THE IDENTITY OF THE SINFUL NATURE VERSES THAT OF A NEW CREATION
“…Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“...For in him we live, and move, and have our being (IDENTITY); as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are
also his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
“…I WILL GIVE you a new heart,
and I will put a new
spirit in you.
I will take out your stony, stubborn
heart and give you a tender, responsive heart…”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…it is God which worketh
in you both
to will and to do of his good
pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
“…by the grace of
God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “… [Therefore]… we all … are changed into
the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2
Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
*
Identity is based on who you are, how you think about who you are, and
the qualities and character traits that define who you are.
IDENTITY is who you
are. BEHAVIOR is what you DO. Most people identify themselves by WHAT they DO.
IDENTITY also relates
to the internal values that guide and dictate behavior revealed in the choices
and decisions you make in life.
Choices and decisions
you make in life reflect who YOU are and what YOU value.
If a person values
“mental health” and helping people they may become a therapist, or
psychologists, or psychiatrist. Who they ARE motivated to DO something.
Unfortunately, only a few
people choose their identities (who they are), but instead choose external
values that focus on what they DO.
Focusing on what you DO
allows a person to build any IMAGE they choose, without engaging WHO they are. Further, they may pursue material possessions, fame, power, or outward
appearance as a way to CREATE, for themselves,
a different IMAGE.
When a man or woman
CHOOSES to CREATE an IMAGE they are attempting to CREATE a better version of
SELF. They may use and copy the behaviors of one or more ROLE MODELS in order
to CREATE “that” IMAGE.
MANKIND was once
CREATED in the VERY BEST IMAGE ever. God CREATED mankind and they
were originally CREATED in the IMAGE of the DIVINE NATURE which is HOLY! “….let us make man in “our” image, after
our likeness…”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..God created man in his own image…..male and female created he
them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (BODY), and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life (SPIRIT); and man became a living soul (SOUL)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).
When a man or woman attempts
to CREATE an IMAGE they combine, what they think, are “ideal” behaviors,
together, to make themselves “seem” like they have preferable characteristics
that are socially acceptable or “good” in order to please or gain the favor of
others.“…thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen,
and …art polluted with their idols…”
(Ezekiel 23:30). “…What
shall it profit a man (woman), if he (she) shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV).
The reason CREATING an IMAGE
works is because MANKIND will look upon the outside, at what a person DOES, but
not at WHO they are.“...God
SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward
appearance, …”(1
Samuel 16:7 NASB). . “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV).
The problem with CREATING an
IMAGE is that GOD looks on the inside, at the TRUE SELF, at who a person truly
“is” in their heart. You may FOOL others, but God knows a hypocrite when he sees one. “...the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1
Samuel 16:7 NASB). “... hypocrites! ...which indeed appear
beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV).
“…No one
needed… to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…”
(John 2:24-25 NLT). “…Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men…”
(Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone
closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the
wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).
Some people have found
that CREATING an IMAGE is good from a distance, but when there's too intimacy, sooner
or later, the TRUE SELF will emerge.“... hypocrites! ...which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV).
You may GAIN the favor
of some, but LOSE the favor of those that really matter! “…What
shall it profit a man (woman), if he (she) shall gain the whole world, and lose
his (her) own soul (who you really are)?” (Mark 8:36 KJV).
CREATING an IMAGE that
is nothing like the TRUE SELF won’t work within INTIMATE relationships. INTIMATE relationships were designed to engage with the TRUE SELF. They
may. end up, seeing you as a HYPOCRITE!
What is a “hypocrite?” A hypocrite is someone who PRETENDS to be something
they KNOW they are NOT! The term comes from an old Latin word that meant
“play-acting.”
Jesus pointed out hypocrites all the time
on their public fasting, long, drawn-out prayers, showing off their gifts, and
their wanna-be-seem alms-giving. “…
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do
not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have
glory of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward…” (Matthew 6:2 KJV). “… When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward…” (Matthew 6:5 KJV).
“… When
ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites,
of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward…” (Matthew 6:16
KJV).
There was a group of
Scribes and Pharisees, who were hypocrites and they play-acted their roles by
pretending to be public examples of religious holiness, but Jesus KNEW they
were NOT. He KNEW their hearts were TOTALLY opposite of their public pretense.
“…Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against
men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering
to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a
pretence
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land
to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child
of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind
guides,
which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever
shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the
temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it
is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that
sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the
altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the
temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And
he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that
sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and
cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and
faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind
guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside
of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and
excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and
platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited
sepulchres, which indeed appear
beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even
so ye also outwardly appear righteous
unto men,
but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of
the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had
been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in
the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye
are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure
of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of
vipers,
how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew
23:13-33 KJV).
