Defined by Christ

I am defined by Christ alone.

“The Spirit… bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Romans 8:16 (ESV)

We can consider all the struggles, all the fears and anxieties, all the failures as over and gone, part of a “life” that ended at the cross. What rose with Christ is all “the life” that we are, our true identity in Him revealed and filled with His Spirit. We died, and we are alive again. always with Him. All that He has is ours. We no longer see anyone according to worldly fleshly labels. We see noone as unclean. We see everyone through Spirit eyes, new creation eyes. Perhaps some have not awakened to it, but it is still true what Christ did for us. Christ said, “Now is the judgment of the world, now the ruler of this world is cast down.” When was the “now” Christ spoke of? It was about 2000 years ago, when He took away the sin of the world, justified us, set us free. He brought down with Him the old creation (or old Adam) and brought up with Him the new creation (heavenly Adam). One died for all, thus all died. If we died with Him, we will live with Him. Let’s wake up to what is already ours! The gift, the eternal life, the righteousness, the freedom! Let’s wake up to who we already are, to who God always made us to be - human beings filled with the life of God our Father! Let’s see ourselves in Christ, for when we see Him, we will see ourselves to be like Him! Let’s turn from law to grace, turn from the old way to Christ, and let that veil over our minds fall away! And let’s find the Spirit within and be renewed from glory to glory as we look at the face of Christ and see our face in Him!

A Prayer: Lord, remind me of my true, new creation identity.

Law and Grace

“The law makes you conscious of sin. Grace makes you conscious of being the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” 

Rob Rufus

“You no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

Romans 6:14 (NLT)

Law is a system of trying to earn blessing by good performance or keeping rules; grace is the beauty of having blessing as a free and unconditional gift of love through Christ. The unconditional love of Christ does for us what living by rules could never do. It takes us right into God’s arms, into a real relationship with Him. What freedom and joy come knowing that we are not under law but under grace. 

Law is about reward and punishment. Grace is about a love relationship.

Law says, "It's up to you." Grace says, "It's up to Jesus."

Law blesses only success. Grace blesses even failure.

Law is only the pure may come. Grace is whoever wishes may come.

Law says, "You’re not enough, do better." Grace says, "Jesus is enough, rest."

Law says, "You must be perfect before God." Grace says, "You are already perfect before God."

Law leads to condemnation and death (retribution). Grace leads to forgiveness and life (restoration).

Law condemns the ungodly. Grace justifies the ungodly.

Law makes us feel God is a judge. Grace makes us know God is a Father.

Law is conditional acceptance. Grace is unconditional acceptance.

Law says everything must be earned. Grace says everything is a gift.

A Thought: It is wonderful to live under grace.

A Complete Salvation - Quotes from Early Church Fathers

Christ did all that was needed for our salvation - it is finished!

“The Lord touched all parts of creation, and freed and undeceived them all from every deceit.”                                       Athanasius of Alexandria

“As God He washed away our sins.”            Gregory of Nazianzus

"[Christ suffered] as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness...all our sin is removed."

John Chrysostom

“The death of all was accomplished in the Lords’ body, and death and corruption were wholly done away with because of the Word that was united with it.”                                  Athanasius  of Alexandria      

“Christ, having completed for us His saving work and ascended to heaven with the body which He had taken to Himself, accomplishes in His own Self the union of heaven and earth.” Maximus the Confessor

“By Christ’s suffering, all of us, and not one but not another, have been restored. All of us who participate in the same Adam were deceived by the serpent and killed by sin; all of us have been saved by the heavenly Adam.”                                                           Gregory of Nazianzus

"He pitied sinners, and restored them without cost, and made low the mountains of their sins." Ephrem the Syrian

"Having taken up that which was condemned, He liberates all from condemnation."                                             Gregory of Nazianzen

"For when the Lord forgave all sins, He made an exception of none."

                                                                         Ambrose of Milan

"You redeemed us from the curse and from sin, having become both on our behalf." Macrina the Younger

“This is the One who delivered us from slavery into freedom, from darkness into light, from death into life, from tyranny into an eternal kingdom.”                                                        Melito of Sardis

“Christ took humanity, and humanity has been raised in Christ to God.”

                                                                         Hilary of Poitiers

“He was transfused throughout our nature, in order that our nature might by this transfusion of the Divine become itself divine, rescued as it was from death and put beyond the reach of the caprice of the antagonist.” 

                                                                         Gregory of Nyssa

“Christ unites all mankind to Himself, and to the Father through Himself.”                                                         Gregory of Nyssa

“Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all.” (John 1:16 GNT)

Ancient Voices: An Easter Poem

Melito of Sardis was a 2nd century church leader in what is now Turkey. I quote from his Peri Pascha, which reads like an Easter Poem to me: 

“This is the one …

who was hanged on the tree,

who was buried in the earth,

who was resurrected from among the dead,

and who raised mankind up

out of the grave below to the heights of heaven.

