Identity Matters: Workbook & Conference Guide

18 personhood of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ Jesus). The reality of this transformation allows for a true exchange of our old nature, or Adamic history, for that of the Nature of God through Christ. In knowing this, we become partakers of all that is true about Christ through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Now the believer is in a position to appropriate their true identity in Christ and begin to live out that he is literally the righteousness of Christ (Galatians 2:20).

Righteousness is an indwelt believer’s expression, function, and lifestyle of releasing the Life of Christ from within. Once a born-again believer begins to appropriate their position in Christ, their condition is soon to change, simply by watching the evidence of His Life being manifested through their mind, will, and emotions. This means that when life’s circumstances are put before him, he can choose to release the Life of Christ to do the doing through him. This is a perfect setup for learning how to extend forgiveness to others (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Extending Forgiveness before God, in prayer, is forgiving anyone who has hurt you.

Once an indwelt believer gets to this point, he is usually quick to release all anger and pain before God, extending forgiveness to those who initially hurt him, and in many cases, is ready to seek forgiveness from others whom he has hurt (Matt. 5:22-24). Seeking Forgiveness is the process of going to an individual whom you have offended by action or reaction, seeking their forgiveness, and restoring the relationship when possible. Once the believer has extended forgiveness before God on how he was hurt, he usually is released to go and seek the forgiveness for his part in the offense. It is in this process that we explain to the indwelt believer how to do this in detail. We find that when a believer reaches this stage of discipleship, he begins to rest, abide, and walk in the Spirit in the truest sense.

Resting, Abiding, and Walking are the result of appropriating true forgiveness in all areas of life. It is living in the present, releasing the Life of Christ in you to be obedient to the Father through your mind, will, and emotions. When an indwelt believer gets to this point in growth, he is able to confront the self-centered view of life and to embrace the challenge of releasing the mind of Christ from within. Resting in Christ is a perfect place to be in showing the Love Life of Jesus (Matt. 11:28).

Love Life is the pinnacle of the Christian Life. Once appropriating the above 11 steps, the indwelt believer begins to reveal the two primary commandments Christ spoke: love the Lord with your whole heart and secondly, love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 1:30-31).

The result is when we obey, we have no condemnation. When we have no condemnation, we have confidence toward God. Then, whatever we ask through Christ, we receive (1 John 3:21-22).