Who You Really Are

* My old self is dead -
Rom 6,2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died tm,mo sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Gal 2,20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
> CHRISTOPH IS DEAD
* We are completely forgiven, perfected for all time, and hence completely reconciled to God -
1.Cor 1,2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
2.Cor 5,17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Gal 2,16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Eph 1,4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Eph 1,7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Eph 2,13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 4,32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Col 2,13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Heb 10,14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
> CHRISTOPH IS MADE PERFECT AND HOLY FOREVER
* we are completely made new and given Christ's eternal resurrected life
2. Cor 5,17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Eph 2,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2,10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Col 2,13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
Col 3,1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1. Peter 1,3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
> CHRISTOPH IS NEW
* We are indwelled with the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God Almighty
2. Cor 13,5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Gal 2,20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Eph 3,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Col 1,27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
/ We are those made into a temple of God
1. Cor 6,19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
>  NOW - IN CHRISTOPH IS GOD
* We are redeemed and set free from the curse of the law
Gal 3,13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Gal 5,1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Col 2,13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
> CHRISTOPH IS FREE TO SAY "NO" TO ANY KIND OF SIN AND "YES" TO EVERY THING GOD IS AND WANTS TO DO!
* We are seated "in heavenly places" and made partakers of the eternal inheritance Christ purchased for us
Eph 1,3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
Eph 2,6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Eph 3,6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
> CHRISTOPH IS IN HEAVEN ...?
* We are hidden in Christ and united in Christ
Rom 6,5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
1. Cor 6,17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Col 3,3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
as such we are made participants in the eternal love that flows within the Triune Godhead
John 17,20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
2 Peter 1,4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
> CHRISTOPH IS HIDDEN IN CHRIST
*God the father completely redefines our state of being. Whereas once we were in Adam and 'by nature children of wrath'
Eph 2,3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. cf.
1.Cor 15,22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Rom 5,15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
(*)Now we are in Christ and are the recipients of the very same eternal, perfect love he has for his Son John 17,23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
> CHRISTOPH IS RIGHTEOUS
*The Father has chosen us and made us "holy and blameless before him in love." He loves us and lavishes on us "his glorious grace" as he relates to us as we are "in the Beloved," Jesus Christ Eph 1,3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
This means that the relationship God has with us now is defined by the eternal, unsurpassable, loving relationship he has with his own eternal Son!
> CHRISTOPHS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS AS GOD's RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
:::
This is is who we truly are when we place our trust in Christ.
This is what is true - this is what God says.
By placing us in Christ's death to sin
- THE FATHER MAKES US DEAD TO SIN.
By placing us in Christ's life
- THE FATHER MAKES US ALIVE.
By placing us in Christ's holiness
- THE FATHER MAKES US PERFECTLY HOLY.
By placing us in Christ's loveliness
- THA FATHER MAKES US LOVELY.
T h e   a l m i g h t y   G o d   s a y s   s o!

There is simply nothing anyone can do
TO IMPROVE
what GOD has already done for us in placing us in Christ Jesus.

When GOD saved us, he established us in Christ Jesus as being every thing he eternally wants us to be.
T H I S   I S   W H A T   I S   T R U E   A B O U T   U S.

This is our true identity as we later will see: All genuine spiritual growth comes from the Holy Spirit making our true identity real to us and overcoming the self-identity we inherited from the pattern of the world.

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"Being" and "Acting" in other New Testament Passages


