Identity in Christ - Center for Christian Counceling

Identity in Christ Rom 3 :24--redemption that is in Christ Rom 6: 11--alive unto God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:23--etemal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 8: 1--no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:2--the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Rom 8:39--the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 9:1.+ruth in Christ Rom 12:5--one body in Christ Rom 16: 10--approved in Christ 1 Cor 1:2--sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor 1:4--the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus 1 Cor 1:30--But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor 4: 10--wise in Christ 2 Cor 1:21--establishes us with you in Christ 2 Cor 2: 14--triumph in Christ 2 Cor 5: 17--in Christ , he is a new creature Gal 2:4--liberty which we have in Christ Jesus Gal 2: 16--justified by faith in Christ Gal 3:14-- in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham Gal 3 :28--you are all one in Christ Jesus Eph 1: 1--faithful in Christ Jesus Eph I :3--blessed with spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Eph 1: 12--hope in Christ Eph I: 19-20--strength in Christ Eph 2:6--seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus Eph 2:7--surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Eph 2: 10--created in Christ Jesus for good works, Eph 2: 13--13 in Christ Jesus you have been brought near by the blood of Christ Eph 3 :6--partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus Eph 4:32--forgiveness in Christ Phil 2: !--encouragement in Christ Phil 3 :3--glory in Christ Jesus Phil 4:7--And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension in Christ Jesus Phil 4: 19--supply all your needs in Christ Jesus Col 1:28--complete in Christ Col 2: 5--stability of your faith in Christ 1 Tim 1: 14--faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 1: 1--promise of life in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 1:9--grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 2: 10--salvation which is in Christ Jesus Philem 8--confidence in Christ Philem 20--refresh my heart in Christ

Who I Am In .Christ I am accepted ...

John 1 :12

I am God's child.

John 15:15

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

I have been justified.

Romans 5:1

1 Corinthians 6: 17 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 1 Corinthians 12:27 Ephesians 1 :3-8 Colossians 1:13-14 Colossians 2:9-10 Hebrews 4:14-16

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. I am a member of Christ's body.

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

I have been redeemed and forgiven of aII my sins.

I am complete in Christ.

I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jes us Christ.

I am secure ...

Romans 8:1-2

I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:28

I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.

Romans 8:31-39

I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. 路

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

Colossians 3: 1-4

I am hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1 :6 Philippians 3:20

I am a citizen of heaven.

2 Timothy 1 :7

I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

1 John 5:18

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me . .

I am significant...

John 15:5

I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.

John 15:16

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

1 Corinthians 3:16

I am God's temple.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

Ephesians 2:6

I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10

I am God's workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12

I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4: 13

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

"The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!"

(From Victory Over the Darkness , by Dr. Neil Anderson)

Copyright漏 2006 Freedom in Christ All Rights Reserved

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Respected I am a friend of the Almighty God of heaven and earth. (John 15: I5) Jesus is not ashamed to call me His brother (sister). (Hebrews 2: 11) I am chosen by God, holy and without fault in His eyes. (Ephesians 1:4) I am an heir to the riches of the Creator of the universe. (Galatians 4:7)

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Important I have been rightly called a child of God. (John 1: 12) God has made me His salt and light in the world. (Matthew 5:13,14) I am an eternal being. (John 3: 16)

Forgiven I am no longer condemned. (Romans 8:1) I have been justified before the righteous Judge. (Romans 5: 1) I am at peace with God. (Romans 5: 1) God no longer remembers my sins. (Hebrews 10: 17)

Valued God loves me with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31 :3) I am God's temple, bought at a great price. (I Corinthians 6: 19,20) God knows, chose, called, justified and glorified me. (Romans. 8:29,30)

Accepted I am accepted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV) I am a chosen, costly, living stone in God's building. (1 Peter 2:4,5) I have bold, unrestricted access to God's throne of grace. (Hebrews 4: 16)

