My Behavior does not Determine My Identity
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
I remember a deacon at our church let his daughter throw a party and they invited several of us from the church to come. They had great music and I love to dance so I got up and started dancing. I was having a great time and then the deacon came over to me and said, “How can you be dancing and you are a pastor’s kid? If God came back today, would you go to heaven?” In my mind I wanted to say, “Well you are the one hosting the party with the music so would you go to heaven?” But I did not. My parents had raised me to be respectful. I do not quite remember how I responded. However, for a long time that comment stuck with me. It made me think that I had sinned and God did not love me anymore and I was no longer righteous. I felt like I had to work to please God.
The deacon was only speaking from what he knew. He did not realize that our actions do not determine our identity with Christ. Scripture teaches that For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 When Jesus died and took on our debt of sin, he was righteous. He lived a righteous life on the earth and he offers that gift of righteousness to us. We were born with a sin nature. But when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior we move from a sin nature to a righteous nature.
As a teenager I had already accepted Jesus Christ. So, way back then my behavior could have never affected my position in Christ. The behavior of dancing could have never taken me out of right standing with God. I went looking through the Bible and I could not find anywhere where it said that dancing was a sin. Actually David danced before the Lord! The Bible does say that behaving in a lewd way is a work of the flesh. So, we know not to dance in that way. But I believe that God wants us to enjoy the music, dance and have a great time. Listen, even if dancing were a sin, it could not remove me from my righteousness in Christ. Our behavior does not determine our identity.
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24, NLT
Key Points:
Righteousness is a gift from God.
Righteousness is my identity; even though my behavior may not be right.
God is not angry because you mess up. He already died for your mess up.
Obedience to God demonstrates our love for him.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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