Col 3,2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
> Set my mind on things abouve - HOW? i am not used to do that effectively
> I need to die every day - Jesus:Luk9,23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
> How can i hide beter behind Jesus?
> Put to death - KILL - BE ACTIVE! FIGHT!
Clear command what I ought to do.
Paul tells us to do these things on the basis of the fact that our old selves have ALREADY DIED with Christ.
We are raised already with Christ.
My life is hidden in Christ.
> I can see this - but what now?  HELP ME OUT!
Col 3,12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
> Certain close i would never buy or wear. I would just not feel comfortable. How do i feel wearing Jesus? Would i feel comfortable in him. Would I?
How is he? How is it to wear him - if i have no idea, how he was?
Many times i am not wearing Jesus, when i am friendly. I am wearing the friendly, nice world. This is because i have no idea about how Jesus is! I NEED TO KNOW JESUS MORE!
What we ought to do is based on what we already are.
Clothing us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience does not make us Children of GOD. We are Children of GOD - THEREFOR!
>  T h i s    i s   t h e   c l o s e s   o f   J e s u s :
COMPASSION
KINDNESS
HUMILITY
GENTLENESS
PATIENCE
To be GOD's chosen people is the foundation and motivation for clothing our selves in this!
> I have to admit, that it does not motivate me to be a child of God.
I am inspired by the Rolling Stones music: I have to admit! Crazy. I want to read books - why ? to experience some thing! GOD! What is going on? What is motivating me? What am i looking for? GOD - of corse. Nothing else. I just trie to find him in every thing all the time. 
IF I JUST COULD EXPERIENCE GOD!
my in CHRIST BEING, LIVING, EXISTING MUST DETERMINE HOW WE THINK AND ACT.
> I realize i am in God. SO. I change - i become different!
We are in CHRIST<>We should therefore see ourselves in CHRIST
We should act consistent with our identity in Christ.
> I have not much experience in thinking like this!
1.Cor 6,19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
> I AM NOT MY OWN. I AM BOUGHT BY A UNTHINKABLE PRICE!
John  commanded us to purify ourselves and act as children of GOD.
1.John 3,1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
> MY FATHER IS GOD! Hey, what do you want! Are you talking to me? ... :-) 

Hebr 13,11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
> LET ME, THEN, GO TO HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP, BEARING THE DISGRACE HE BORE.
I can't say, that i understand this.
The Commands of scripture are not given to motivate to try harder to become something they aren't already. > The command is not to motivet me. Motivation for me should be who i am, what God did for me ...
Rather - the commands of Scripture flow naturally from the proclamations of Scripture about the believer's true identity. > My identity! SON OF GOD
What we are to become in our behavior is rooted in who we already are in Christ.
The goal of the Christian life is simply to display in our lives the truth of who we truly are.
> Who i am - NOW -Just show it to the world : And God will be visible!
Our identity in Christ
The try harder solution confuses the effect with the cause. > TRY HARDER ... I see, it is bad. Better is experience, see, feel, look for, - HIM, IN HIM, THROU HIM!
It implicitly assumes, that what the believers does determines who the believers is.<>rather Vis versa
> WHO AM I  - SON OF GOD!
I HAVE A NEW IDENTITY - this makes me life different! - How? Like Jesus
> WHO AM I - SON OF GOD!
I AM - therefore i do
> WHO AM I - SON OF GOD - THEREFOR I LIFE LIKE THE SON OF GOD

The fundamental problem is that they do not see and experience them selves as they truly are.
Rom 6,11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The problem is, that the identity i experience is not in line with the true identity i have in CHRIST > Yes - i often life like a demon-possessed person.
i am defined by the identity of the WORLD*: Rom12,2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
* the multitude of mentally played tapes that come from their upbringing, culture, past experience, and own conclusions.
> Renew my mind
> Test God
> Approve God's will
GOOD
PLEASING
PERFECT
Who You Really Are > More tomorrow about this
Jesus is not just saving he gives me a completely new identity. > Who am i? God's Son
I became some one i was not before.
The father does nothing less than place the believer in CHRIST JESUS. > I am in Christ. I am surrounded by Christ. People don't see me. They see CHRIST. This is reality. SO start living like HIM!
Rom8,1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, > For me.
1.Cor1,30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2.Cor5,17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Gal3,28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Eph1,3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

What happens to me, when the Father places me in CHRIST:
* The old selfe is crucified. It is dead: Rom6,2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,1 that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Gal2,20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Joh 15,5

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing.

CHAPTER1

"Being" and "Acting"

Bible exhort Christians to be
loving
Matt5,44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
John15,12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Gal5,13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh1; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
joyful
Rom12,12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
1.Thes5,16 Rejoice always,
peaceful
2.Tim2,22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1.Peter3,11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
patient
Eph4,2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
James5,7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
EXHORT - IT CERTAINLY DOES!

