Article Eleven
Declared Innocent
We wring our hands, lamenting over our past failings–Yet Christ sees only our restored status!
Our works, self-effort, and vain attempts to achieve righteousness are disregarded as we embrace our re-established innocence. We receive true redemption from our distorted state as we stand before God clothed as His beloved Son! Likewise, as we judge or condemn one another, we’re reminded by the cross that every debt has been paid. Our response is to forgive from within the understanding of His unconditional love. We’re severed from our old life and the soul nature that works hard to achieve goodness and a moral lifestyle.
The truth arises, catching fire within our hearts as the penny finally drops. We are innocent! The cross bears the weight and the consequences of human weakness for both our deeds and those done unto us. Jesus will not entertain the lies that lay festering within the recesses of our hearts. The condemnation, guilt, shame and fear were all dealt with decisively at the crucifixion and resurrection. Now we’re free indeed to enjoy the perfection of Christ to manifest within us.
There’s no more works and self-effort but a desire to follow the One our heart loves and to see clearly His image within every human heart. In this place, a love revolution begins. All our sorrows dissipate as we arise as our true selves. We are the prize set before Him as He went to the cross, and He is longing for this realisation to become our everyday reality.
So why do we condemn ourselves? Isn’t it time to leave behind this destructive habit and embrace ourselves and one another as the image of our creator? We comprehend that the darkness and evil that wages war across this planet comes from the bowels of a defeated foe and not humanity. This revelation liberates our mindsets from judgement and unforgiveness. We learn to love!
The inner life of communion has replaced our outward efforts with Christ. This is our new hidden life. We become peaceful and hopeful as we rest in our love union with God
“And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory!”
Now hope emanates from our lives, drawing the hungry, thirsty, and desperate souls who long for the light to shine again. We become the bearers of good news as our lives display the glorious Christ and the victory He offers to all humanity.
As we live from this truth, everyone we encounter will experience who Christ really is! Likewise, we too will be revealed as His image-bearers, bringing hope, faith and love everywhere we go.