How does one put on the truth when the reality of their life says one thing about their identity yet God calls them something new?

All I was I lay aside now dead to sin, to God alive!

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

Romans 6:2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with {Him} in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be {in the likeness} of His resurrection,

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with {Him,} in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Romans 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

Romans 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:1-11 NASB

Born again into a new identity!

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know {Him} {in this way} no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NASB

Once asleep to God in sin now wakened by the blood and cleansed!

For it was the {Father's} good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, {I say,} whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, {engaged} in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach… Colossians 1:19-22 NASB

Born again to be who He called me to be!

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 NASB

All I have I lay aside - run the race to gain the prize

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB

For the sake of knowing Jesus Christ in me!

Philippians 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Philippians 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith,

Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Philippians 3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained {it} or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:7-12 NASB

I cannot yet fully see all I’m truly called to be

1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;

1 Corinthians but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 NASB

Knowing Christ reveals my hope and destiny!

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:20 NASB

He calls me child!

1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and {such} we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope {fixed} on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

He calls me to his side eternally!

John 3:14 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

John 3:15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

He calls what once was lost now found;

Matthew 18:11 ["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

Once bound to sin - now free!

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

John 8:35 "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

He calls me holy!

1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--

Revelation 1:6 and He has made us {to be} a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him {be} the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Calls me righteous!

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

By the blood redeemed!

Revelation 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood {men} from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Revelation 5:10 "You have made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

He calls me overcomer crowned with victory!

Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

This is my destiny!

Colossians 1:25 Of {this church} I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the {preaching of} the word of God,

Colossians 1:26 {that is,} the mystery which has been hidden from the {past} ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,

Colossians 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:25-27 NASB

What once bound me is no more!

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

What was stolen is restored

Joel 2:25 "Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:26 "You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame.

By the resurrection power of my King!

Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

What was old has been made new;

Hebrews 8:13 When He said, "A new {covenant,}" He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

Lies and doubts replaced by truth!

Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 4:22 …in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Ephesians 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self, which in {the likeness of} God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

What was silent now resounds, “I am redeemed!”

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us…

Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say {so,} Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary

Psalm 107:3 And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

He calls me servant;

Matthew 23:11 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

Matthew 23:12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Calls me warrior;

Calls me royalty!

He calls me resurrected one!

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with {Him} in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be {in the likeness} of His resurrection,

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with {Him,} in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Romans 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

He calls me His redeemed!

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us…

He calls me higher; Calls me far beyond my wildest dream!

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

Psalm 42:8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.

1 Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."

Isaiah 40:30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,

Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up {with} wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

He calls my heart to come and be all He can see!

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 29:13 'You will seek Me and find {Me} when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:14 'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

He calls me chosen! New creation!

Trophy of His grace!

2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things {are} for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 3:2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

2 Corinthians 3:3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

He gives me strength to fight the fight and run to win the race!

Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

He tells me he delights in me while singing over me,

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with [singing] shouts of joy.

Accepting me as His beloved bride-to-be!

Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

This is my destiny! This is my destiny!

•My lack of understanding or ability to see what God sees never negates the truth! That brings me great joy and peace as I pursue Him.

• I simply respond to the truth in faith regardless of whether I feel like a new creation or not.

• I put on the truth. I change my attitude. I change my behavior. Feelings follow.

• The truth has the awesome ability to transcend any feeling or circumstance I face.

• The truth sets me free from the snares of fleshly feelings and actually taps me into the emotions of my Creator.

• The truth sets me free from the snares of hopelessness by taking my eyes off of me and my circumstances and placing my gaze upon the goal of my calling, Jesus Christ.

God saw something in Gideon that Gideon could not see. In Judges, we find the story of the Israelites being held captive by the Midianites. The whole nation is reduced to fear and trembling for many years. Our story begins with Gideon cowered down in a threshing pit fearfully going about his work yet hidden from the eyes of the Midianites. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and declares, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior!” Valiant warrior? Wouldn’t the term yellow-bellied chicken have been more appropriate? Yet, when God looked upon Gideon He saw a valiant warrior! As Gideon learned to walk in his true identity he was given more and more authority among his own people...and eventually led them to overcome all their enemies. If Gideon had not believed the Word of the Lord he never would have walked in the reality of his true nature. He never would have seen the potential of his destiny fulfilled.

