We started to read the book The Rest of the Gospel in our ISEED training, and the verse 2 Corinthians 5:21 called my attention.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
There is a spiritual power that separates us from God, who is Holy and Perfect. That power is called sin.
Jesus (who was without sin) became sin. He bore the sins of mankind in his death. Imagine if you had killed someone and I took the blame for you. I would go to jail and spend years of my life in prison paying for your guilt (or even be sentenced to death).
Now apply this in the eternal sense. We were doomed/cursed to live apart from God. And the amazing Jesus took our guilt. Now we are free to have a relationship with the Father! Jesus opened the cage!
With the great achievement of Jesus, we become the righteousness of God. We are perfect and complete as He is. We were adopted. Our adoption letter was signed in blood. We are God’s children. We are loved, protected, cared for, provided for, taught, disciplined, spoiled, etc, etc, etc.
If we believe in this truth, we will not want to accept lies like: I am not able, I will never forgive myself, I cannot, it is impossible, etc.
Liberation from sin occurs in the spiritual realm. Then the Spirit of God (the sweet Holy Spirit) comes to dwell in us. He teaches us, guides us, consoles us, corrects us. He is wonderful!
But we still have feelings and a body that have a fallen nature. If we pay attention to what we feel or want, we would be in trouble! But the good news is that if we allow ourselves to be guided by the sweet Holy Spirit, the truths about us will begin to come out, and we won’t want to live in fear or limitations.
Do not forget: We are the righteousness of God because we are in Christ Jesus, not because we are in ourselves. With the arm’s strength we can do nothing.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
