I received the Lord as my savior in 1986. When I became a Christian I (I) did a lot of changing. I stopped all the things that I thought were wrong. I started doing things that I thought a Christian was supposed to do. I stopped drinking. I started listening to Christian music. I stopped cursing. I starting reading Christian books. I stopped going to bars and started going to church. I started and stopped a lot of things because I was now a Christian.

In the process of time, I joined the navy, got married, and had babies, and got divorced. When my marriage began to fall apart in 2000, the pressure of that and, my life and, trying to live the Christian life was too much for me. So, I quit. I told the Lord I couldn’t do it anymore. I had not given up my faith, I just stopped trying to live the life of a Christian. I didn’t know how. Up to that point, I had lived a pretty religious life but, I had to give up.

Things were all of a sudden much easier. I didn’t have to resist sin so hard or, try so hard to appear to be a Christian. It just seemed to become natural to do the right things and just live. However, because my marriage was still falling apart I didn’t come to realize that what I had discovered was the Grace of God. Not until 2001 did I hear any teaching that resembled what I had experience. And even then I didn’t pursue the teaching or understanding. My marriage ended and my kids went to live with their mom. I have lived alone since 2005.

I have only begun to pursue it (understanding the grace of God) now in the last several months. Up until that time I had been struggling in my Christian walk. At times I have even wondered if I am even saved. Well, I am, and I am now discovering that I am really one with God in Christ. Just in beginning to understand the information about Christ being my righteousness, my life, and the assurance of my eternal right standing with God has been enough to cause great relief and peace to sweep over my soul.

Colossians 1:27 says…

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

CHRIST IN ME! THAT ROCKS! It’s not like I had not ever read this scripture and the other scriptures like it. But somehow I didn’t quite get it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19,…

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;”

.. He lives in me!

It’s even better than that. I don’t have two natures as I was taught early in my Christian walk. I don’t have to starve my old sin nature because I don’t have one. I had a sin nature before, but I don’t now. I am born again.

“I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me” (Gal 2:20). 

When Jesus died, I died with Him, along with my sin. When God raised Him from the dead, I was raised with Him. He is my life! He is my nature.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor 6:17). 

One Spirit with the Lord. I am fused together with Him. One Nature, His! Instead of trying to starve a nature I don’t even have anymore, I am now focused living out of my union with the Lord.

I feel lighter. I feel more confident before God. I feel good about myself. It is an amazing thing to know that God loves you. And I know that God loves me! After all, I am His son.

Recommendations:

GWGrace Walk: What You’ve Always Wanted in the Christian Life, by Steve McVey. Grace Walk has helped thousands of believers leave behind the “manic-depressive “Christian walk; either running around trying to perform to be acceptable to God or thinking they’ve failed Him again and wondering if they’ll ever measure up. Living the grace walk gets you off this religious roller coaster! Using his own journey from legalism into grace, Steve McVey illustrates the foundational, biblical truths of who you are in Christ and how you can let Him live His life through you each day.  As you experience your true identity in Christ, you’ll come to know “Amazing Grace” ass not just a song but as your true way of life!

gods_astounding_opinion_of_youGod’s Astounding Opinion of You
By Ralph Harris /Harvest House Publishers. Have you been trying to live the Christian life without knowledge of who you really are? God’s Astounding Opinion of You by Ralph Harris reveals how amazing the gospel is and leads you to the most satisfying relationship ever created–your life with Christ. Rediscover your true identity as a new creation and embrace the life God has for you.