Yesterday's post had us looking at "man" from a circles diagram. One circle depicting Adam and Eve in complete harmony with God. The second circle depicted fallen man. Today we examine the third circle.What comes to mind when I ask “What is your identity - who are you?” single parent, steelworker, teacher.... We live out our self-perception. We act as we think. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Prov.23:7
Are you “a sinner saved by grace” or “a saint who can sin.” A sinner saved perspective tends to make sin palatable, expected. But First John 2 says make sin the exception. Live like a saint - who can sin. And call sin, sin. Not weakness or mistake.
Christians were referred to in the NT 60 times as saints, like Romans 1:7, “called to be saints (the consecrated ones, amp.Bible) Saint JoAnne, Saint Russell ...
The book of Ephesians refers 90 times to saints as being IN Christ... stressing the truth of the believers’ union with Christ in death, resurrection, ascension and present position. The fact of the believers position “in Christ” permeates the entire thought of Ephesians. A Christian’s real identity - in Christ.
The word mystery is used 5 times in Ephesians. - mystery, a hidden truth held in secret til proper time for revelation in God’s timetable for our lives. This mystery, being in Christ, is revealed to us most often in tough times and the revelation of this mystery seems to have deepening levels.
We understand it first at a surface level and as our growth in Christ develops, so does our awareness of this mystery - who we really are in Him.
Let’s see if we can understand the mystery more clearly. That is where we'll take up tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment