A Proper Self Image By His Grace

.....A proper self image is an identity based on Truth as it is taught in the Word of God. It is only as we learn and rest in what the word of God teaches us about our total acceptance before Him that we can become free, and then go on to love and accept others. The real focus of the Christian life is in knowing Christ. Until we rest in the finality of the Cross, we will never experience the reality of the Resurrection, which is Christ living in and through us today. We must rest in the fact that Jesus did it all, and it is a "Finished Work," or we will keep busy trying to "pay off our own debt," atoning for our sins. We will never enjoy a personal relationship with God or anyone else when guilt stands between both parties. God knows this, and that is why Jesus Christ has dealt with our sins once and for all. Total forgiveness for entire lives, Past, Present, and Future.

.....Concerning the old covenant, Hebrews 10: 11-12 says, "Day after day, the priest would stand, ministering and performing his religious duties, over and over again, offering the same sacrifices, which could never take away the sins. But when this man (Christ) had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God."

.....Hebrews 9: 14 says, "The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleansing our consciences form dead works, and acts that lead to death, so that we may serve a living God.

.....The sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, was and is not only superior because of the "once and for all" offering, but also because through it, God could reach where no ritual offering ever could, man's heart.

.....One place where we can see our common failure to understand the "Finished Work" of Christ is in our celebration of communion, the Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 11: 27 is commonly misquoted. The verse says, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Paul never said that the people must become worthy, he was talking about them examining the way in which they are celebrating communion. Because of the common misuse of this verse, we miss the wonderful picture of grace in the Lord's supper. We end up examining ourselves with morbid introspection, searching for, and confessing our sins, feeling painful regret.

.....The dominant emotion is often F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real), and inadequacy. This is not what God intended, and misses the true point of the Lord's Supper. In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul refers to the observance as a "Cup of Blessing or Thanksgiving," not a cup of regret, or morbid introspection, seeing where we fall short and missed the mark. The Lord's Supper has become like the "Day of Atonement" for many, where the Israelites were to remember and confess their sins. The Lord's Supper is where we should be remembering the forgiveness of our sins. A time of true celebration. A time of joy, thanksgiving and unity in recognizing that we are one in Christ. The wrong way of taking communion produces a total concentration on self, never obtaining relief from the burden of guilt. And as I said earlier, with guilt standing between us and God, we will fail to rest in Christ's total forgiveness, and can never go on to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3: 18).

.....The Bible says we are right with God, completely, because of Jesus Christ's Finished Work on the Cross. We have been given the gift of righteousness, (Romans 5: 17), by His sacrifice. Christ has made us perfect forever, being sanctified or set apart from the world, and its ways. This our proper position in life today. Jesus Christ is the propitiation, (appeasement or satisfaction) for our sins, not for ours only, but also for the whole world. We need to celebrate communion in the way God sees us, through His Son's Finished Work.

.....I encourage you today to take communion in a different light and perspective, with a proper self image.

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