This week, we heard Anabel encourage us to use our imaginations as we study the Bible. Our imaginations can be useful in helping us to relate to the circumstances and events of the Bible. If we can imagine ourselves being in the shoes of the characters we are studying, we can often have a better realization of the Bible's truth.
Anabel asked us to imagine that the Bible is God's love letter to each and everyone of us. Interwoven throughout the Bible is God's promise to return and His encouragement to watch for Him. Anabel also showed a great illustration of what it means to be "enveloped" in Christ as described in John 14:20--"In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." Anabel's illustrations with envelopes helps us to understand this concept. Anabel says, "You need to let go and nestle yourself into God and Jesus."
Please continue to pray for the Lowe family this week as they continue to deal with the loss of Sheryl's sister. Please pray for God's strength and peace in their lives and for their safety as they travel.
REMINDER: We have a class Potluck lunch scheduled immediately after church THIS Sunday, November 4, 2012. Everyone is welcome. Just bring a dish or dishes that you would like to share with the class. Everyone will bring a dish and we will all enjoy each other's dish. Hopefully, there will be some main courses, some side dishes, and some DESSERTS. This is my favorite kind of luncheon. The church will provide drinks and plasticware. We will look forward to seeing you there. If you are an inservice worker, please join us so we can catch up on you and your family. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
Jimmy
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
October 21--2nd Half of Your True Identity in Christ
In this week’s Sunday School lesson, we watched the second half of Bill and Anabel Gillham’s discussion of “Your True Identity in Christ.” Bill explained that Adam was the first “Lord of the Ring.” Spiritual death was the result of Adam’s disobedience. As a descendant of Adam each of us has inherited his spiritual characteristics. We are all born with a dead spirit. As Bill explains, “all you need to do to go to hell is show up here on earth and get to the age of understanding that Christ died for your sins and ignore that truth and you are on your way to hell.” Bill states, “Birth always determines identity.” All you have to do to go to hell is show up on the planet as a descendant of Adam.
Salvation is a change in your nature and your identity from the inside out. When you enter into Christ’s lifeline, you receive His nature and His life. You receive a new present, a new future, and a new past. Your heritage from Adam becomes history. God did away with your old identity in order to give you a new identity. The old you was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20) and you became a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
I have been listening to the old song about God making something beautiful of your life for many years. Yet, it was interesting to hear Bill say, “God has no plan to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam). Bill argues that the plan is to kill it and start over again.
I also found the discussion about Christ in You versus You in Christ to be interesting. As you will recall, Bill pointed out that salvation is like a coin: heads is Christ in You and tails is You in Christ. I have never thought about it this way, but Bill points out that the “you in Christ” verses outnumber the “Christ in you” verses by a ratio of 10 to 1. Bill explains that it is from this perspective of who you are in Christ that you understand your true identity and realize that Christ is your life.
Bill then explains that the death of the “old you” is a done deal. He encourages us to appropriate the truth that your old self has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). He asked the following question: “How many of your sins did Christ take to the cross 2,000 years ago?” Answer: “All of them.” “How many of your sins had you committed 2,000 years ago?” Answer: “None of them.” In the same way you claim He took your sins to the cross, you claim He took you to the cross. The old you (who you were in Adam) died.
The death of the old you from Romans 6:
1) Verse 2—you have died to sin
2) Verse 3—you have been baptized into His death
3) Verse 4—you have been buried with Him
4) Verse 5—you have been united with Him in the likeness of His death
These verses are all past tense.
Your true identity is now in Christ. In Christ, you are now accepted, loved, holy, and righteous. You are now a saint. The Word of God refers to you as a saint 56 times.
You are a new creature in Christ. Start living as who you really are! Read through the “True Identity in Christ” sheet that was provided in class. Allow God to impress upon you the truth of these Scriptures.
Have a great week!
Jimmy & Cindy
Salvation is a change in your nature and your identity from the inside out. When you enter into Christ’s lifeline, you receive His nature and His life. You receive a new present, a new future, and a new past. Your heritage from Adam becomes history. God did away with your old identity in order to give you a new identity. The old you was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20) and you became a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
I have been listening to the old song about God making something beautiful of your life for many years. Yet, it was interesting to hear Bill say, “God has no plan to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam). Bill argues that the plan is to kill it and start over again.
I also found the discussion about Christ in You versus You in Christ to be interesting. As you will recall, Bill pointed out that salvation is like a coin: heads is Christ in You and tails is You in Christ. I have never thought about it this way, but Bill points out that the “you in Christ” verses outnumber the “Christ in you” verses by a ratio of 10 to 1. Bill explains that it is from this perspective of who you are in Christ that you understand your true identity and realize that Christ is your life.
Bill then explains that the death of the “old you” is a done deal. He encourages us to appropriate the truth that your old self has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). He asked the following question: “How many of your sins did Christ take to the cross 2,000 years ago?” Answer: “All of them.” “How many of your sins had you committed 2,000 years ago?” Answer: “None of them.” In the same way you claim He took your sins to the cross, you claim He took you to the cross. The old you (who you were in Adam) died.
