Our Identity in Christ
August 19, 2020
The Bible records how, when Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Think about those words for a minute. Jesus hadn’t yet started his ministry. He hadn’t yet preached a sermon. He hadn’t healed a sick person. And yet, the Father said that he was “well pleased” with Jesus. Before Jesus had done anything, he had his Father’s acceptance and approval. Out of that security and identity, he then went out and began his ministry.
We often have just the opposite approach. We think that we need to go out and do something for God to gain approval or acceptance or significance from God. But that simply isn’t true. In Christ, we are accepted, secure, and approved by God. Out of that identity, we then can go out, in God’s strength and by His Spirit, to do things for God. But, it is not the doing that gives us approval. It is not the performing that makes us accepted. It is Christ’s death on the cross and faith in him that makes us accepted before God.
Some years ago, someone sent me a wonderful list of statements about who we are in Christ. May these statements resonate in your head and heart. Perhaps there is one or two statements about your identity in Christ that you need to especially hear today. If you are in Christ, brothers and sisters, you are accepted, secure, and significant.
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are!?
Perhaps, after reading these statements, you are wondering if you are in Christ altogether. Scripture says that only those who have the Spirit of Christ belong to Christ (Romans 8:9). And the way to receive the Holy Spirit and become a Christian is by trusting Christ to save you from your sins. Listen to how the Bible describes that: Ephesians 1:13 says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” Believing in Christ for salvation is the prerequisite to receiving his Spirit and entering into a new identity in Christ.