Powerful God has given me the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) God's Spirit in me is greater than any unholy spirits in the world. (1 John 4:4) I am born of God and believe in Jesus- I'm a world-overcomer. (1 John 5:4,5)

Lovable I am loved by God and nothing will keep us apart. (Romans 8:38,39) I am loved supremely - enough for God to die for me. (John 15: 13) I am loved unconditionally, even when I sin. - (Romans 5:8)

Connected I am intimately attached to Christ and bearing fruit. (John 15:5) Christ is as close to me as my heart and lungs. (Galatians 2:20) I am a member of God's eternal family. (Galatians 3:26) I am part of Christ's body with millions of brothers and sisters. (1 Cor. 12:27) I am an eternal member of God's Kingdom and household. (Ephesians 2:19)

FoLLow-up: Write today's date here: One month from today, re-take the "Self-Perception Assessment" that you completed at the beginning of this Chapter. If you have been regularly thinking about and proclaiming the above truths concerning your true identity, you should notice that your "Xs" have traveled a lot farther to the left!

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Satan and the world are constantly telling you lies about yourself. His objective is to cause you to hate yourself and become so depressed that you no longer want to live. Rather than believe the lies from the Father of All Lies, you should believe what the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life says about you .

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How you see yourself is very important. It will affect a great number of important areas of your life. Be sure that your self-perception is lined up with how God sees you.

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When you are SEEING yourself the way God sees you, you will cross this bridge. As long as you aren't going back over the other bridges the wrong way, you will be in a place where your healing can proceed rapidly, and you will be moving toward a place of every-strengthening stability in Christ!

62 - Bridge 9: SEEING

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You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27) You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34) You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6) You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things ( Philippians 4: 13) You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 ) You say: 'I can't forgive my self God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs ( Phil ippians 4: 19) You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7) You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7) You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30) You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Psalm 73: The Distortion of Envy - Paul David Tripp "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." (v.2) I have said it countless times and written about it often; as a human being made in God's image, you do not live life based on the facts of your experience, but based on your interpretation of the facts. No one acts, reacts and responds purely based on the actual facts of reality because the moment we are greeted with the facts, we take them into our hearts and process them. Our response is then based not so much on what is, but based upon what our heart has done with what is. Everyone of us is a philosopher, everyone of us is a theologian, everyone of us is an archaeologist who will dig through the past civilization of our own lives, trying to make sense of what has happened to us. Interpretation is an inescapable and profoundly important function of the human heart. The problem is that most often you and I are not aware that we are doing it, so our interpretation BECOMES our reality.

There is a second thing that I've often written and talked about, and when I say it to a crowd of people they always laugh even though I'm being quite serious; no one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do. You and I are in a constant conversation with ourselves and the things we say to ourselves about ourselves, God, others, and life are always formative. Our internal conversation shapes our external responses to the situations, locations, and relationships we live in.

Now, maybe you're thinking, "What in the world does this have to do with envy?" You must understand that envy is an interpretation. Envy is not an emotional response to what is. It is a particular interpretation of what is.

Envy is a way of looking at and assessing what is that results in particular emotions and actions. But this needs to be said even more strongly; envy is not only an interpretation of what is, it is a distorted interpretation of what is. Envy is looking at life through a rippled window that will always distort whatever you see. In that way envy is madness. In its own way, envy separates you from reality. Envy expands certain facts, it neglects certain facts, and it reshapes certain facts; all the while presenting itself as a valid, accurate and reliable view of life. It makes you like the crazy guy on the street. What makes him crazy is that he doesn't know he is crazy. He looks, speaks and acts weirdly because what he thinks is real simply isn't real. Such is the world of envy. Envy is rooted in a distorted interpretation of life that will make you mad. Let me explain.

1. The distorted interpretation of envy makes it all about you. Envy always puts you at the center of your

universe. It is all about what you have or don't have. It shrinks your world down to the Lilliputian size of your wants, your needs, and your feelings. The good life then becomes the life that you say is good for you and the bad life is bad because you say you are not getting what you want or need. In this system the world is evaluated solely on the basis of what you do or don't have. The problem is that life is not about you. You and I have been

born into a world that by its very nature is a celebration of the glory of Another. I am not at the center of my world; God is. The fulfilling of my desires and needs is not the most important thing in the world; God's will is.