> Am i really looking for answers about HOW I CAN GROW AND CHANGE. Answers from the Bible not from some one who writes a book? At the time i am just reading a book. - AGAIN -
> How to seek the answer in the Bibel(not in a book)?
Questions:
Adam - Saw God! Out of Paradise - i guess he was the most normal person ever walked the planet
Eva - Saw God! OUt of Paradis - i guess she was the most normal person ever walked the planet
Kain - Killer - how in the world did he collect so much anger?
Abel - Seems to be perfect - how in the world did he remain such a noble person?
Henoch - stated to walk with God - why, how?
Noah - Did he ever change as a Man? What can i see in the Bible about him?
Did Abraham change? Could i see this?
I have the feeling - i will not find much!
...
Psalms
Proverbs
...
The Prophets - did they change? 

Are we exhorted to become like this attributes, because we are not now or are we exhorted to manifest these attributes because of who and what we already are ?
> Why manifest something what i am - if i am IT, it shows automatically - ...

The "try harder" solution assumes these commands are given to motivate us to become something we aren't presently. > i can see that 
I lack love, so i'm told to try harder to be more loving. I lack joy, so i'm told to try harder to be more joyful. This it is assumed, will help make me a more loving and more joyful person. > i understand this. Yes i admit - i often thought, it is working exactly like this. JUST DO IT - you will become it.

The assumption of the book: A person can not simply will to be joyful or loving. > i would need a scripture for that! ::: Joh 5,19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.Joh 5,30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.Joh 15,5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.|
Exhortations in the New Testament are not given on the basis of what we ar not but on the basis of what we already are in Christ Jesus. > Still: If we are that already: Why exhort anyone who is it already? I don't get it! They are given not to motivate the believer to acquire something new but to express something that is already true. > I think this is a stupid sentence! ... Or what else?
In other words, what the believer is called to do is based on who the believer already is. > Yes - and now? It is crucial to our growth in Christ that we understand this clearly.  > So if we are 'love' already: WHY GROW?

"Being" and "Acting" in Romans 6
What the Beliver is called to do is based on what the believer already is:
Rom6.1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

I like vers 11 - it makes sense to me:
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

Rom3,5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just! -...- 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Rom6,15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
Gal2,13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
N o t   t h a t   w e    i n  c r e a s e   S i n   t o   s h o w   G o d ' s   g l o r y !

They already had died to sin
He reminded them on their baptism
He reminded them, that their old selves had been crucified - therefore freed from sin
He reminded them, that they should think of them as being in Christ
CHRIST IS FOREVER DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD
They too should consider themselves to be dead to sin but alive to God
THIS IS WHAT I TRULY AM.

dead to sin

CHAPTER 1
the futility of the "try harder" solution

Christian duty
Rejoice always - so - Stopp being depressed
Trust God - Stopp worrying
Patients - Grit your teeth and bear it
Self-control - More respect for your self and your Christian witness
> I often or only thought like this till now / I could even write down a scripture to each of this claims
You need to / You've got to / You're suposed to / You better
WILLPOWER - HARD WORK
I can become more Christlike just through trying harder
The problem in my life is behavior
....................................................<.........................................................

The inadequacy of the "TRY HARDER" Solution

It's simple: Just let people know what they are supposed to do and motivate them to do it.
Using the right motivation, many people will respons by changing their behavior - at least short term
> Yeah - the last few month basically was for me thinking about how to motivate. But if this books shows a other way then just becoming a great motivator it will be incredible. I thought: ALL I HAVE TO BE IS THE BEST MOTIVATOR! Blessed the church with the best motivator! This is what i basically thought and still think. I HAVE NO REAL GOOD SOLUTION.. .. .. 
You Can't Simply Will Yourself into Spiritual Fruit
choices we make > important
will we exert > important
> Yes - all this scripture about character Rom5,3 Not only so, but we3 also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ////////// 2.Petrus1,5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
BUT - IT IS NAIVE AND UNBIBLCAL ::: if we think that our effort is the primary way we bring about fundamental change in our live
> I thought and still think it is my effort primary if i change in a fundamental way : because of scripture about 'ALL MY HEART' / Rom5/2.Petr1/Noah/Herb5,7+8/>>I have to say: Don't know any other - not much to prove what i believed till now!
willpower plays a role in overcoming behavioral problems
willpower cannot itself change fundamental aspects of a person's character. FOR EXAMPLE:
willpower alone cannot make an unloving person into a loving person or a depressed person into a joyful person. > This sounds convincing to me (I miss Bible-scripture here)

When it comes to fundamental aspects of a person's character, exhortations to try harder often resultes in the person pretending to be one way when that is not the case. > Pretending into believing that i am till i am! Like the TED-Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html
or like i was reading in Nadal's book: 

Rafa. Mein Weg an die Spitze

Rafael Nadal (Autor), John Carlin (Autor) 

> i would say - Nadal was forced into the image of a winner. He saw it in his oncles. He was beaten into it by his trainer and Oncle Toni. The same with Andre Agassi. Tyler Hamilton. This books i was reading. i was fascinated by the WILLPOWER of this people!