“When the Lord had clothed himself with humanity,

and had suffered for the sake of the sufferer,

and had been bound for the sake of the imprisoned,

and had been judged for the sake of the condemned,

and buried for the sake of the one who was buried,

he rose up from the dead,

and cried aloud with this voice: ...

I set the condemned man free;

I gave the dead man life;

I raised up the one who had been entombed ...

I, he says, am the Christ.

I am the one who destroyed death,

and triumphed over the enemy,

and trampled Hades under foot,

and bound the strong one,

and carried off man to the heights of heaven.

I, he says, am the Christ.

“Therefore, come, all families of men,

you who have been befouled with sins,

and receive forgiveness for your sins.

I am your forgiveness,

I am the passover of your salvation,

I am the lamb which was sacrificed for you,

I am your ransom,

I am your light,

I am your Saviour,

I am your resurrection,

I am your king,

I am leading you up to the heights of heaven,

I will show you the eternal Father,

I will raise you up by my right hand.

“This is the alpha and the omega.

This is the beginning and the end -

an indescribable beginning and an incomprehensible end.

This is the Christ.

This is the king.

This is Jesus…

This is the Lord.

This is the one who rose up from the dead.

This is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father…

to whom be the glory and the power forever. Amen.”

Great Shepherd Mbate quotes

Great words from Shepherd Mbate:

"Love has nothing to protect “himself” from, because nothing could ever threaten love, he has no low self esteem. Love has the courage to prepare a table in front of those who persecute him, in front of those who are against him; he invites them in and dines with them. Love is an irresistible voice which invites even the most prodigal to come back home. Love takes away the masks we lived with as we feared the vengeance to come. He proves to us that his kind of vengeance never had anything to do with punishment towards those who are against him, but rather it is about overwhelming them with great fondness and all goodness."

"Re-member: to put back together. One can only re-member something that is meant to belong together! We have always belonged and the core of our hearts knows this well. The psalmist saw this coming;'The ends of the earth shall remember ( awaken to their forgotten self ) and return to the lord (metanoia).'"

"God was in Christ giving himself to die in the hands of his creation, reconciling our alienated selves(minds) to himself. The cross is not Jesus satisfying the Father, but rather God in Christ satisfying humanity. The reason why the blood of Christ speaks better things than the blood of Abel and any other is that, while the blood of Abel cries toward God for vengeance and retribution, the blood of Christ cries toward humanity with love and a woo for reconciliation.

I'm glad He took the cross of shame and turned it into an icon of love and reconciliation."

Branches on the Vine

We are one with Christ. He is the vine and we are His branches. That is a very close association! We partake of His nature and are nourished by His life. For His life is our life and His nature is our nature. This is the natural way of a vine with its branches. So it is normal and natural, even effortless, for the fruit to come forth from us branches. It comes, not by our effort or strain but by the law of life. We are branches on the grapevine. It is most natural for us to bear the fruit of the vine! But it is important to see that the life of the vine produces the fruit, not us; we simply bear the fruit. Life produces life. Life bears fruit. Life thrives and grows and brings forth. Christ is our life. Christ brings forth the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We simply relax in the vine. We do not struggle, try to perform, or keep inspecting ourselves (or others!) for fruit. We simply enjoy the vine we're one with, enjoy the nourishment of the vine. What a life. What an effortless life is produced in us, because it is His life, not our own.

You Are So Beautiful, Lord

You are so beautiful, Lord!

We rest here in Your love that’s so true

We worship You from deep in our heart

And sing our love back to You

You are so full of light

Dazzling and magnificent in every way

You are purer than snowfall

You are brighter than sunshine

You are the most wonderful One of all!

You are all kindness and love

Tender and gentle in every way

You are soft like a blanket

You are warm like the fireside

You are the most lovable One of all!

You are so full of life

Vibrant and lovely in every way

You are sweeter than honey

You are fresher than fountains

You are the most splendid One of all!

“The one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment…beholding the marvelous beauty of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace."

Psalm 27:4 (TPT)

You're Wonderful

I just want to say You’re wonderful

I just want to praise Your name

You are such a Giver 

You are such a Wonder

I just want to soak in Your love.

I just want to say You’re beautiful

I just want to lift You up

You are such a Savior

You are such a Beauty

I just want to celebrate Your love.

I just want to say You’re marvelous

I just want to worship and adore

You are such a Victor

You are such a Marvel

I just want to bask in Your love.

I just want to say You’re glorious

I just want to sing of all You’ve done

You are such a Father

You are such a Glory

I just want to live in Your love!

“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live.”

Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV)

Strength and Joy Are Natural to Us

 Strength and Joy

God gives us joy like a child full of wonder, strength like a child full of life.

“Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.”

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NLT)

Strength and joy fills God’s dwelling, and we are that dwelling place of God. His own strength and joy are filling us at all times. 

This is what is truly most natural to us as God’s children, to be joyful and full of God’s happiness, to be uplifted and full of God’s strength. This is our normal way of being. 

Joy is our natural state, and it’s God’s joy in us.

Strength is our natural state, and it’s God’s strength in us.

