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Free from Accusation

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Who I Am To Christ, Part Five—Free from Accusation

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

Colossians 1:21-22—Once alienated from God, Christ has reconciled me to God.

Colossians 1:22—I am free from accusation.

Colossians 3:12—I am one of God’s chosen people.

Colossians 3:12—I am dearly loved by Christ.

Colossians 3:13—I am forgiven by Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13—Together with all the saints, we are brothers and sisters loved by God.

1 Thessalonians 1:4—I am chosen by God.

2 Thessalonians 2:13—I was chosen to be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:16—I am loved by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 2:12—Together with all believers, Christ calls me, “My brothers.”

Hebrews 3:1—Together with all believers, I am a holy brother/sister.

Hebrews 4:16—I may approach the throne of grace with confidence.

Hebrews 7:19—I have been drawn near to God.

Hebrews 8:12—The Father has forgiven my wickedness and remembers my sin no more.

Hebrews 9:6-14—I have a cleansed conscience: shalom.

Hebrews 9:15—I am guaranteed an eternal inheritance in Father’s forever family.

Hebrews 9:26—My sins have been done away with forever.

Hebrews 10:2—I no longer have to feel guilty because I am cleansed once for all.

Hebrews 10:17—My sins and lawless acts God remembers no more.

Hebrews 10:19—I have confidence to enter the most holy place of God’s holy presence.

Hebrews 10:22—I can draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance, having been cleansed of a guilty conscience.

1 Peter 2:6—I will never be put to shame.

1 Peter 3:18—Christ has brought me face-to-face with God.

1 Peter 3:21—I have a good, clear conscience before God.

1 John 3:1—God has lavished His love upon me.

1 John 3:1—How great is the love of God that He has called me, together with all Christians, “Children of God.”

1 John 3:16—Christ loved me so much that He laid down His life for me.

1 John 4:9-11—The Father showed His love for me by sending His Son to die for me.

1 John 4:17-18; 5:14—I have full confidence in approaching God’s presence.

Revelation 1:5—I am loved by Christ.

Revelation 19:7—Together with all believers, I am the Bride of Christ.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

Posted in Bible, Biblical Counseling, Christ-Esteem, Christian Livng, Identity in Christ, Soul Physicians | No Comments »

A Child of Promise

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Who I Am To Christ, Part Three—A Child of Promise

Christ-Esteem: The world talks about “self-esteem.” But God’s Word teaches us about “Christ-esteem”—how God views us, sees us, accepts us, and loves us through Christ. Knowing how God relates to us because of our relationship to Christ is vital to glorifying God, defeating the lies of Satan, and ministering powerfully.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

As you read the following summaries:

*Meditate on the verses and on the truth they share about you.

*Reject the lies of Satan about how God views you.

*Thank God for who you are to Christ.

*Select one verse/truth per day and specifically apply it to your life and relationships.

My Relationship to God through Christ

1 Corinthians 1:9-10—I am called into intimate fellowship with the Son.

1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12; 5:23—Together with all the saints, I am the Body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:22—I am sealed by the Spirit, secure in Father’s forever love.

2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14—I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guaranteed my eternal inheritance as a member of God’s family.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19—I am reconciled to the Father by the Son and my sins will never be counted against me.

2 Corinthians 6:18—The Father says of me, “You will be my sons and daughters.”

2 Corinthians 11:2—Together with God’s people, I am espoused to Christ as His pure virgin bride.

Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:6-7—I am an adult son/daughter of God.

Galatians 3:27—I am baptized into Christ.

Galatians 3:27—I am clothed with Christ.

Galatians 3:28—Together with all believers, we are one in Christ.

Galatians 3:29—I belong to Christ.

Galatians 3:29—I am an heir of promise.

Galatians 4:5—I have received the full rights of an adult son/daughter of God.

Galatians 4:7, 31—I am no longer a slave, but a son or daughter.

Galatians 4:28—I am a child of promise.

Note: Excerpted from Soul Physicians: http://bit.ly/7vaE

Posted in Bible, Identity, Identity in Christ, Psychology, Soul Physicians | No Comments »

Tin Man and Evangelical Christianity

Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
Tin Man and Evangelical Christianity

The Sci-Fi channel recently aired a six-hour mini-series, Tin Man, updating The Wizard of Oz. This was not your Auntie Em’s yellow brick road!

In the original movie version, no one could confuse the good guys (and girls) with the bad guys (and girls). Evil was evil and good was good.

In Tin Man, such was not the case. The good guys and girls were tortured souls with glaring weaknesses. Even the wonderful Dorothy (DG in this version) ended up being part of the cause of fifteen years of suffering due to her failure to heed her parents, her over-adventurous spirit, her paralyzing fear, and her abandonment of her sister.

Azkadellia, aka, the Wicked Witch of the West, seemed thoroughly, completely, unredeemable evil. Until . . . the end. In the end we learn that she, too, was a tortured soul, with a once-good heart, who longed to be free.

Of course, I’m not endorsing everything about Tin Man. My point in this blog is not to critique every un-Christian aspect.

Rather, I’m making a case for Tin Man, in one way, emulating the way the Bible depicts human beings—even its lead characters. Other than the God-man, our Lord Jesus Christ, every other man and woman in the Bible is flawed. Horribly flawed.

Think David. A man after God’s own heart. Yes, David the murderer, adulterer, and liar. The list of imperfect Bible characters continues endlessly.

Unfortunately, that’s not how modern Christians tend to read the Bible. Nor is it how modern Christians tend to write novels or enjoy movies. Far too many so-called Christian novels, and all-too many movies endorsed by Christian leaders, are drivel. Their characters are flat, one-dimensional. Picture perfect.

And there’s the rub. Other than Christ, no character is a picture of perfection.

And here’s the point. Our Pollyanna perspective on life leads us toward an arrogant, judgmental, unforgiving spirit toward one another, toward unbelievers, and even toward our own selves.

And frankly, it leads most of us to live boring, flat, one-dimensional lives, while often hiding the multi-dimensions competing every second in our souls.

Honestly, I prefer DG to Dorothy. I prefer Azkadellia to the Wicked Witch. At least they are fully human and fully struggling to be more fully human.

Until heaven, isn’t that the honest truth about all of us?


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Posted in Bible, David Anderson, Movies, Oz, Sci-Fi Channel, Tin Man, Wizard of Oz | No Comments »

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