In one word, who are you?
If you are a follower of God, who are you in Christ? Can you identify yourself in Christ?
It was shared that nowadays Christians are experiencing Identity Crisis. Some Christians are even using paraphrases from the bible passages and do the exact opposite. Your identity with Christ starts with acknowledging that you are made in His image and likeness; that you are made to love God and other people and not just yourself. It is also fitting for us to understand and accept that we are made to worship Him because He is all worthy of worship. Loving God and others is the most liberating of all freedoms. Why do we love ourselves more than God and others?
Because we overestimate our own righteousness and underestimate God’s holiness.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians? ?1:3-8? ?NLT??
In Christ, I am… Chosen for God’s Holy Purpose
He “chose” us. He works in different ways. He chose to save us because of love. He sees us spotless and untainted even if we continue to fall short of His Glory.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24-26
The pattern of the cross means that your old life is gone.
In Christ, I am… Adopted as God’s Own Child
Adoption is what a loving Father does. He adopted us through Jesus Christ for Himself.
I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly, I will praise you. Psalm 22:22
Don’t define yourself through possessions; if you are adopted by God, you will inherit everything. Do not be consumed by earthly things because through Christ, we already have more.
In Christ, I am… Favored by God’s Grace
We have the greatest approval in heavens and earth and that is being favored by God.
We do not deserve the approval of God – the Grace of God. But He gave us everything freely.
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 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. Galatians 2:19-20
We do not have a renewed life in Christ but we have a NEW life in Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!””Galatians 2:21
So if there’s one word I can give who I am in Christ, I am… Loved.
How about you?
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