Jesus frequently talked about religious
pretenders too and misguided zealots play-acting the role of “disciple” and
called them hypocrites. “…And
then he added, “It
is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and
foolishness. All these vile things come from within;
they are what defile you…” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT).
Hypocrisy or PRETENSE is a
SIN. “…Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and HYPOCRISIES, and envies, and all evil
speakings..” (1 PETER 2:1 KJV). “… So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done
with all deceit, HYPOCRISY, jealousy, and all unkind
speech…” (1 PETER 2:1 NLT).
There are consequences
to pretending to be someone you are NOT, especially with God. Remember Ananias
and Sapphira, who pretended to GIVE
more than they actually GAVE. “… There
was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some
property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said,
“Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And
after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a
thing like this? You weren’t lying to us
but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and
died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then
some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband
received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter
said, “How could the two of you even
think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men
who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out,
too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young
men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her
beside her husband…” (Acts 5:1-10 NLT). “…There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of DEATH...” (Proverbs
14:20 KJV). “…There is a way that seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways DEATH ….” (Proverbs
16:25 KJV). “…and sin,
when it is finished, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH…”
(James 1:13-15 NLT).
Hypocrisy brings forth DEATH: physical,
relational, financial, mental and/or spiritual. Spiritually it can lead others
AWAY from God and into hypocrisy too. “… I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came
along, too. I
went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met
privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with
them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure
that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I
was running the race for nothing. And they supported me
and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a
Gentile … But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him
to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When
he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised.
But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the
Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on
the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other
Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and
even Barnabas was led astray
by their hypocrisy…”
(Galatians 2:1-13 NLT).
In addition, when a man or woman
attempt to CREATE an IMAGE based on “acceptable” or so-called “good” behavior, it is within a world, where ALL PEOPLE are UNDER
the POWER of the EVIL ONE (the GREATEST hypocrite of all). “…He
was a murderer from
the beginning
…” (John 8:44 NASB).
The EVIL ONE will lie to you,
as he did to Eve, and make you believe you can be
“good” and “acceptable” without God. “… for
he is a liar and the father of lies…”
(John 8:44 NASB). Thus, “…There
is none righteous, no, not one:”
(Romans 3:10 KJV). “…There is not a just man
upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not…”
(Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV). “…ALL HAVE
SINNED and fallen short of
the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). “… [ALL have become]…..unclean and [their
so-called] righteousnesses
(efforts to BE good is) as filthy rags….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).
You can CREATE the
IMAGE and “still” NOT “BE” the image. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV).
Therefore, even if you
CREATE an IMAGE it only APPEARS beautiful
on the OUTSIDE, but inside is the TRUE SELF and TRUE NATURE.
YOU can’t CREATE an GOOD IMAGE without God.“….Apart from Me (the indwelling
Holy Spirit and Word), you can do nothing…” (John
15:5 NIV). “...The
lord is GOOD…there is none good but one, that is,
God...” (Nahum 1:7 & Mark 10:18 KJV).
IF THERE IS "NONE" GOOD, BUT GOD, THEN THERE IS "NONE" GOOD WITHOUT HIM!
CREATING an image (who
you want to pretend to be) is NOT the same as IDENTITY (who you really are). Choosing
IMAGE over IDENTITY can be unfulfilling.
A person can have many
ROLES in life too, such as mother, father, grandmother, sister, brother,
friend, relative, teacher, doctor, writer, and spouse, but those are positions
of expectations and responsibilities.
Who you are (identity),
in those ROLES, will also depend upon the internal values that guide and
dictate your behavior and the choices you make within each of those social
context. . “…So I say, let the Holy Spirit
guide your lives. Then you won’t
be doing what your
sinful nature craves.
…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
IDENTITY initially
develops within the family unit and through the many role models a person
encounters in their life. “… You
are
the light of the world (parents, family, role models)..."
(Matthew 5:14 KJV). "…Let your
light shine
before men (women, children) in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who
is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:16 NASB).
A person’s IDENTITY
starts to be formed through the eyes of the family unit, especially parents.
The family unit or parents initially DEFINE a person’s IDENTITY for them. If the parents treat or say, “...you are stupid...” You will DEFINE
yourself as “...stupid...” “…As [person] THINKETH
within his [or her] heart (thoughts,
words, etc), so is he
[or she] (actions, behaviors, etc.)…”
(Proverbs 23:7 KJV).
IDENTITY is FORMED,
SHAPED, MOLDED, and TRAINED in a world (family and social context) under the power of the EVIL ONE. “….I was born a sinner ….”