Envy is angry because my kingdom doesn't seem to be coming and my will doesn't seem to be being done.

Anytime you have you at the center of your world, you have a distorted perspective on what is.

2. The distorted interpretation of envy is always idolatrous. Envy always puts the creation in the place of the

Creator. Envy evaluates life on the basis of physical experiences, relationships, and possessions. Envy says that the good life is all about having a bigger pile of creation stuff than your neighbor does. Envy is obsessively comparative; always weighing the size of your stuff against the stuff of the people that are near you. And why does envy do this? Because envy places it's identity, inner sense of well-being, and meaning and purpose in the basket of creation instead of in the hands of the Creator. Envy looks to creation for satisfaction and peace. Envy looks to creation for life. Envy looks to creation for what only the Creator can give.

3. The distorted interpretation of envy is self-righteous. What is the fundamental perspective of envy? Here it is; "I deserve better!" I am a better person than my neighbor, therefore, I should have more of this world's goods, relationships, and positive experiences than my neighbor. That fact that envy begins with "I deserve" is the dead give away of its distortion and danger. Envy isn't humble and approachable. It isn't honest and properly introspective. It doesn't weep over sins of the heart and hands. It isn't blown away at little blessings and major graces. Envy allows you to look at yourself in a carnival mirror. Yes, you are seeing you, but with distortion. It convinces you that you have done what you could never do and deserve what you could never have earned.

Envy denies your crushing need for grace. It forgets that you've broken every law. It ignores the fact that each of us is a rebel and a fool, deserving only of God's rejection and wrath. Envy neglects to celebrate that every day you live and breathe you are afford gorgeous grace; because self-righteous people don't notice grace because they don't think they need it.

4. The distorted interpretation of envy is always short-sighted. Envy simply forgets that this is not all there is.

Envy is very skilled at ignoring eternity. Envy has a truncated view of reality. Envy acts as if all there is is the here and now. So envy forgets that this is not a destination. This is not the final place of peace, rest and satisfaction. In that way, envy misses the whole point of the here and now. This present moment was not designed to be a destination. No, it is a preparation for a final destination. There are times when God ordains it to be hard because that's exactly what I need in order to be prepared for what's to come. In this way, the moments of lack that envy rages against, are actually moments of grace. No, I am not having my needs withheld, but in grace, am being given exactly what I need. While I am focused on the here and now, a lovely Savior is

preparing me for what is to come.

5. The distorted interpretation of envy is the soil of other sins. Envy never stops with envy. It always produces

other sins of the heart and life as well. Envy will cause you to bring God into the court of your judgment and to sentence him as being unfaithful, unloving, and unkind. Envy will make you angry and you'll act out that anger against the people who are near you. Envy will make you unloving and unkind, because, rather than considering the needs of others, you will be obsessively focused on your wants and needs. Envy will make you ungrateful.

Envy will cause you to despise the blessings of others. Envy will put hatred in your thoughts and murder in your heart. It will cause you to will others ill instead of wanting blessing for them. Envy will cause you to say things you shouldn't say and do things you shouldn't do. Envy is a source sin.

Perhaps you're thinking, "Wow, Paul, this is really disheartening!" Well, here's the good news. Jesus conquered envy so you could too. His grace promises you a new heart. Because of his grace, you can grow in thankfulness and appreciation. Because of his grace, you can learn to run from old idols. Because of grace, you can find joy in loving others as you have been loved. Because of grace you can really come to believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Because of grace you can be free from a life that is self-centered and demanding, and begin to live a life that is Godward and thankful. Grace really does rescue you from you. The cross of Jesus Christ really is the only hope for the envious heart, because on that cross sin was defeated and righteousness was given.

Trust the grace of Jesus and don't let the madness of envy control and defeat you.