Freedom in Christ

My identity in Christ part 2: “No Condemnation in Christ”

you love Jesus—but you struggle with how he sees you. You believe God loves you.
You believe Jesus died for you. But deep down, you still feel like you disappoint him. you know your forgiven but struggle with feeling forgiven.

your not alone in feeling this way. Many Bible believing Christians are trying to walk righteously but feel stuck, unable to move forward in their faith. they believe all the right things but they still operate from a place of shame or guilt.

One the reasons this happens is that in our impatience to want to live in obedience to God we jump right to the practical scriptures that tell us what a good Christian should do and not do. How to Act rightly. but we bypass learning the deep theological truths of who God is. We only see value in the practical instructions like in James or peter or Colossians.  but by  doing that we miss the foundation upon which our Christian walk is built. We never really to learn who God is and who we are in relation to him. and that is a crucial piece of the puzzle.

When we really understand who we are in Christ and it changes our default mindset and affects how we feel a behave and our overall motivation to live for the glory of God.

to understand who we are lets look at what we were.

What happened when you where saved? Let me illustrate this with a graphic.

(show animation)

explanation: We were all created with a body and a soul and something called the spirit which is the part of us that was connected to God. When we sinned something inside of us died. that part of us that was connected to God. were there was light and relationship and fellowship with God there was now darkness and distance. We died spiritually. and from that point on everyone born into this world  physically alive but spiritually dead. that is disconnected from God. When Jesus came into our lives we were Born again. that is made alive spiritually, the light came back on and the fellowship with God reignited. and with it a power to live a new life.

(What does that mean for us? it means that we are now “In Christ” which brings with it a different status.

Romans 8:1 (NLT) “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1. Conviction vs. Condemnation
One of the most important distinctions you will ever learn as a believer is this: there is a difference between the Condemnation of the Devil and the Conviction of the Holy Spirit. this is where the battle starts, in our minds. how do you know the difference? Condemnation offers criticism with no solution these are thought of judgement. condemnation focuses on how much you messed up and attack’s your new identity in Christ. condemnation questions if you were ever saved in the first place. Conviction of the spirit on the other hands points out the error of your decisions but offers a solution, it reminds you of who you are. God’s voice doesn’t condone sin but he is a helper. the devil just kicks you when your down. if the result is more anxiety and depression and guilt and shame than that’s most likely the devil. if the voice your hearing is one of a gentle correction but affirming you are God’s child that’s the Spirit.

2. Satan’s Strategy Is Not Just Sin—It’s Withdrawal
He wants you to withdraw. From God.
From community.
From worship.
From prayer.
From truth.

Because when you withdraw, you stop living from who you are. And that’s where bondage begins. If your first instinct when you fall into sin or stumble in your walk is to avoid reading the Bible, avoid prayer and avoid church and you start thinking. well ill come back when i have my act together. that just means the devils strategy is working and that should make you mad. because you don’t want him to win.

Hebrews 10:14 (NLT) “For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”

 3. You Are Not a Sinner Trying to Be Better — You Are a Saint Learning to Live Free

Most Christians describe themselves like this: “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” It sounds humble.
It sounds spiritual. But it’s not biblically accurate. Yes, you were a sinner. But Scripture does not call believers “sinners.” It calls them saints.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NLT)“I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people…”

the word Holy in the Greek is Hagios -to be set apart purified. it says that God has made you Holy. This is also translated as Saints literally holy ones. this is what Paul calls believers. Everyone who is in Christ is a saint. Now we may not always act like a saint but doesn’t mean our status changes. there is a difference between being under the power of sin and being a saint who occasionally sins. we have the power to choose to not sin.

 4. Identity Always Precedes Behavior

Holiness does not come from trying harder. Holiness flows from knowing who you are. if you see yourself as a victim you will act like a victim. If you see yourself as a victor in Christ you will all like one who walks in victory. imagine if you tell your child everyday what’s wrong with them, that they can’t do anything write and your not sure why they belong in your family. What do you think your going to act like when they grow up? thats horrible parenting btw. the same goes for us if we believe the condemning thoughts that invade our mind that will shape our behavior.

5. Condemnation Attacks Identity, Not Just Actions When you sin, conviction says:
“That choice doesn’t match who you are.” Condemnation says: “That’s who you are.” And if the enemy can convince you that sin defines you, you will stop resisting it.

But Scripture says:

Romans 6:6 (NLT) “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ…”

Not improved. Crucified. You are not fighting from your old self. You are learning to live from your new self. If God is not condemning you…Why are you? /if the cross was enough…Why do you keep punishing yourself? If Jesus already paid for your salvation Why are you still trying to earn it.

Psalm 103:12 (NLT) “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

• That’s not symbolic.
  That’s not poetic exaggeration.
  That’s positional truth.

Reinforce Your New Identity in Christ constantly-

I have given you a copy of all the scriptures that declare who you are in Christ, When you are feeling discouraged, defeated or condemned I want you to take the list and read it out loud.