A person can try hard to ACT loving/joyful
A person cannot actually BECOME loving/joyful ::: simply by trying to be so
> OK I HEAR YOU - I AM NOT SURE - SCRIPTURE PLEASE!!!! 
What should i do now? If Shawn Wooten would not give me the book and say, IT IS AWESOME, by now, i would through it away....
TRYING HARD CANNOT PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! > the TED-Talk would say now - i guess.
We cannot will our self in to: loving/joyful/peaceful/patient/kind/generous/faithful/gentle/self-control
The fruit of the spirit is not first and foremost about how we act : it is about how we are
Not about our behavior - it is about our heart/soul/innermost disposition/Veranlagung > OK - MAYBE - I wish their is a more easy way. A RESTING WAY.... 
fruit of the spirit is not about our strive by our own effort

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - NOT FUIT OF OUR OWN EFFORT
> Yes right - !
Yielding to the Spirit
SO
how to grow the fruit of the Spirit?
WE CAN'T :-)
The Spirit grows the fruit of the Spirit

How does the Spirit grow the Fruit of the Spirit in us?
When we are with GOD / rested in HIM /< learning how to rest in him > Sounds nice - almost too nice to be true!
A L L O W   T H E   S P I R I T   T O   T R A N S F O R M   U S   B Y   H I S   G R A C E
As we rest in: LOVE/JOY/PEACE/PATIENCE/ the HOLY SPIRIT makes all of this real to us, we become more Christlike, more loving, joyful, peaceful and patient.
> This sounds interesting
As we behold the glory of God in the face  of Jesus Christ, we are transformed into his glory:
2.Cor3,17 Der Herr ist der Geist; wo aber der Geist des Herrn ist, da ist Freiheit. 18 Nun aber schauen wir alle mit aufgedecktem Angesicht die Herrlichkeit des Herrn wie in einem Spiegel, und wir werden verklärt in sein Bild von einer Herrlichkeit zur andern von dem Herrn, der der Geist ist.
2.Cor4,1 Darum, weil wir dieses Amt haben nach der Barmherzigkeit, die uns widerfahren ist, werden wir nicht müde, 2 sondern wir meiden schändliche Heimlichkeit und gehen nicht mit List um, fälschen auch nicht Gottes Wort, sondern durch Offenbarung der Wahrheit empfehlen wir uns dem Gewissen aller Menschen vor Gott. 3 Ist nun aber unser Evangelium verdeckt, so ist's denen verdeckt, die verloren werden, 4 den Ungläubigen, denen der Gott dieser Welt den Sinn verblendet hat, dass sie nicht sehen das helle Licht des Evangeliums von der Herrlichkeit Christi, welcher ist das Ebenbild Gottes. 5 Denn wir predigen nicht uns selbst, sondern Jesus Christus, dass er der Herr ist, wir aber eure Knechte um Jesu willen. 6 Denn Gott, der sprach: Licht soll aus der Finsternis hervorleuchten, der hat einen hellen Schein in unsre Herzen gegeben, dass durch uns entstünde die Erleuchtung zur Erkenntnis der Herrlichkeit Gottes in dem Angesicht Jesu Christi.

BEHOLDING more in part2 - involves the Holy SPirit to inspire our imaginations.
> I AM NOT SUE NOW
GOD PLEASE HELP ME TO FIND THE WAY!
JESUS IS THE WAY
IT IS NOT VISIBLE IN JESUS HOW HE CHANGED
HOW HE GREW
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN I CHANGE DEEPLY
EVERYBODY IS TEACHING THIS!

GOD HELP ME TO FIND THE WAY!

