Christians and churches often focus on our sinful nature and our need for Jesus. It is true that we need Jesus and it is true that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). However, once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer a sinner. Not because we stop sinning but because “sinner” is no longer our identity. Once the Spirit dwells within us, we no longer have to live in the guilt and shame of our sinfulness because Jesus’s death on the cross purifies us and God remembers our sins no more.
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
God cannot remember our sins, so in Christ we now have a new identity. Our new identity declares that we are saints even though we occasionally sin. Our new identity declares that we are free. Our freedom in Jesus is a freedom from guilt, a freedom from bondage, a freedom from shame. Jesus conquered death and sin and Satan. In Christ, there is victory and God calls us to join his winning team. Claim the victory. Accept His grace. Embrace your freedom.
Doesn’t this freedom sound so good? But why is it such a challenge to live from a place of freedom? God is offering us forgiveness and purity. Why are we not accepting it? We continue believing that we do not deserve grace nor freedom, that we are not worthy, and that we are in bondage to sin. These beliefs are lies that Satan whispers to us. Satan wants us to believe that we are trapped, hopeless sinners who will continue living in despair but God wants us to see our new identity. God sees us as his pure and blameless child, who is set free. Find your identity in Christ not in Satan’s demoralizing lies.
God declares that we are worthy of Him, worthy of his kingdom, worthy of His inheritance, and worthy of His grace. We can live from a place where we have ownership of His grace instead of from a place where we are trying to earn His grace. God already approves of us and accepts us thanks to Jesus‘s death and resurrection. We don’t have to earn His approval or acceptance. What a blessing! I know I could not earn it.
At training camp and here in Nicaragua, God has been teaching me about freedom and I am beginning to experience it’s fullness. Don’t miss out on God’s freedom. His freedom comes with a lighter heart and a fulfilled life. Freedom feels so good. And this freedom is free.
