What do you think when you read a question like this?
Do you see your inadequacies?
Do you see your failures?
Do you see your short comings?
Do you see FAT?
Do you see over weight?
Do you see “loser”?
If so, or something along this line…
Then you are fleshly or carnal…
For God does NOT see you this way
If you agree with God’s perspective
Your answer would be the following:
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
I am loved
I am blessed
I am rich
I am healthy, wealthy and wise
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Hopefully, you can see a difference
Between the two types of answer
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and with power, who went about doing good
and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with Him.”
(Acts 10:38)
“Little children, let no one deceive you.
He who practices righteousness is righteous,
just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil,
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Whoever has been born of God does not sin,
for His seed remains in him;
and he cannot sin,
because he has been born of God.”
(1 John 3:7 – 9)
This last bit MAY confuse us…
WHY?
Because we ALL know
That at least once during the day
We SIN…
(And some of us – more than once)
So HOW can we understand 1 John 3:9?
Since some of you reading this
Are looking back to the beginning of this piece
And thinking about the first answers I gave
And feeling more at ease
Like you have been justified
About feeling bad about yourself
But obviously that cannot be true
So how do we understand passages
like this one
In 1 John 3?
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin,
for His seed remains in him;
and he cannot sin,
because he has been born of God.”
(1 John 3:9)
From God’s perspective…
He SEES us IN Christ
And since we have been born again
Or “born of God”
We do NOT sin
Or CANNOT sin
WHY?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new.
Now all things are of God,”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 – 18a)
This “new creation” is talking about our spirit
And our spirit is identical to Jesus
(To those who are born again)
And our spirit (the REAL me)
From God’s perspective
Does NOT and CANNOT sin…
So HOW do you see yourself?
Do you consider yourself with your physical eyes?
Or do you think of yourself the way God does?
“do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
(Romans 12:2)
Choose to see yourself the way God sees you…
Read and mediate on these Bible verses
And see yourself as a NEW creation
See yourself IN Christ
And Christ IN you…
And realise that when you do sin
It is NOT the real you
It is NOT who you truly are – IN Christ
Start seeing Jesus – in everything you do
Return to Him (which is repentance)
And LIVE from and with and IN Him
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin,
for His seed remains in him;
and he cannot sin,
because he has been born of God.”
(1 John 3:9)