The Gift We Have Difficulty Receiving

The Gift We Have Difficulty Receiving: Being in Christ  A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when the tides of war began to change. Fearing for his life, he stayed hidden for 28 years in the jungle cave, coming out only at night. During this self-imposed exile he lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts and mangoes. Even when he figured out the war was over he was afraid to come out for fear he would be executed. Two hunters found him one day and escorted him to freedom.

Many Christians are like Shoichi Yokoi. We are saved, but we are living under the assumption that we are still fallen men. This is Satan's great deception. We have failed to understand that we are totally free from guilt, from punishment, from good works as a means of relationship, etc. We have failed to understand the new relationship that we have from God -- one of constant and abiding love even when we sin.

We have failed to appropriate our inheritance -- all that we are "in Messiah Jesus." To completely experience the new life of the Redeemed Man is a decision. It takes a renewing of the way we think about ourselves and God. It involves faith in what God says is true and a refusal to believe Satan's lie. Take these Scriptures.

Meditate on them and allow the truth to permeate every facet of your spirit. TO BE WITHOUT CHRIST MEANS TO BE "IN CHRIST" MEANS The Power of Sin A slave to our desires. -- Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:22-24. DEAD to sin. Able not to sin.

A choice is now available. -- Romans 6:1-13. Relationship to Works My salvation is earned by works. I do good works to be saved. -- Romans 3:23; James 2:10.

Salvation is a GIFT. Works are a thank-you. I do good works, because I'm saved. -- Romans 6:23; 3:28; Ephesians 2:4-10; Titus 3:3-7. Relationship to Guilt Guilty.

Condemned. Under judgment. -- Ephesians 2:3; John 3:18. NOT GUILTY! No condemnation. Not under judgment.

-- Romans 8:1; 1 John 4:16-18. Punishment Punished for sin. -- Isaiah 13:9-11; Matthew 25:46; 2 Pet. 2:9. NO PUNISHMENT! Corrected in love (discipline).

(See The Difference Between Punishment and Discipline.) -- Proverbs 3:11,12; Hebrews 12:6,7,10; Revelation 3:19. Effects of Sin My sin makes it impossible to have any relationship with God. See What Sin Does Not Do and Does Do in the Life of a Christian. Security "I hope I get to heaven.

" Absolute assurance of heaven. -- 1 John 5:11-13. Peace Worry. God's peace.--Rom.

5:1; John 16:33; Philippians 4:6-9. Joy Periodic happiness Joy in all circumstances.-- John 15:11; Romans 5:2. Transparency We will hide or deny sin.-- 1 John 1:8,10 Openness.

Ability to confess sin, because we are more concerned about what God thinks than what man thinks. --Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:9; James 5:16. Prayer The Lord is far from the wicked. -- Proverbs 15:29. God hears & answers prayer.

-- 1 John 5:14,15; Luke 11:9-13; 1 Peter 3:12. Health At the mercy of doctors and chance. -- Mark 5:26. Trust is placed in a God who heals. -- James 5:14-16; Phil 2:27.

Material Goods Hoard to feel secure. -- Luke 12:13-21. Meet needs, save moderately, and give and you will receive. -- Mark 10:28-30; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. Outcome Defeated.

More than conquerors through Jesus Christ. -- Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4,5.   Our Father which art in heaven, we Thy children are often troubled in mind, hearing within us at once the affirmation of faith and the accusations of conscience. We are sure that there is in us nothing that could attract the love of One as holy and as just as Thou art. Yet Thou hast declared Thine unchanging love for us in Christ Jesus.

If nothing in us can win Thy love, nothing in the universe can prevent Thee from loving us. Thy love is uncaused and undeserved. Thou art Thyself the reason for the love wherewith we are loved. Help us to believe the intensity, the eternity of the love that has found us. Then love will cast out fear; and our troubled hearts will be at peace, trusting not in what we are but in what Thou hast declared Thyself to be.

Amen. - A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy