To refresh your memory, I'd give a "short summary" on how we got to this question. In the old covenant, man was to bring a sacrifice to GOD to appease HIM of our sins. But the sacrifice offered covered the sins committed from the last sacrifice till the moment another was offered. It had to be a regular thing because "...without the shedding of blood there is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22), and because the blood of bulls and goat didn't have an eternal redemption (ref. Hebrews 9:11-15). JESUS however changed all of that, all the sacrifices were "a shadow of things to come" (Colossians 2:17), but JESUS was that real deal. This happened by the coming of the new covenant.
What was wrong with the old covenant? There was a defect with the first and GOD decided to make and ratify a new covenant or we could call it agreement. What did GOD say about the new covenant? "I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and i will be their God, and they shall be My people." HE also said "For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more" [ref. Hebrews 8:7-13 Amplified version]. Note the emphasis "NO MORE!!" Christians fail to see this. JESUS made this possible when HE died for past, present and future sins! Hebrews 9:25-28 explains this the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of the bulls and goats to cover previous sins, "but now, once at the end of the ages" the Amplified puts it thus "but as it is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself] (ref. Heb. 9:26). This however has justified the new covenant of GOD not remembering our unrighteousness anymore because the penalty for our sins has already been placed on JESUS "once at the end of the ages."
The resurrection of JESUS empowered us as GOD gave HIM all authority in heaven, earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-11). So as we accept HIM, a new Spirit comes into us and just like a seed we grow into maturity or perfection by becoming JESUS, even though our Spirit and that of JESUS' are the same, but our soul and body has to be developed in line with our Spirit man. But in the process of growing, since the perfection of the soul hasn't been attained we falter. Now when we falter, what do we confess? This is because we can't confess sins that has already been pardoned for. And we can't deny the fact that we faltered. Something has to be done!
Let's use the analogy of a runner at a marathon. The runner has a target in mind which is getting to the end right? Right, so he starts running, but it appears that the route he took has obstacles and it would take a perfectly skilled to overtake these obstacles (obstacles include stones). The runner keeps the end in mind as his goal which helps to propel him forward, but in the process he tripped over a stone and fell. While he was falling his mind was still on the goal which he shouts in mind, which he must get to at all cost. This helps him quickly rise again. Note this, he didn't focus on what made him fall; the stone, rather he focused on the goal which is to get to the finish line. This is a perfect example of who we are to confess.JESUS is our target, goal, focus etc, this HE made us understand as HE said HE is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); also the time JESUS walked on water as HE made Peter know HE was the one Peter was to focus on and not the storm (Matthew 14:22-33) and JESUS saying without HIM we can do nothing (John 15:7), and many more.
This would imply that when we sin or falter we confess our goal which is JESUS!! And how do you do this, you say "I am the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS", saying this makes you repent. Now, repentance is very important. The etymological meaning of the word "repentance" from the Greek means "change of mind". When you confess who you are that is being the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, you fulfill what is Romans 12:2 which is to be transformed by the renewal of the mind, the process of renewal is to repent, to fall back into course.
When it looks as though the obstacles want to overwhelm you, philippians 4:6-8 says you should give all your worries to GOD and HE will give you the peace that passes all understanding. Verse 8 says "whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." Your focus must always be on JESUS, when you fall you pick yourself up quickly and easily because your focus is on JESUS and not the sin. When you focus on the sin you don't grow. You must become like the runner who focused on the goal and not the obstacle.
Remember, it is JESUS and not your sins you confess to GOD. HE has no record of your sins, but HE has records of your righteousness.
Log on tomorrow for a more exiting view of the gospel truth.
For comments and prayer request send them to me through my Google plus platform.
The resurrection of JESUS empowered us as GOD gave HIM all authority in heaven, earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-11). So as we accept HIM, a new Spirit comes into us and just like a seed we grow into maturity or perfection by becoming JESUS, even though our Spirit and that of JESUS' are the same, but our soul and body has to be developed in line with our Spirit man. But in the process of growing, since the perfection of the soul hasn't been attained we falter. Now when we falter, what do we confess? This is because we can't confess sins that has already been pardoned for. And we can't deny the fact that we faltered. Something has to be done!
Let's use the analogy of a runner at a marathon. The runner has a target in mind which is getting to the end right? Right, so he starts running, but it appears that the route he took has obstacles and it would take a perfectly skilled to overtake these obstacles (obstacles include stones). The runner keeps the end in mind as his goal which helps to propel him forward, but in the process he tripped over a stone and fell. While he was falling his mind was still on the goal which he shouts in mind, which he must get to at all cost. This helps him quickly rise again. Note this, he didn't focus on what made him fall; the stone, rather he focused on the goal which is to get to the finish line. This is a perfect example of who we are to confess.JESUS is our target, goal, focus etc, this HE made us understand as HE said HE is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); also the time JESUS walked on water as HE made Peter know HE was the one Peter was to focus on and not the storm (Matthew 14:22-33) and JESUS saying without HIM we can do nothing (John 15:7), and many more.
This would imply that when we sin or falter we confess our goal which is JESUS!! And how do you do this, you say "I am the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS", saying this makes you repent. Now, repentance is very important. The etymological meaning of the word "repentance" from the Greek means "change of mind". When you confess who you are that is being the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, you fulfill what is Romans 12:2 which is to be transformed by the renewal of the mind, the process of renewal is to repent, to fall back into course.
When it looks as though the obstacles want to overwhelm you, philippians 4:6-8 says you should give all your worries to GOD and HE will give you the peace that passes all understanding. Verse 8 says "whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." Your focus must always be on JESUS, when you fall you pick yourself up quickly and easily because your focus is on JESUS and not the sin. When you focus on the sin you don't grow. You must become like the runner who focused on the goal and not the obstacle.
Remember, it is JESUS and not your sins you confess to GOD. HE has no record of your sins, but HE has records of your righteousness.
Log on tomorrow for a more exiting view of the gospel truth.
For comments and prayer request send them to me through my Google plus platform.
GOD BLESS YOU
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