A lot of Christian swans still think they are ugly ducklings

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Sunday,
May 23, 2010

A lot of Christian swans still think they are ugly ducklings

Point 7. The third type of repentance in the Church age believer’s life is the turning away from human viewpoint (lies, evil) and turning toward divine viewpoint (grace and truth), resulting in living a new life of fellowship with the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit brings out what God planned all along.

1CO 2:16
For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

This believer accepts whatever God sees fit to do - whatever He decides to do.

Repentance - metanoia - in the New Testament means a change of mind for the better.

Salvation repentance is an open door that leads to the way.

Rebound repentance is an open door that leads to the truth.

Maturity repentance is an open door that leads to the life.

Repentance is all about stopping whatever it was you were doing to follow Christ.

Phi 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Joh 6:35

“I AM the bread of life.”

Joh 8:12, 9:5

“I AM the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life ”

Joh 10:7
“I AM the door of the sheep.”

Joh 10:10b, joh 10:11
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I AM the good shepherd.”

The truth divides. There are some who embrace it, and others who reject it.

Joh 11:25
“I AM the resurrection and the life.”

Joh 14:6
“I AM the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Joh 15:1, 15:5

“I AM the true vine.”
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Then there are seven times in the Gospel of John where the Lord uses “I am” with a noun identifying another part of His position or work on behalf of sinners.

Joh 6:35

“I AM the bread of life.”

Joh 8:12, 9:5

“I AM the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life ”

Joh 10:7
“I AM the door of the sheep.”

Joh 10:10b, joh 10:11
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I AM the good shepherd.”

Joh 11:25
“I AM the resurrection and the life.”

Joh 14:6
“I AM the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Joh 15:1, 15:5

“I AM the true vine.”
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Then there are seven times in the Gospel of John where the Lord uses “I am” with a noun identifying another part of His position or work on behalf of sinners.

Over and over again He emphasizes one word.

That word is.... LIFE.

The key is to keep on embracing more and more of the truth about who Christ is, and who God the Father is, and who the Holy Spirit is - and who you, as a believer in Christ, are
in union with Christ.

We humans are always focused on what to do about our problems. We are always focused on getting rid of the negative. We always want to avoid pain.

God on the other hand is all about attracting our wills to the glory of who He is. He is all about leading us on to His joy. Attracting us to new life. Craving and desiring righteousness.

The result is the life that we share with our Lord, His Father, and the Spirit, growing in grace and truth.

Repentance - metanoia - in the New Testament means a change of mind for the better.

“Without Me you can do nothing”

As believers in Christ we not only “have” Him - we are IN Him, we can never lose Him, He is in us...

You see, a baby swan has the genes of a swan. But it takes growing up to see the evidence of that. Until then, there are a lot of dark feathers to shed.