A Prayer: Dear Father, I see You want me to live like a child, full of wonder, able to be carefree, full of life and vigor. I want to enjoy all the beauties of life and all the joys found in Your presence in me. I really do feel like a child again with You.

Face to Face Union All the Time

“Our soul is oned [united] to Him, unchangeable Goodness.”

Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

“I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.”

Psalm 16:8-9 (GNT)

You cause me to be still and just remember we are one.

And in the stillness there is presence. It’s You - here inside of me.

I’m face to face with You in all Your love and splendor.

Fellowship doesn’t have to have any words.

Sometimes it just means sitting quietly together.

Sometimes it’s simply a “knowing” that You are smiling at me.

Your complete acceptance means the world to me.

I feel lighter, stronger, clearer, like I’m coming back to the center.

I’m happy to be here with You, happy we are always together.

A Prayer: I know You are always here with me. I look at You and You fill me with joy.

Dear to God

Do we really know how dear we are to Him?

“My dear, dear son, my child in whom I take pleasure! Every time I mention his name, my heart bursts with longing for him! Everything in me cries out for him. Softly and tenderly I wait for him.” GOD’s Decree."

Jeremiah 31:20 (MSG)

He is the One who watches over us while we sleep. 

He is the One who cries with us when we are sad and celebrates with us when we are happy. 

He is the hand on our shoulder when we feel alone. 

He is the One who sends us flowers on our daily walks and rainbows after the spring rain just to make us smile. 

He is the One who loves to hear all our thoughts and laughs at all our jokes. 

He is the One who can't stop thinking about us, whose heart flips at the mention of our name, who loves being with us. 

He is the best Father, the best Friend, the best Companion one could ever have. 

Do we really know how dear we are to Him?

A Thought: God adores me.

Every Tear

Thank You, Jesus, that You lived on this earth and You know what it is like to face the challenges of this life.

Sometimes it can feel so difficult for me to make it through each day, and I know You understand.

I often get overwhelmed with all my troubles and sorrows.

But I know I am not alone. I know You are here.

Thank You for walking through it all with me.

Thank You for saturating me with all Your comfort and calm.

Thank You for wrapping me in Your arms of peace and love right now.

For everyone who is hurting right now, would You hold them tightly and let them feel Your love and comfort. Let them know they are not alone. Let them know they are being carried.

Thank You for holding us all, for without You, Jesus, we couldn’t make it through this life.

Thank You for every person that gives us love and support right now. They are such a gift.

And thank You for the promise that all our tears and pains will end!

“You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in Your bottle! You have recorded every one in Your book.”

Psalm 56:8 (TLB)

Sometimes...

Lord, sometimes I feel so empty.

But You keep on filling up those empty places.

Sometimes everything seems so dark.

But You keep on being the light in the midst of the darkness.

Sometimes I can't feel anything, can't sense Your presence.

But You keep on being present.

Sometimes I succumb to anxiety and fear.

But You keep carrying me.

Sometimes I don't see any victory but only struggle.

But You keep on being strong.

Sometimes I wonder if I even believe, my faith seems so small.

But You keep on being real and true.

Sometimes I life seems senseless and devoid of meaning.

But You keep on making it all mean something somehow.

Sometimes I lose hope.

But You keep on bringing a new day.

Sometimes I feel I can't make it anymore.

But You keep on pulling me through.

This, to me, is Grace.

You are the Grace in my life.

You are the reason I am still here, the reason I have survived the rough times, the reason I still believe, the reason I still have hope.

You keep on giving meaning to my life.

And the meaning is Love, the meaning is You.

My life isn't perfect, but You are. 

You are just the One I need.

Where would I be without You, my beloved Friend?

God has said, “I will never fail you."

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

The Difference Between Do and Done

Do vs. Done

We are already at the goal. We are not trying to get there. The work to get us there has already been done, completed in full by Christ!

“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’”

John 19:30 (NIV)

I have worked and struggled so hard to be a "good Christian." I always thought I wasn't good enough, that God was always disappointed in me, that His main message to me was "try harder." These thoughts weren’t true! God then showed me the difference between law (or works/effort) and grace (free gifts). One big difference is "do" vs. "done."

It's the difference between "I'm trying to kill off my old self," and realizing it's already dead.

It's the difference between "I am trying to get forgiveness and redeem myself," and realizing I have already been forgiven and redeemed.

It's the difference between "I'm trying to be holy," and realizing I have already been sanctified (made holy) and perfected forever.

It's the difference between "I'm trying to get closer to God," and realizing this human life has already been joined as one to God.

It's the difference between "I am trying to get to heaven," and realizing Christ already brought me there.

The things I was trying so hard to do under law or self-effort were actually already done for me! When were they done? Well, about 2,000 years ago. It's called the finished work of Christ because it really is finished. Yes, believing it allows me to experience it fully and personally in my present life, but the fact is, it was already done long ago by my wonderful Lord. It's the difference between "do" and "done."

A Thought: I can rest because all the work of my salvation has already been done by Christ.