Again - i tried them

i know: he should not smoke

But they are awesome.

i am a Fan now

Today i experienced GOD like this:

Experience GOD
HOW? - Ha: it is a book: 

Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Leader Guide UPDATED [Paperback]

Henry Blackaby (Author), Richard Blackaby (Author), Claude King (Author)

4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (167 customer reviews)

It is a blog: http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Have-Experienced-God/70038

It is on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/santhivardhankothapalli

The Web-Page: http://www.experiencegod.com/

Or: CHURCH

Francis Chan challenges people to experience God through making disciples

Francis Chan, best-selling author of Crazy Love and Erasing Hell, founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Calif., and founder of Eternity Bible College, spoke to the 60,000+ attendees at the Passion 2013 Conference this past week with a message focused on the importance of making disciples and the reality that God is always faithful and trustworthy even when people are not.(...)

Or this here: 25 Ways to Experience God Return to Home

1. With a friend, visit three churches where Christians worship in very different ways. Talk about the experience: How was God honored? How did He speak to you?

2. Arrive at church 10 minutes early. Spend time praying that God’s presence will be felt throughout the service.

3. Take a walk alone in nature, and sing or pray aloud to God.

4. Read a novel written by a Christian (such as C. S. Lewis’ science-fiction trilogy or Narnia series). Talk with a friend about how you saw God revealed in the book.

5. Visit an art museum and study several paintings with biblical themes. What do they suggest about the nature of God? What insights do they provide?

6. Listen to Scripture being read on tape or CD. Close your eyes and allow your mind to picture what you’re hearing.

7. Visit a church that has traditional stained-glass windows. Identify the pictures and symbols they contain. What aspects of God’s works and character are revealed?

8. As you study a portion of Scripture, draw with symbols, words, and doodles what the passage is saying to you about God.

9. Play "I Spy" throughout you day by watching for God’s presence in the ordinary things that happen to you: a kind word, protection on an icy road, the first gold leaf of fall. Each evening, share with your family or a friend (or record in your journal) where you saw God at work that day.

10. Praise God by writing an acrostic around one of His names. In an acrostic, the first letter of a word starts the first sentence; the second letter, the second sentence; and so on. For example:

Great and wonderful You are.

Oh, how my heart praises You.

Dear Savior, You are worthy of all my love.

11. Write your own words to go with the the tune of a familiar hymn or worship song. Sing your message to God.

12. Memorize a Christian poem, such as "On His Blindness" by John Milton.

13. Take a vacation with God, a one-day retreat where you get away from life-as-usual to be totally alone with your Savior.

14. Kneel or lie prostrate before God when you pray.

15. Read a story from a picture Bible with an elementary-age child.

16. As you read your Bible, make note of similes that liken things in nature to the attributes of God. For example, the fury of the hurricane is like God’s anger; the gentle rain is like God’s mercy. Keep a running list of these in your journal, or turn them into a Bible bookmark.

17. Create a shelf that contains mementos of God’s blessings to you.

18. Write an imaginary letter to someone who has never heard about God, and describe Him to that person. Or record what you would say on tape.

19. Take five minutes to list all the adjectives you can think of that describe God. Then thank God for each word.

20. Draw a cross. On the cross write every sin you can remember committing, especially those for which you can’t forgive yourself. Write, "Nailed to the Cross" over your words as a visual reminder that God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you completely.

21. Pick a theme to study throughout a book of the Bible, such as the love of God. With a colored pencil, underline portions contributing to that theme.

22. Each day for a week, reflect on how your day would have been different if you were not a Christian. Don’t allow yourself to become blasé about the difference Christ makes.

23. Imagine yourself sitting on God’s lap. How do you feel? What do you tell Him? What might He say to you?

24. For your five favorite hymns or worship songs, find Bible passages on which they were based or that affirm the truth of the songs’ messages.

25. Sit in the back of a children’s church service, and listen to how those children respond to God.

......

What would i say - how to experience?

Don't know now!

IMAGINATIVE PRAYER

Is commitment making the passion for prayer? > NO ... not really
Nina:"Stell Dir vor, es klingelt an der Haustür - wir öffnen und Gott ist schon hier. Obwohl er geklingelt hat ...."

