How often have we said in response to shortcomings: “I’m only human” or “He’s only human” or “She’s only human?” A Kenyan bishop who partners with The Rock has rebuked this line of thinking to his flock.
Bishop Paul says if you are a believer in Jesus, nothing could be more false than saying you are only human. The fallacy is in the word “only.”
Our humanness is not an excuse for sin. I remember a business person in Uganda who cheated me had a favorite phrase: “It’s Uganda!” As if that made cheating and various shenanigans normal and expected. Ungodly practices and customs of a country are no more justifiable than personal ungodly behavior.
As born again new creations in Jesus, sin is not our normal or expected state as it was before. While we are tempted and sometimes stumble, our mere humanness has been transformed by the fact that Jesus lives in us and us in Him. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
Imagine that! As a believer in Jesus, you already are “in Him” for eternity! Not only that, but Jesus has taken up residence in your humanness. Jesus says in John 15:4, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.”
We were provided as well with the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation to reveal our sins to us and lead us to repentance.
So you see as a believer in Jesus, you are much more than human; whereas before in your mere humanness you were trapped. “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Rom. 6:6)
Understanding our identity in Jesus is the major focus now of our teaching to Rock leadership in Africa. We are praying once the leadership is equipped that they will be able to share this teaching to our scholarship students, businessmen and throughout their churches. The freedom they will proclaim is not only from sin, but also from the lies that obscure who we really are in Jesus and rob our joy and effectiveness for the Lord.
Savor these words which are just a sampling of who the Bible tells us we are as Believers in Jesus:
· I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
· I am Jesus’ friend. (John 15:15)
· I am a joint heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17)
· I am a temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19)
· I am a saint. (Eph. 1:1, 1 Cor. 1:2, Phi. 1:1, Col. 1:2)
· I am the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13)
· I am the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14)
· I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. (Col. 3:12, 1 Thess. 1:4)