(Psalms 51:5 NLT). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good,
but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin
(nature) …”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…For all have sinned (all have the flesh nature)…”
(Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come
short of the glory of God (all are born WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…”
(Romans 3:23 KJV).
Depending upon a
person’s life experience their IDENTITY formation
may or may not MATCH available or preferred social or acceptable roles in the
dominant society. However, “…There is none righteous, no, not one:”
(Romans 3:10 KJV). “…There is not a just man
upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not…”
(Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV). “…ALL HAVE
SINNED and fallen short of
the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).
The struggle with
IDENTITY (who you are) - when it does not MATCH available or preferred social
or acceptable roles in the dominant society- will often, make a person,
compensate it with something else.
“...Be … imitators
of [Jesus]…”
(Hebrews
12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). “… growing in every way more and more like
Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1
John 4:17 NIV). “...The lord (Jesus) is GOOD…there
is none good but one, that is,
God (the Holy Spirit)...” (Nahum 1:7 & Mark 10:18
KJV). “….Apart from Me (the
indwelling Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Word), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
That COMPENSATION, for
not meeting up to available or preferred social or acceptable roles, may be to
CREATE an whole other IMAGE or FALL PREY to a negative or darker side of
identity. The darker side of identity may involve living with low self-esteem, addictions,
compulsions, depressions, meaningless activities, angry attitudes, hopeless
worldviews, going on crime sprees, or self-destructive as a past-time.
Whenever some kind of COMPENSATION
is chosen it is because IDENTITY formation
was seriously damaged.
When IDENTITY formation is seriously damaged,
a person’s CHOICES and decisions can negatively affect the way they see the
TRUE SELF.
BAD, WRONG,
DIDN’T-MEAN-IT, CHOICES, mistakes, weaknesses, failures, decisions etc. affect
the way people see the TRUE SELF.
People, with damaged
IDENTITIES, prefer to deny the TRUE SELF, especially if it has too many mishaps
and even worst behavior. They begin to believe the TRUE SELF is WORTHLESS and has
NO value.
In a world, UNDER the POWER of the EVIL ONE, what
you DO is a reflection of who YOU are by nature.
IDENTITY
formation that is inundated with the
wrong values have guided and dictated a hosts of SINFUL BEHAVIORS that have
chronically affected the WRONG CHOICES and decisions one has made in life. The
TRUE SELF seems UNREDEEMABLE.
It is through God’s redemption,
however, that we ALL discover the TRUE SELF, which was originally created with the indwelling Holy Spirit.“….let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). Mankind was originally created in God’s “image”, which is SPIRIT. “…God is not human (he
is not a body or flesh)…” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…the
Spirit of God dwell in you (dwelt in Adam and
Eve)…”
(Romans 8:9 KJV).
“…..God created man in his own image…..male and female created he them…”
(Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of
the dust of the ground (body),
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (HIS Spirit or spiritual LIFE); and
man (woman) became a living soul (soul)…”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).
“...and
man (woman) became a living soul (soul)…”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).
When the soul is
RESTORED to a LIVING SOUL it is a NEW CREATION. “…Therefore if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV). “...and
man (woman) became a living soul (soul) ... [AGAIN] …”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).
A new IDENTITY formation, in seed form, is
planted in the heart. “…… THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD …” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV).
The SEED is WATERED by
the HOLY SPIRIT (the Word of God), so it can GROW and produce fruit in the life of the redeemed.
“…God is Spirit …” (John 4:24 KJV). God, the Holy Spirit represents a type of water and refers to himself as
“...spring of living water...”
(Jeremiah 2:13 KJV).
“… …The seed is the WORD OF GOD
…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV).
The bible says, “....I (God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...”
(Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
The SPIRIT is the WORD,
which WATERS the SEED and produces spiritual FRUIT. Jesus had another
name. “…
His name is called The
Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “… THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…THE WORDS
... they ARE SPIRIT…”
(John 6:63 KJV).“....I
(God, the Holy Spirit) will pour my Spirit upon THY SEED...”
(Isaiah 44:3 KJV).
“… The Spirit of truth (the indwelling Spirit) …will guide you into all the truth. …”
(John 16:13 NIV). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord … [GOD GUIDES HIS PEOPLE] …” (Psalms
33:6 NASB).
“…The [indwelling]...HOLY
SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to produce fruit) THROUGH [the redeemed] …
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “...the (indwelling) Holy Spirit
produces this kind of fruit in [their]... lives: love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
God is NOT like HUMANS; he originally created
them to be LIKE him. Thus, HUMANS were CREATED in the image of the DIVINE NATURE
“not” the other way around. “….let us make man in “our” image, after our likeness…”
(Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..God created man in his “own” image…..male and female created he
them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God …breathed
into his nostrils the
breath of life…”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).
