He is the vine...I am a branch...
This is my identity. This is who I am. There is nothing else to say. Without Him, I am nothing.
I have come to some nice conclusions after everything I've heard this week.
1. I always understood that I have been given a "small piece" of Jesus's blood and righteousness. Even a molecule of His blood could atone for all my sin, and I got that part right. However, it's the first part I've been wrong about. I have not been given a "small piece" of Jesus's blood, or righteousness, but an immeasurable amount! Not "just enough" to atone for me, but enough to atone for the whole wide world! For me! For...me. I have been given not just a small piece of the clothing of Jesus, which would be more than enough for everything, but I have been given every article of clothing in an immeasurable multitude. More than I will ever need. Thank God for that.
2. I am not and never, ever will be worthy of even the "small piece." This thought has struck me and made me open my eyes to the bigger portion that I've been given. All my sin, all of it, mind you (which is a very, very great amount), could not even make a dent in His perfect holiness, which has been transferred to me. I have received it! All of it. Such a gift as this I can't even put into words.
3. These truths make me want to love my neighbors and enemies better, like Jesus did. None of us have ever gone a single day perfectly loving our neighbors or enemies. We are simply incapable of doing so in our sinful nature. However, Jesus did. Jesus lived a perfect life, and therefore never thought one evil thought against anyone, even the ones who hung Him on a cross, spit on Him, and sinned against Him like I do. It hurts me to no end to know what I've done to Him, but the grace that he's given me clears my heart clean. He never knew hate, even against me, who deserves it so much.
4. Not any righteousness of mine, obtained through the law, of which I have none, but through the righteousness given to me by Jesus through His death on the cross, can I come before an infinitely Holy God. I have been justified! I can run to the feet of my God, lift up my arms, and say "Abba, Father!" I have the freedom to have the mindset of a child when it comes to dependence on my God. I haven't really had this view of God before, as my father. I mean, I know God is my father, but I hadn't thought of it the way Mr. Bridges put it before. I am His child. I can run to Him, and I never have to try alone. Unlike the life of a child with his human father, the Heavenly Father never has to let you fly the nest and try on your own. He'll never leave you, nor forsake you. You'll never be completely alone, and isn't that a wonderful thought? It's nice to get away from the world and be alone in that sense, but it would literally be hell to be alone without God.
5. Thank goodness the old me has passed away! The me who worshiped friendships, the me who would've died to be loved by anyone or anything,the me who had an ignored conscience. The voices that held me back were rarely heeded. Thank God I am saved from that now! Of course, I still have struggles, but the struggles are a joy when I know they'll be over one day, and then what will they matter? They won't matter then. Of course I am still a sinner, and still have that mindset, but the difference is that I am saved and convicted and new and changed. I am different. I am a saint. Quite an undeserving one, but still a saint. I have been bought with a price.
Titus 2:11-14 - "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his possession who are zealous for good works."
Thanks guys. :)