It is about what i experience in prayer / REAL THINGS! / important meaningful rewarding
When did i experience last time some thing in prayer?
When did i cry last time in prayer because i said - Sorry GOD or THANK YOU GOD?
When did i imagined GOD last time while i prayed?
When did i really spoke last time something to GOD? - What do i really want from GOD?
What else could i ask?
What are my answers?
What will i experience in prayer today?

Is prayer a obligation for me?
Is prayer fake to me - not real?
Do i know how to experience the things of God as real in prayer?
HOW DO PRAYER_PEOPLE EXPERIENCE PRAYER IN THIS POWERFUL 'REAL' FASHION?

Lets try today!
For what would i need to cry out to GOD today? Is their some thing i'm desperate - i feel poor, i feel hungry and thirsty about, i'm mourning about, ...
I guess, if i would see and feel one of this beatitudes i would pray so differently

Passion in prayer - use the imagination while you pray
*******************************************

EXPERIENCING SPIRITUAL TRUTH AS REAL

Experience truth? : I am the temple of the holy spirit. Do i feel that? > HOW? - never thought about to experience this!
Imagination is important to experience the spiritual truth.

Imagination is not just for thous who want to flee from reality

Bible and Church-History - full with people who experience GOD through imagination
2.Cor3,(...)
14 But their minds were made dull/14 Aber ihr Sinn ist verstockt worden, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory/18 Wir alle aber schauen mit aufgedecktem Angesicht die Herrlichkeit des Herrn an, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
14 Aber ihr Sinn ist verstockt worden, denn bis auf den heutigen Tag bleibt dieselbe Decke auf der Verlesung des Alten Testaments und wird nicht aufgedeckt, weil sie nur in Christus beseitigt wird. 15 Aber bis heute, sooft Mose gelesen wird, liegt eine Decke auf ihrem Herzen. 16 Dann aber, wenn es sich zum Herrn wendet, wird die Decke weggenommen. 17 Der Herr aber ist der Geist; wo aber der Geist des Herrn ist, ist Freiheit. 18 Wir alle aber schauen mit aufgedecktem Angesicht die Herrlichkeit des Herrn an und werden so verwandelt in dasselbe Bild von Herrlichkeit zu Herrlichkeit, wie es vom Herrn, dem Geist, geschieht.
betrachten - SEE GOD - schauen

erwägen - ? - schauen

nachdenken - I OFTEN DO THAT - schauen

in Erwägung ziehen - MANY TIMES - schauen

voraussetzen - I GUESS THIS I BELIEVING AND THIS I NEED TO LEARN - schauen

an etwas denken - I THINK ABOUT GOD OFTEN BUT THE THINKING IS WITHOUT EFFECT OF MY LIFE. IT IS LIKE I WOULD COUNT. 

- schauen
2.Cor4,
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God/sondern durch die Offenbarung der Wahrheit empfehlen wir uns jedem Gewissen der Menschen vor Gott. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.(...)
1 Darum, da wir diesen Dienst haben, weil wir ja Erbarmen gefunden haben, ermatten wir nicht; 2 sondern wir haben den geheimen Dingen, deren man sich schämen muss, entsagt und wandeln nicht in Arglist, noch verfälschen wir das Wort Gottes, sondern durch die Offenbarung der Wahrheit empfehlen wir uns jedem Gewissen der Menschen vor Gott. 3 Wenn aber unser Evangelium doch verdeckt ist, so ist es nur bei denen verdeckt, die verloren gehen, 4 den Ungläubigen, bei denen der Gott dieser Welt den Sinn verblendet hat, damit sie den Lichtglanz des Evangeliums von der Herrlichkeit des Christus, der Gottes Bild ist, nicht sehen. 5 Denn wir predigen nicht uns selbst, sondern Christus Jesus als Herrn, uns aber als eure Sklaven um Jesu willen. 6 Denn Gott, der gesagt hat: "Aus Finsternis wird Licht leuchten!", er ist es, der in unseren Herzen aufgeleuchtet ist zum Lichtglanz der Erkenntnis der Herrlichkeit Gottes im Angesicht Jesu Christi.
Offenbarung
sehen
aufgeleuchtet

Rest rather then work harder
Experience Jesus as real
***********************

OUTLINE OF THIS BOOK

1. Why is resting in Christ healthy

2. Why imagination is central to grow

3. Case studies

TO EXPERIENCE, TO SEE, TO BE ENLIGHTENED - not just know.