MOST HUMANS TRY TO "BOX" GOD INTO "THEIR" IMAGES.
The REDEEMED can FREELY choose
to WALK or LIVE in a NEW IDENTITY, because they are totally NEW CREATIONS! “…Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “...For in him we live, and move, and have our being ( our NEW
IDENTITY); as certain also of your own
poets have said, For we are also his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
The old IDENTITY is GONE. You
are NOT what you USED to be by IDENTITY
formation or by the old SINFUL NATURE. “...You used to do these things when your life
was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage,
malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language...” (Colossians 3:6-8 NLT). “...once you were full of darkness, but now you have
light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For
this light within you produces only what is good and right and true...” (Ephesians 5:7-9 NLT). “... thieves,
or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these
will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some
of you were
once
like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right
with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of
our God...” (1 Corinthians
6:10-11 NLT).“…old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new...”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
THESE SCRIPTURES ARE
TRUE ABOUT YOU!!“…The truth shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32 KJV).
You are totally DELIVERED FROM your OLD IDENTITY created through the SINFUL
NATURE. Jesus, the WORD said: “…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Jesus, the Word of God), because he hath anointed me (with the Holy Spirit and POWER) to preach …. deliverance
to the captives…” (John 4:16-21 KJV). “… all things are become new...”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
YOU are DELIVERED “THROUGH” JESUS CHRIST
WHO EMPOWERS YOU TO “BE” FREE FROM THE OLD IDENTITY AND THE OLD SINFUL NATURE. THROUGH, HIS INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT, HE HAS GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO WALK IN
FREEDOM, AND TO LIVE IN FREEDOM!!!
THE SINFUL NATURE HAS THE CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE SINFUL BEHAVIOR, BUT THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE CAPACITY TO EMPOWER RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR. IT IS UP TO GOD'S PEOPLE TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER THE SINFUL NATURE AND PUT DEMANDS UP IT THROUGH THE AUTHORITY THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN "IN" CHRIST.
THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS WITHIN THEM GIVING THEM POWER OVER THE SINFUL NATURE!
“…It is God who works in you…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the
sheep … work[s] in us what is pleasing
to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The
God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip[s] you with
everything good for doing his will…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “… [God] grant[s]… [the redeemed]… to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “...The same God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us
who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT
DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …” (1 Corinthians
12:4-11 NLT).
“…BY THE WORD of the Lord ...[YOU are delivered from the OLD IDENTITY
and the old sin nature] …” (Psalms 33:6 NASB).
Jesus, the WORD said: “…The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me (with the
Holy Spirit and POWER) to preach …. deliverance to the captives…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV). “…if the Son (Jesus Christ, the Word of God,
and the indwelling Holy Spirit)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed.”
(John 8:36 KJV).
“…if
God be for [you], who [or what bondage] can be against [you]?” (Romans 8:31
KJV). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord [YOU are delivered from the OLD IDENTITY
and the sinful nature] …” (Psalms 33:6 NASB). “…if the Son (THE WORD)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE
indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV).
Remember: “…The Lord bought ... [Israel]
out with a mighty hand and redeemed [them] out of the house of bondmen…
(Deuteronomy 7:8 KJV). If you are redeemed, HE BOUGHT YOU OUT TOO from the
bondage of your OLD IDENTITY and the sinful nature!!
GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS THE GREAT DELIVER!!!
“…Trust in (DEPEND
UPON) the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto
(DON’T DEPEND UPON) thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
YOU ARE A NEW CREATION WITH A NEW
IDENTITY.
“…The
LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31
NASB). “…The steps (OF DELIVERANCE) of a good man are ordered (DIRECTED)
by the Lord: …” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “… THE LORD … is Your rock and Your fortress,
your deliverer…”
(Psalms
18:3 NASB).
Instead of trying to CREATE an
IMAGE yourself, God, the Holy Spirit
conforms you into the IMAGE of Jesus Christ, your new TRUE SELF!
“….let us make man in “our”
image,
after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…..God
created man in his “own” image…..male and female created he
them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).
“…Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new
creature...”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“...and
man (woman) became a living soul (soul) ... [AGAIN] …”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).
“…be conformed to the image of his Son…” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
“...Be …
imitators of ...[Jesus]…”
(Hebrews
12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). “… growing in every way more and more like
Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1
John 4:17 NIV).
“...For in him we live, and move, and have our being (our
NEW IDENTITY)...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
