I am accepted

As I was reading Victory over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson I encountered a paragraph that took me by surprise. P 84

“The greatest tension in the New Testament is between the indicative (what God has already done and what is already true about us), and the imperative (what remains to be done as we respond to God by faith and obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit).  You have to know and believe positional truth to successfully progress in your sanctification or you are going to try doing for yourself what God has already done for you.

The balance between the indicative and the imperative is about equal in Scripture, but I have not observed that in our churches. Most preaching I have heard focuses on the imperatives.”

I was right there. That was a description of my culture, my motives and my conversations.  I was centered on change, change that comes from learning, discovery, knowledge and understanding.  I was not centered on change that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. 

WOW, I was really trying to do for myself what God has already done for me.  While this hit me like a lightning, bolt I have not yet seen how far it reaches.

I was trying shape my life into Christ likeness by myself.  It is impossible.  Loving people with my own strength was frustrating.  Trying to conquer the power of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life was a journey of self-discipline which had to be maintained.  I was tired and I didn’t even know how tired I was.

God had already done it. I was already a child of God, no daily or hourly performance test required.  I was already justified, forgiven and redeemed.  I was already in a place where I could not be condemned and much more. But I did not know it.  I had heard it, but I did not know it. It was not in balance in my life like red blood cells and white ones.  I needed the things God had already done in my life flowing through my life, thoughts and conversation in order to grow.  The things which God has already done for me were missing. I needed them as a foundation.

So I committed to quote this first list of things God has done for me, twice a day.  I also committed to look at each one and try to get a deep grip on it.

I AM ACCEPTED

John 1:12 I am a child of God.

John 15:15 I am Jesus’ chosen friend.

Rom. 5:1 I am holy and acceptable by God (justified).

1 Cor. 3:16 I am united to the Lord and am one in spirit with Him.

1 Cor. 6:19,20 I have been bought with a price, I belong to God.

1 Cor. 12:27 I am a part of Christ’s Body, part of His family.

Eph. 1:1 I am a saint, a holy one.

Eph. 1:5 I have been adopted as God’s child.

Col. 2:10 I am complete in Christ.

Col. 1:14 I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins.