Who We Are and What We Have—In Christ

Sometimes we forget who we are. And forgetting can have sad, even devastating consequences.

When I realized who I am and what I have in Christ, it revolutionized my thinking. And the more I focus on these truths, the more freedom, peace and courage I have in my life and ministry.

There are three things I discovered in my study. In Christ, I have a new identity, absolute security, and God-given dignity.

Let me unpack those for you here:

I. In Christ, you have a New IDENTITY

• You are a new creature, born of God – 2 Corinthians 5:17; I John 4:7
• You are ALIVE! You have eternal life – Ephesians 2:5; John 5:24
• You are also dead to sin's power—crucified with Christ – Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 2:20
• You are washed and sanctified (made holy) through the sacrifice of Jesus – I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10, 13-14
• You are justified (made righteous) – Romans 5:1
• You are reconciled to God – Romans 5:10-11; Colossians 1:22
• You are redeemed and forgiven – Colossians 1:13-14
• You are accepted and blessed in the Beloved – Romans 15:7; Ephesians 1:6
• You belong to God – I Corinthians 6:19-20
• You are His adopted, chosen child – Ephesians 1:3-8; I John 3:1-2
• You become a part of God’s family, a member of His household – John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:19
• You become a member of Christ’s body – I Corinthians 12:27
• You are one with Christ (in spirit) – I Corinthians 6:17
• You are complete in all the fullness of Christ - Colossians 2:9-10
• You are a child of light, not darkness - I Thessalonians 5:4-5
• You have a new mind—a new way of thinking – I Corinthians 2:16
• You are Jesus’ friend - John 15:15

II. In Christ, you have Absolute SECURITY

• You are indwelt and sealed for God’s purposes – I Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• You cannot be separated from the love of God – Romans 8:31-39
• You are connected to the True Vine – John 15:5
• You are safe from the Evil One, rescued from Satan’s domain – I John 5:18; Colossians 1:13
• You are prounced free from condemnation and accusation because Jesus paid it all—your penalty for sin – Romans 8:1-2; Colossians 1:22
• Your new self is hidden securely from the world, but settled in Him – Colossians 3:1-4
• You have new courage—you do not need to fear, because you’ve been given a spirit of power, love, and sound thinking – 2 Timothy 1:7
• You are being transformed—be assured that God is working on your behalf, making you more like Jesus – Romans 8:29
• You can be confident that God will finish what He’s started - Philippians 1:6

III. In Christ, you have God-given DIGNITY

• You are a unique workmanship with a special purpose and God-ordained tasks – Ephesians 2:10
• You are appointed to do “the works of Christ” and bear fruit – John 14:12; 15:16
• You are “seated in the heavenlies” and have a heavenly calling – Hebrews 3:1
• You are a disciple with a mission – Matthew 28:19-20
• You are a citizen of heaven – Philippians 3:20
• You are an heir of God (a joint heir with Christ) – Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7
• You are a child of the King—and a royal, set-apart priest to serve the Father – 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10; Rev. 1:5-6
• You will share an inheritance with the other saints in God’s “kingdom of light” – Colossians 1:10-12
• You are God’s holy “temple,” indwelt by His Spirit – I Corinthians 3:16
• You are a Minister of the New Covenant and of Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 3:6; 5:17-21
• You are an ambassador – 2 Corinthians 5:20
• You are empowered to be effective and victorious – Philippians 4:13
• You are salt and light to reach the world; a light shining in a dark place – Matthew 5:13-14; 2 Peter 1:19
• You are blessed with every spiritual blessing – Ephesians 1:3
• You are a child of promise, receiving the promised Spirit through faith and receiving a new nature – Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:14; 2 Peter 1:4

I encourage you to study each point, and rejoice in who you are and what you have in Christ.

Which of these categories of who you are and what you have in Christ speaks to you today? How will you allow it to change or encourage you?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God (with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for Revive Our Hearts and a writer at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in Southern California and have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Lightstock.