Religion has actually convinced people that there is a invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he doesn't want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time! But he loves you. He loves you, and he needs money. He always needs money. He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money
George Carlin
I've said it before, and I'll stand by what I've said. Believers today don't suffer from a sin issue, they suffer from an identity issue. Somewhere along the way, we've become lost as to who it is we are in the Father. I was reminded of this issue once again the other day in a conversation with one of my Gym Rat friends. This young man was lamenting the fact that he was in prayer too many times each day, yet he still felt guilty of his own sin. I get it. I grew up in that same old mainstream church separation theology, so I know what he's talking about. I have friends who have grown up in the mainstream Christiann church who feel the same way. Like I said, we have an identity problem, not a sin issue. I have a friend who continues to hold onto the narrative so many people have spoken to him that he is indeed a mean son of a bitch. Why? How is it that the Father sees him? If you listen to the sermons coming out of the church, our sin is always before us. Therefore, we need to constantly be in prayer seeking His forgiveness. Why? Whenever I'm asked about this my response to that person is typically, what about Jesus? Did Jesus give Himself on that cross for nothing? Did Jesus die only to have the Lord's children continually worry over their sin? I would say no. However, it seems that I'm in the minority in that opinion. In my post the other day (#1971), I attempted to illustrate just how it is that the Father looks upon His children. Sadly, many self proclaimed believers probably would not comprehend this truth. So, how is it that the Father sees me? What does He see when He looks upon me? Well, first off, He sees His son {First Epistle of John 3:1}. I would also suggest that when God looks upon me, He sees Christ Jesus as well. For it is Jesus who has spoken to our union life in He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. This is not something I am digging up out of thin air, this is the WORD which has been revealed unto us. No amount of scripture cherry picking can take away from the fact that my life is now in God the Father.
In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you
Johns Account 14: 20, Concordant New Testament
The struggle which many believers face today is that between the truth of the scriptures and the word spoken by those within the mainstream church. I've commented before that a lie, spoken often enough, soon becomes seen as the truth. Sadly, this is what we've seen in Christianity over the years. The theology spoken by the church has been that our sin has separated us from God. Nothing could be further from the truth! The apostle Paul, in his letter we find in Romans, speaks to the truth that Jesus has indeed died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. In His dying breath on the cross, Jesus Himself proclaimed "It is accomplished!" {Johns Account 19:28}. Jesus did not give Himself that we would worry over our sin and fate. Jesus died to free us from that penalty {Paul to the Galatians 5:1}. This is the freedom we find in Christ. Now, knowing this I again ask the question, how is it that God sees you? As a condemned sinner? Well, if you adhere to the false teachings of the mainstream church, you might just believe that bag of lies. But Jesus has spoken the truth to us of our life in the Father. Paul has revealed to us through his evangel the truth about sin which the church will never speak to. That Christ Jesus has given Himself for our sin {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Make no mistake, WE needed to perish, not Jesus. Jesus is the innocent blood sacrificed for our iniquities. So, how is it that God sees you? I am of the opinion that if I were to come to the Father seeking forgiveness for my sin, He would smile and proclaim, what sin my son? And THAT is the truth of our identity in the eyes of the Father.
~Scott~
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