My OperaProper Indentity
Saturday, January 5, 2008 12:36:43 PM
As I have stated before in recent posts, the issue of sin and the understanding of its meaning appears to be the stumbling block for most people in actually seeing the redemption of the world. I know there are terrible things going on in this world and of course they should not be. Will that ever change? I doubt very much it will as it has been ongoing for thousands of years. I am not saying it cannot change because it surely can. Especially when people see redemption for what it actually is. Major transformation happens when that is seen in its true light.
I have a friend in England that I have been in contact with over a number of years and we have had discussions on this very subject over the past several days. He will admit that he has problems seeing things the way I see them as far as redemption is concerned and I fully understand that as a few years ago I had the same problem. I respect his views and he in turn respects mine and we have formed a great friendship over the internet over the years.
To see sin as something people do will always bring you back to thinking “that person cannot be redeemed” if they are still doing “this” or “that”. It causes us to be judgmental because what we are looking at is not what Jesus has done but what they as human beings are doing. Looking at it in that manner is not looking at it properly and redemption of the entire human race is something that will evade us because we are looking at actions and deeds.
Lets all be honest with ourselves, even those of us that may think we are much more holy and just and good than most other people, and look at our own lives. Or go a bit further and go over some of the things you may have thought of over the past week or so. I am sure there are many things that flashed through your head that was not as holy as you would like people to think or even see by your outward performance.
When we look at anything we may say or not say, do or not do, as the criteria for whether we measure up in other people’s eyes and most importantly, in God’s eyes, then we are stepping full force into self righteousness. If you look at anything, and I mean anything, apart from what Christ has done on your behalf for your redemption, then you are a self righteous person. A judgmental attitude will always be in the forefront when we take this view that we have to do something in order to be redeemed.
I personally look at people through how God sees them and it has taken and totally changed how I view life itself here on earth. I do not look at people and see their bad habits as then I would have to look at mine as well. I look at them as redeemed people of God that simply have not come to that knowledge as of yet. When they do come to understanding they are redeemed, then they will begin to view others in that same light as well. That is when we become believers. If you are trying to obtain right standing with God through your works, then you are in unbelief and are trying to achieve something that has already been completed on your behalf.
In this New Year, my prayer is that revelation would come to more and more people as the days go on. It is such a major transformation in ones heart and mind that I can say it is the greatest gift of all because it is seeing Jesus and what He has done. When you can see yourself as God sees you, which is your proper identity, and then you can begin to see others in their true identity as well, which is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and in right standing with God.
I have a friend in England that I have been in contact with over a number of years and we have had discussions on this very subject over the past several days. He will admit that he has problems seeing things the way I see them as far as redemption is concerned and I fully understand that as a few years ago I had the same problem. I respect his views and he in turn respects mine and we have formed a great friendship over the internet over the years.
To see sin as something people do will always bring you back to thinking “that person cannot be redeemed” if they are still doing “this” or “that”. It causes us to be judgmental because what we are looking at is not what Jesus has done but what they as human beings are doing. Looking at it in that manner is not looking at it properly and redemption of the entire human race is something that will evade us because we are looking at actions and deeds.
Lets all be honest with ourselves, even those of us that may think we are much more holy and just and good than most other people, and look at our own lives. Or go a bit further and go over some of the things you may have thought of over the past week or so. I am sure there are many things that flashed through your head that was not as holy as you would like people to think or even see by your outward performance.
When we look at anything we may say or not say, do or not do, as the criteria for whether we measure up in other people’s eyes and most importantly, in God’s eyes, then we are stepping full force into self righteousness. If you look at anything, and I mean anything, apart from what Christ has done on your behalf for your redemption, then you are a self righteous person. A judgmental attitude will always be in the forefront when we take this view that we have to do something in order to be redeemed.
I personally look at people through how God sees them and it has taken and totally changed how I view life itself here on earth. I do not look at people and see their bad habits as then I would have to look at mine as well. I look at them as redeemed people of God that simply have not come to that knowledge as of yet. When they do come to understanding they are redeemed, then they will begin to view others in that same light as well. That is when we become believers. If you are trying to obtain right standing with God through your works, then you are in unbelief and are trying to achieve something that has already been completed on your behalf.
In this New Year, my prayer is that revelation would come to more and more people as the days go on. It is such a major transformation in ones heart and mind that I can say it is the greatest gift of all because it is seeing Jesus and what He has done. When you can see yourself as God sees you, which is your proper identity, and then you can begin to see others in their true identity as well, which is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and in right standing with God.
