by Paulette Rahm.

Before you read this blog I would like you to ask yourself how do you read your bible or live as a believer. Do you see your identity as having to do, often shamed, condemned or unaccepted?  Or do you see your true identity as fully accepted, loved and completely ready to receive what Christ purchased for you on the cross? If you see yourself striving and performing always needing to do and be better you may be eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. BUT if you see yourself fully accepted, knowing God’s goodness, love and His inheritance while living in rest. Knowing  all of God’s promises are yes and amen, you are most likely eating from the tree of life. Knowing this will help you as you read this blog.

The world including believers has entered into an identity crisis. What do I mean by that? As I look around I am seeing and hearing kids who are identifying with being furries or cats. There are those who are entering into gender transformation not knowing what that means and all it entails both physically and psychologically. 

I then look at the Christian community who have the truth yet are struggling to know how to walk in their true identity as a believer. They have no idea what Jesus purchased for us on the cross. They have a mixed doctrine which causes confusion.This was Satan’s strategy planted in you when Adam and Eve believed the lie and partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. .(Genesis 3 “Has God really said?”)

Genesis 3:9 says, “Then God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you.’” (NKJV) 

God did not separate Himself from them. They separated themselves from God. 

What I am discovering is the church has been teaching doctrines that do not line up with the LOVE of Father God, Jesus and the gospels.  These doctrines are doctrines of men portraying God to be an angry and wrathful God. 

As I read the Bible, scriptures and the Word I see God with love, patience, kindness, gentleness and joy. I see how the true gospel has eroded over the centuries and has kept humanity and creation veiled from the truth. We see Jesus Christ as an exact representation of Father God.  

In John 14:8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, (remember the disciples were steeped in the Mosaic law) and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? (ESV)

I know many who are reading this could be offended but I want to challenge you to go back into the gospels and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the true and loving nature of God, the actions and love of Jesus  towards the Father, and the work of the Holy Spirit. I want to challenge you to receive revelation of God’s LOVE and His true identity and purpose towards you.  When I did this I can only describe it as being born again, again. The JOY that flooded my being was indescribable. From that point  the WORD became alive in love, clarity and acceptance. God was truly my Father and He loves me,

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection was the greatest expression of love, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation and restoration mankind and creation could receive. No longer were we under the law (old Mosaic covenant, law, tree of the knowledge of good and evil or sin) but under grace and mercy (New Covenant, tree of life). Old things have passed away. Behold, all things become new. New creations: the first Adam was dead, the second Adam (Jesus Christ) brought life.

In 2 Cor 5:16, it says, From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (BSB Bible Hub)

I challenge you as you read the scriptures, read them from the position of a loving heavenly father not from the law of condemnation, works, starving or a lack of acceptance or identifying your sin. 

May I suggest starting  with the book of John and then the gospels.  What you will find is embracing your salvation through a love relationship having confidence God is for you and not against you. Perfect love casts out all fear. You will find your doctrines may change.

Romans 8:1 says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.a 2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (BSB Bible Hub)

You will then understand the veil that was between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in Moses tabernacle was torn from top to bottom removing any barrier between God and humanity. The old Mosaic Covenant of the law is no longer valid. The New Covenant of Grace and Mercy through the death, resurrection and finished work of Christ on the Cross killed the first Adam defeating Satan’s plan to keep us from our original Identity as Sons of God to rule and reign with Christ.

Eph. 2:4 says, But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. (BSB Bible Hub)

Col. 2:6, says, Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10 And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (BSB Bible Hub)