To discover the truth in Jesus Christ, to come to know him as the Lord and Savior of the human race, to see him at the Father’s right hand and to see ourselves accepted in him, embraced by God the Father almighty, included in the circle of life, is to have our thinking turned inside out, fundamentally reordered into harmony with the truth. The New Testament calls such a radical realignment, such renewal of our minds, “repentance” (metanoia).

-C.Baxter Kruger, The Great Dance

Dr. C. Baxter Krugerbaxter_smallTheologian, writer and fishing lure designer is the Director of Perichoresis Ministries. He teaches around the world. He is an avid outdoorsman and holds two United States patents for his fishing lure designs. He is the founder and President of Mediator Lures.

I have been re-reading The Great Dance, by C. Baxter Kruger for the past few days. It was good the first time I read it. It is even better the second time. I am picking up on so many things that I didn’t quite absorb the first time through. One of those things is, “knowing the truth.”

When we begin to know the truth of who Jesus Christ is, who you are in Him, and the Father’s love for you, and your connection to life in the Spirit, that knowledge brings peace to your soul. You begin to relax. You begin to become confident that you are all right. That is what the love of a father does for children and that is what the love of God the Father does in our hearts and minds. You are set free. It changes the way you see yourself and everyone and everything around you.

All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. (Titus 1:15)

For over 20 years as a Christian, I lived life trying to control my sinful urges and habits. The more I tried the more I failed. It was because living that way kept me focused on my sin and myself. My life has now changed drastically and continues to change. I am more at peace than I have ever been. I am no longer so afraid of not being good enough. I am no longer so afraid that I might go to hell. And my sinful urges and habits do not have the hold they once had in my life. Why? One simple reason. My focus has changed.

My focus has moved from sin, myself, and trying to be in control to knowing who Jesus Christ is and what it is He has actually given me. I  have discovered truth and grace.

The truth is:

  • God the Father, Son, and Spirit love me.
  • The Son of God came into the world as a man to create a union between God and man.
  • He is that union. He is fully God. He is fully man.
  • The entire creation including the human race is bound up in Jesus Christ. It all consist and are held together in Him
  • He took on Adam’s flesh and redeemed us all through his life, death, resurrection and ascension.
  • We are now not in Adam, but, in Jesus Christ.
  • Everything He is, we are in the earth.
  • He has made us righteous. We are right with God.
  • We are seated with Him in the heavenly places.
  • We are connected to Him forever.

This list goes on. You will find these truths throughout the new testament. Grace means that even when we mess things up nothing about the truth of who we are in Christ changes. As I continue to focus on these truths about who I am in Christ and focus on the love that the Father, Son, and Spirit have for me the more relaxed and at peace I become.

Another benefit of focusing on these truths is I’m not thinking so much about sin. The more I focus on the truth about who I am and God’s love for me the more I become, and, live like my true self in Christ.

I used to focus on the law and how I needed to try to obey. This will only cause you to focus more on yourself and sin. The bible says that the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. 1Cor 15:56 Sin takes advantage of the law and deceives us into thinking we can keep the law. But no one will be justified by keeping the law.

My mind is being renewed in the truth. It only took about 25 years but I’m beginning to understand true repentance. God’s love is powerful. The truth of that love changes people. It moves us from darkness into light, from turmoil to peace. Trying to obey the law is fruitless. All our righteousness and blessings are in Jesus Christ. He is where our focus needs to be. Understanding who He is and who we are in Him is the only way.

True Repentance

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2