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| But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 |
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Who I was
(am apart from Christ’s transforming love, grace and mercy)
driven, a slave to sin, argumentative, ungrateful, selfish, murderer, promiscuous, unfaithful, slanderer, gossip, fool, arrogant, liar, self-righteous, proud, self-focused, self centered, full of selfish ambition, manipulative, angry, hateful, blind, insecure, mean-spirited, impulsive, opportunist, insensitive, discontent, never satisfied, hopeless, fiercely competitive, ignorant, cheat, deceitful, shame-filled, secretive, limited (conditional) love, spiritually dead.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Who I am
(in Christ – am being conformed and transformed into)
holy, beloved, righteous, redeemed, forgiven, set apart, saint, child of The One True Living God, free,
spiritually alive, saved from the power of sin and death, heaven bound, victorious, precious in His sight, called, conformed to His image, complete, faithful, self-controlled, Spirit-filled, wise, humble, healed, blood bought, yielded and willing to yield, able to truly love unconditionally, kind, compassionate, sensitive to others, hopeful, thankful, with understanding, gracious, peaceful, unashamed, transparent, patient, Christ/God centered and focused.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians Chapter 2
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Enthusiastically, Dawn 
GASP!!! So beautiful, my dear. For me, this was like walking along the beach and finding a sand dollar (believe me, with all the beaches here, they are RARE!). I can SO relate to this!!! I'm in need of comfort this afternoon, and God has provided it through your words. Thank you, Father, and thank you, sister! LOVED the picture, the meaning is not lost on me. ❤
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Really lovely.
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Thanks, my friend. I honestly had no intention of posting today but for some reason God laid this impression on me. So I thought I shoild share it! Truly the truth that sets us free. You know I have a few sand dollar stories – wish we were sitting over coffee chatting- I will have to share with you! I love the picture too!
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It is so good to remember who we are in Christ. Because of His work in us, we are changed. I am not the same person I was before I was saved.I'm so glad we are friends, even though we've never met. I enjoy reading your posts.Blessings and love,Debbie
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It is so inspiring to find the blogs that reind us of Jesus' love for us!! The world has gotten so bad, it always wonderful to be reminded that, while we were still sinners, Christ did die for us. Thank you! Happy Friendship Friday!Melaniemelaniescrazylife.blogspot.com
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