremony and to be in God's presence continuously. Yet, when I'm among those who don't know, I refer back to the liberty to not do certain things (although they're not wrong in God's eye) because it might put doubt into some believers.
The liberties provided by God's grace, aren't supposed to be a stumbling block for others. Romans 14:22 (Amplified) says that, "Your personal convictions (on such matters) exercise (them) as in God's presence, keeping them to yourself (striving only to know the truth and obey His will) Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves (who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do)."
The last part of Romans 14:23 (Amplified) says, "For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin (whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful)."
There are those who saying "they're righteous" would be convicted because they're unsure of God's approval of such a statement. Although they read it in the Word, they cannot seem to put their full faith into this much grace. For those who can, it's liberty from the old man and life in the new man.
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