IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
(1 John 1:9).
Realize that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, but this is only the first part of what Jesus came to do for us. There is MORE.
Capture that the Lord Jesus did not only come to forgive us our sins, but also to cleanse us…to decontaminate us…to purify us, so that we might stop sinning, in the first place.
CHRIST, WHO FILLS ALL THINGS EVERYWHERE WITH HIMSELF
(Ephesians 1:23).
“But how does the Lord Jesus purify us?” you might ask. “Is it even possible?” The answer: It IS possible, because the Lord Jesus did not come to IMPROVE us, but to EXCHANGE us for HIS SELF, who knew no sin.
BUT WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
Know that each time you yield a belief from your Self that has caused you to sin to the Lord Jesus, He exchanges it for a part of His Self. Each time you surrender a belief of unworthiness or abandonment from your Self to Jesus, He exchanges it for a part of His Fullness. Each time you offer a belief of condemnation or shame from your Self to Jesus, He exchanges it for more of His Wholeness. Each time you yield your Self to Him counts toward Righteousness, until you are fully transformed into the Image of Him who knew no sin.
FOR HE MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
From what do you need to be forgiven? And from which unrighteousness do you need to be cleansed?
Do you understand the difference between having your own Self improved by God, versus having your Self exchanged for the Image of the Lord Jesus Himself, through His Spirit?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how encouraged I am that my Righteousness is not a matter of being improved, but being exchanged—to be transformed into the Image of You, who knew no sin.
Maintain an Awareness
We need to acknowledge that we cannot free our spirits, souls, and bodies from the entanglement of the OLD MAN’s rebellious will. But, with our free will, we can choose to go to the Person who can—the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to live HIS NEW MAN Life in us, in the place of the OLD MAN.