Who am I?

"The reason why the question 'Who am I?' bothers us is because it's an essential question. It asks questions about our heart, which... if we are honest - we are not happy with. And it doesn't matter what you do, it doesn't matter what patterns of thought you've mastered, and it doesn't matter what experiences you have, you can never change yourself - it's impossible. No one can change themselves, have you noticed that? It's impossible... no matter how hard you try. But if you look at any secular system of counseling or even other religious systems, they'll say, 'Look, you're not happy with who you are, but what you need to do is you need to do certain things, think certain things, have certain experiences...... you do all of that, you'll eventually become the person that God wants you to be and the person that you want to be.'

Jesus Christ did something completely different. Jesus came into this world and He offered to start where everyone else wanted to finish. Jesus said, 'If anyone comes to me, they are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.' Someone came to Jesus at one point and said, 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?' and Jesus said, 'You must be born again.' Literally, your very being must be taken and changed. You must be born anew a second time.

Have you ever thought about that?

The reason Jesus Christ is unique is He is offering to do something that no one else has ever even thought about."

-- Michael Ramsden, RZIM Itinerate Team Member

Who am I?
By Michael Ramsden

• Part 3 of 3
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I've tried to change... numerous times in my life. I've been unhappy with who I am, how I act, how I look, and how I feel. I've tried to change who I am, how I act, how I look, and how I feel, but never with much success. Most of the time, I found that I was unsuccessful because I was doing these things with the wrong motives. Out of pride and jealousy, I've tried to lose weight. Out of shame and embarassment, I've tried to change how I act. Out of fear and frustration, I've tried to change how I feel. But, I can honestly say that the changes were never permanent. I made changes outwardly, but they never seemed to change me inwardly.

I've known Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior since I was a young child. But...... I'm just starting to realize that I can't really change without God. I tell you the truth - God is helping me change how I act, God is helping me change how I look (because I really need to lose weight, I'm a big guy), and God is helping me change how I feel. He's changing who I am, for His glory. Before I submitted to God and humbled myself and asked Him to help me change... I was trying to change for my own glory. Really, I was. I was concerned about my reputation.

Things are different now. I'm trying to trust and obey the Lord and change for Him, not for me. As Christians, we are constantly in a state of regeneration, not degeneration (as a close friend kindly reminded me of recently). That's good to know, because sometimes I get down on myself and I can't figure out why I'm not better than I am when the One who indwells me is perfect. I must remember that I am free from the bondage of sin, but I still have a sin nature. Becoming a Christian doesn't make you perfect, but it gives you a relationship with God, who is perfect.

Do you have a relationship with God? Have you been set free from the bondage of sin and death? Have you been reborn and given new life?

Romans 8:1-8(NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.