The death of the old you from Romans 6:
1) Verse 2—you have died to sin
2) Verse 3—you have been baptized into His death
3) Verse 4—you have been buried with Him
4) Verse 5—you have been united with Him in the likeness of His death
These verses are all past tense.
Your true identity is now in Christ. In Christ, you are now accepted, loved, holy, and righteous. You are now a saint. The Word of God refers to you as a saint 56 times.
You are a new creature in Christ. Start living as who you really are! Read through the “True Identity in Christ” sheet that was provided in class. Allow God to impress upon you the truth of these Scriptures.
Have a great week!
Jimmy & Cindy
Sunday, October 14, 2012
October 14 Our True Identity in Christ
Our True Identity in Christ
October 14, 2012
Anabel calls this session “perhaps the most important session of the program.” Indeed, this session begins with Anabel asking each of us to rate ourselves on a scale of 1 to 10 that represents how much you accept yourself with 1 being the lowest number and 10 being the highest. I doubt if any of us chose a number as high as God chooses when we are saved and become a “new creature in Christ.” Based on 2 Corinthians 5: 16, 17, Bill helps us to understand that our true identity is not in our flesh, but rather we have become what Bill calls a “spirit critter.”
Bill helps us to understand our true identity by explaining the time dimension as created by God. Bill points out that faith requires the time dimension. When faith is no longer needed, time will cease to be. He also makes the point that God is not and cannot be controlled by his creation. He is not time-dimensional. We are time-dimensional beings. Bill uses the simple diagram below to help us understand this concept:
B H S T D
Birth Haircut Salvation Today Death
Bill describes God as being like a “man in a helicopter” who can hover over this timeline and is able to see everything in the present tense. Perhaps, that is why God described himself as “I AM?” Bill makes a very important point in this discussion. “God never allows a problem to come into your life for which HE does not already have a solution.” Wow! That is a powerful thought to remember.
Bill also takes time to describe and compare the concepts of “Christ in You and You in Christ.” He describes salvation as being like a coin with heads being Christ in You and Tails being You in Christ. The “You in Christ” verses in the Bible outnumber the “Christ in You” verses by 10 to 1. “It is from the perspective of who you are in Christ that you understand your true identity and realize that Christ is your life.” In Christ, you are accepted, loved, holy, and righteous. You are a saint. The Word of God refers to you as a saint 56 times. According to Bill, “You can no more be a sinner saved by grace than you can be a married single person. Rather, you are now a “saint who sins.” God has solved your identity problem. You are a new creature in Christ. God has solved your performance problem. His life has become your life, and He will live His life through you. Have a great week!
Mark Your Calendar: Sunday School Pot Luck Lunch: November 4, 2012
Bring your family and a dish to share with the class. The church will provide drinks, plates, etc.
October 14, 2012
Anabel calls this session “perhaps the most important session of the program.” Indeed, this session begins with Anabel asking each of us to rate ourselves on a scale of 1 to 10 that represents how much you accept yourself with 1 being the lowest number and 10 being the highest. I doubt if any of us chose a number as high as God chooses when we are saved and become a “new creature in Christ.” Based on 2 Corinthians 5: 16, 17, Bill helps us to understand that our true identity is not in our flesh, but rather we have become what Bill calls a “spirit critter.”
Bill helps us to understand our true identity by explaining the time dimension as created by God. Bill points out that faith requires the time dimension. When faith is no longer needed, time will cease to be. He also makes the point that God is not and cannot be controlled by his creation. He is not time-dimensional. We are time-dimensional beings. Bill uses the simple diagram below to help us understand this concept:
B H S T D
Birth Haircut Salvation Today Death
Bill describes God as being like a “man in a helicopter” who can hover over this timeline and is able to see everything in the present tense. Perhaps, that is why God described himself as “I AM?” Bill makes a very important point in this discussion. “God never allows a problem to come into your life for which HE does not already have a solution.” Wow! That is a powerful thought to remember.
Bill also takes time to describe and compare the concepts of “Christ in You and You in Christ.” He describes salvation as being like a coin with heads being Christ in You and Tails being You in Christ. The “You in Christ” verses in the Bible outnumber the “Christ in You” verses by 10 to 1. “It is from the perspective of who you are in Christ that you understand your true identity and realize that Christ is your life.” In Christ, you are accepted, loved, holy, and righteous. You are a saint. The Word of God refers to you as a saint 56 times. According to Bill, “You can no more be a sinner saved by grace than you can be a married single person. Rather, you are now a “saint who sins.” God has solved your identity problem. You are a new creature in Christ. God has solved your performance problem. His life has become your life, and He will live His life through you. Have a great week!
Mark Your Calendar: Sunday School Pot Luck Lunch: November 4, 2012
Bring your family and a dish to share with the class. The church will provide drinks, plates, etc.
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