• As a new creation learning to see myself as God sees me, I must also learn to see others the way he sees them. I can no longer judge people according to all I see, but I choose to judge them according to their destiny and true calling.

• With other believers I can make appeals for them to put an end to sinful behavior based upon their identity in Christ.

With my own children, if I see them sin - caught lying, for instance - I can say, “Son or daughter, you lied to me...but that is not who you are. You are not a liar. A new creation’s true desire is to tell the truth. You are a truthful person. Put off the old and put on the new of who you really are.” In that way, we confront and deal with sin, yet we tear down only the sin...and not the person. This is how we build one another up. This is how God builds us up! In this way, we each become testimonies of God’s grace to the world...like trophies that declare the power of God!

Who does Father say I am?

• He calls me a trophy of grace.

While this is not a Scriptural term, it does express Scriptural truth. What is a trophy? A trophy is a tangible reminder of some great accomplishment or achievement. The redeemed life is a trophy or reminder to all who see of one of God’s greatest achievements - you! Paul the apostle suffered much, yet he believed his sufferings and the display of God’s grace to carry him through them had a profound purpose. “...That the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:15).”

Who does Father say I am?

• He calls me a letter, written to all mankind (2 Cor. 3:2-3).

As others see the changes God brings about in our lives, it is as if He has written a love letter for everyone who comes in contact with us to read! My life without Jesus spoke volumes. My redeemed life reads like a letter that was written with the greatest of care. My desire is that God be glorified for all He has done for me - so I open up that letter (my heart) for others to see and read. My desire is that, as they read, their lives are brought to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as well!

What do others see when they read our lives?

• Will we allow others to see and read or will we hide what we have experienced of God? We have nothing to be ashamed of by being honest.

• Honesty is a byproduct of truth. Truth sets us - and others - free! Let us see beyond our own perceptions and see what we cannot always see. Let us see ourselves as Father sees us. Let us see others as Father does.

Who does Father say I am?

He says I am a winner!

He gives me the strength to fight the good fight of faith and to run the race toward the goal for the prize of my highest calling! Though I fall, I get up and keep running! To win a race I must run that race. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you win (1 Cor. 9:24).” The Word also says, “Let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3).”

Who does Father say I am?

• He calls me a fighter!

I do not give up - I am tenacious concerning my desire to conquer sin and to glorify my Redeemer. I fight the good fight of faith by taking hold of the eternal life to which I am called, declaring the truth to all who would see or hear - I am redeemed! (1 Tim. 6:12)

• Father delights in me more than I in Him. His thoughts toward me outnumber the sands of the sea (Psalm 139:17-18). Mine towards Him come nowhere near that! I do not have to earn His acceptance or approval. I already have it by virtue of the redeeming work of Christ upon the cross. God’s Word says that He has made us accepted in the Beloved...accepted in Christ! (Ephesians 1:6). He calls me His bride...and calls Jesus my bridegroom. One day, my truest identity will be fulfilled in the consummation of true oneness with Christ in the eternal glory of heaven. What joy and pleasure to know I do not have to wait until heaven to experience that joy. I am known by my God in a deeply personal and intimate way...and He allows me to know Him! This is my destiny...’that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...’ (Philippians 3:10)

My destiny?

• To be all God has called me to be! The overcoming testimony of my life? A fragrant aroma. “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Cor. 2:14).”

• In am a treasure born of God’s spirit to be given back to Him as a sacrifice of praise.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not ourselves (2 Cor. 4:7-12).” We will be afflicted in this life - but we will not be crushed. We may be perplexed by the twists and turns of our life - but we will not despair because we have hope. We will be persecuted for the sake of righteousness - but we will never be forsaken. We may even be struck down because of our faith - but we cannot be destroyed! Why? Because this is part of our identity and destiny in Christ. This is who we are!

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:16-18).”

• Believer. This is your destiny. This is who you are called to be. I am so proud of you! Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy getting to know your God. I cannot wait until we have the time of eternity to share one another’s stories of God’s redemption. Look for me around the throne...I’ll be waiting to hear and testify God’s goodness with you forever!

Dennis Jernigan

To hear the song, “This Is My Destiny”, go to https://www.patreon.com/posts/challenge-for-118949086

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