I am Who He Says I am
One of the most powerful lessons we must lay hold of, is who we are in Christ. First, let us understand who we are in ourselves:
“But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”
Romans 7: 18-19
Before we came to Christ, we were held captive by the old sin nature and even if we desperately sought to be perfect, we couldn’t.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him.”
Romans 5: 8, 9
Before Christ, we walked according to the old sin nature, following a life of survival of the fittest. It was a life self-focused, because it has to be. The key to survival is the fear of death and you learn very quickly that you can’t fully trust anyone.
In the old life, we may truly want to be good and do good, but everything is tainted by the sin nature. Our best false short. However, when we come to Him and through grace by faith receive what He did on the Cross, we are lifted into a new life.
“For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive ABUNDANCE of grace and of the gift of righteousness will REIGN in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5: 17 Emphasis added
In this verse the Greek word for reign or reigned is “basileou,” and it means to have kingly power, reign as governor, and to exercise the highest authority. So, because of the Fall, death has held the highest authority and with it the fear of death. But for all who come to Jesus there is an Abundance of grace and His righteousness. In the old life before Christ, death reigned over us, but now in Christ, we reign through Him and His gift of righteousness.
“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Romans 6: 13
We are not to present or place before ourselves, unrighteousness. Don’t open the door or stay close to the door to sin. But abide in the Secret Place of His Presence.
“And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4: 24
Paul had just instructed us to put off the old man and to clothe ourselves in His righteousness. In other words, we have the responsibility to stand up, put off the old and then put on the new man. Our weakness is our flesh and until the day that our flesh is swallowed up in immortality we will have to deal with the flesh. You must take your stand as the governor of your being and refuse to allow anything in that does not belong but define and align your being in Christ. We long for that day, when finally, death will be destroyed and we receive our new body or flesh in Christ.
“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5: 5
Further, we like Him must love righteousness and hate sin.
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Hebrews 1: 8, 9
The Greek word for “scepter” is “rhabdos,” meaning a staff, or a royal scepter for ruling. Now twice we see righteousness tied to reigning in life. It is time to hold fast our confession of faith built upon His righteousness.
Who are you in Him? What is your inheritance in Him?
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed.”
1 Peter 2: 24
You are healed not because you are perfect, but because of His righteousness. You have wisdom:
“He stores up sound wisdom for the righteous…”
Proverbs 2: 7
You walk in the ways of life:
“But righteousness delivers from death.”
Proverbs 10:2
The righteous shall not famish:
The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish.”
Proverbs 10: 3
And:
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendant begging bread.”
Psalm 37: 25
“But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time trouble.”
Psalm 37: 39
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of ALL their troubles.
Psalm 34: 17
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalm 34: 19
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.”
Psalm 34 15
The lips of the righteous feed many”
Proverbs 10: 21
“But the desire of the righteous shall be granted”
Proverbs 10: 24
“But when the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”
Proverbs 10: 25
“The righteous will never be moved…”
Proverbs 10: 30
“For You, O lord will bless the righteous; with favor You surround him as with a shield.”
Psalm 5: 12
Blessings are on the head of the righteous”
Proverbs 10: 6
“The memory of the righteous is blessed”
Proverbs 10: 7
Now turn to Psalm 112:
“His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright (Yashar- righteous) will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright (righteous) there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous…. The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.”
Psalm 112
“The righteous shall inherit the land…”
Psalm 37: 29
“Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”
Isaiah 3: 10
“In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.”
Psalm 72: 7
