God is not dealing with our sin but with our identity.
The bible teaches us that God is not counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians: 5:19), that He has forgiven us all out transgressions (Colossians 2:13), that Jesus was the sacrifice offered once and for all time for our sins (Hebrews 10:12) and that we at to be dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11).
John 16:10 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our righteousness. That is, that we are Sons of God (Romans 8: 10 – 17 ). He is calling us up into our identity in Christ not calling us out to punish and/or judge our sin. God is more interested in what we are missing by way of revelation of who we are in Christ than He is in calling out what is wrong with us. Consequently, He is not dealing with our sin but with our identity.
To illustrate how this looks in reality…Some people say they have an anger problem – sin consciousness. But what if they have a patience problem – identity on the basis of the fruit of the Spirit? God is not focussed on how our past shaped our lack of Christ-like behaviour as much as He is focussed on what we have been given through faith in the finished work of the cross and walking in that. When we focus on who we are becoming – our identity in Jesus, our destiny – we adopt a present/future way of living above a present/past mindset.
The Holy Spirit works with vision and possibilities. For those who struggle with anger He wants to help them discover patience more than controlling anger. Behaviour is always the echo of belief. We are not called to manage sinful behaviour we are to position ourselves to be led by the Spirit to be renewed by the transforming of our minds. Wrong believing leads to wrong behaviour. Right believing leads to right behaviour.
When we believe right about who we are in Christ – our identity – everything can change.
Until next time may you be blessed with God’s favour and life.
