In Christ

Who are we in Christ (the anointed one. "Jesus")

Often when people are asked to tell who they are the say things like I am Doctor, I am a Pastor, I am a Bus driver etc. Today I want to say not that is not who you are that is what you do for an occupation.

If we do not get our thinking, right what will happen when we cease the occupation, well for most life begins to unravel as their whole existence and identity intrinsically is linked to an occupation or role they have carried out in society. When we come into the family of God everything changes, who we are is no longer based on what we do i.e. occupations or roles in society, but rather on what God has done through his son Jesus and what he has handed over too us.

It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Ephesians 1:1-13 MSG

"It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free--signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life."

What is our new position in Christ?

"A steak on the plate while you what not just a pie in the sky when you die"

In Christ, we have become more than a white knuckle brigade as some may think 

"A sinner whose sins are forgiven trying to hang on until Christ returns".

At the point of our salvation much more than our sins, forgiven happened Peter says that we have become "a partaker of the divine nature"

2 Peter. 1:3 - 4.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

In fact, we have changed residency.

Colossians 1

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Therefore, your salvation was much more than securing you eternal life, it has direct impact on life and living here whilst alive on this earth

Keys to life in Christ?

Your past put it where it belongs "Behind You"

Philippians 3: 13

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,...

"God is more interested in where we are going than where we have been".

Thank God daily that he has "QUALIFIED YOU"

Colossians 1

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

"Rejoice" even when going through Hard Times!

Romans 5: 4 - 5

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Philippians 4: 4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

1 Peter 1: 6 - 7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 4: 13

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Use the God given gifts to edify and build one another up.

1 Timothy 4:14-16

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

What God has given you is for a purpose, and is to engage for his glory and the benefit of the whole body of Christ, they are not to hide away stored or hoarded just for your exclusive use.

Hate evil, cling to what is good

Romans 12: 9 - 10

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

It would appear to be stating the obvious but be careful the Devil will work hard at changing your values and measures of good and evil, today wrong acts called right and right acts called wrong. If you are swimming against the morale tide more than likely, you are going the ways of God.

To live the victorious Christian life it is vital that you have a clear understanding of your identity in Jesus Christ

What is the biblical basis for establishing our self-worth?

Fact:God created me in His image

Genesis. 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

No one else is like you in fact you are a one off a unique person whom God has unique plans for you. So go easy on your self and trust what God has said about you he created you and he said, "It is good; very good".

Remember God is Not Liar. (Genesis 1: 31).

Fact: God loves me.

How could we ever doubt this in fact when we read an account in that tells us why we should never doubt Gods love

Isaiah 49: 14 - 16

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.""Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

The prophet points to Jesus and the nail pierced hands as bring the constant reminder to God our Heavenly Father. Remember we are adopted and have been made Gods children and have been given are the rights belonging to children of the father, we are heirs and have an inheritance, why? Because we truly belong to God and he is our Father.

Fact: God has a specific plan for us

Jeremiah 29: 11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 139: 16

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

So we are designed, not an accident or some random chance event of life and living, we are not mistake, whether our parents planned our conception or not, God was in the point of your conception here on earth So we are of DESIGN PURPOSE and God has specific PLANS for each of our lives. You are important to God and the world you dwell.

Fact: You have a price on your head.

1 Corinthians 6: 20

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

The bible uses the word "redemption". It means to buy back, Satan had ownership of us and sin had control of us and we where in debt to God for our sins, the debt was well beyond our ability to pay and we did not have anything of sufficient wealth to even barter with before the creator of heaven and earth.

So he decided because of His love towards us to pay the bill and "REDEEM the DEBT" the PRICE was set, the death of the SINLESS and GUILTLESS SON JESUS - being deemed a perfect Sacrifice, i.e. being of sufficient value to pay in full our debts to God.

Galatians 3: 13 - 14

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 tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

This payment was more than enough that it covered our debts owing and all our debts too come!

Ephesians 1: 7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Therefore, it would be unwise of us to deny such truth, as God paid a price well beyond our abilities, for us to enter into and enjoy the benefits of have such worth before him. A sober thought is we would be calling God a liar and could well be a refined form of blasphemy. (A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God)

Remember you can act with confidence because of who you are in Christ the anointed one Jesus, you do not have to prove anything just be who you are.

We have unrestricted access to the throne of heaven, in fact in the 10th chapters of Hebrews tells us to come boldly before the throne of God. Why because Jesus has dealt with our sin and we do not approach God Almighty based on our Righteousness, but what the Jesus the Lamb of God has done and the shed blood of the Son of God upon the eternal mercy seat before the throne of God. Ephesians: 2:18-19

We are a spirit living in a body, being reborn by the power of God and having a life that is not lived in the natural but lived in the supernatural, and as we belong to God, we have his protection. We are not open targets; for anyone or anything and least of all the devil and his minuends.  God provides us a safe place to dwell; it is under his wings and in the shadow of the almighty, the psalmist writes, whilst we dwell there, we remain safe. Psalm 91: 1 - 10

Thank God, we are not nor left to neither our own devises - nor are we left to fend for ourselves, God nurtures us, feeds us, and takes care of us. He extends to us His Mercy, His Grace & His Help in our times of need. Even when we are not faithful as his children He remains faithful as our Father in Heaven and never abandons us Hebrews: 4:16

Critical to our freedom in Christ is the free absolute reality that God does not condemn us, in fact it is clearly stated that the whole purpose of Jesus was to reconcile us back to God not separate and condemn us for our sins or failures to walk with God. We may find ourselves coming under conviction, which is a good thing because God has provided a way out of the dilemma of our inability to walk sinless before him.

All we have to do is; be willing to surrender too God acknowledge what He is saying is right and what we are or have done is wrong. Then ask Him to forgive us and wash us clean by the blood of Jesus and as the word says 1 john 1 vs. 9 - "He is sure and Just and SHALL FORGIVE US". Therefore, condemnation has no part in the life of the believer when we walk by faith in the Son of God... Romans: 8:1-2

WHO can be AGAINST US?

Not GOD he did not even hold back His Son to die for us. So never even, allow your thoughts to entertain the possibility God is against you, no matter what the circumstances are. Romans: 8:28-39

WHO will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?

Not God he sent His son to enable us to be justified before Him, Today we have the ability to life a life before God Just as Though I have never sinned, "Justified" In Gods eyes we are seen sinless, because he looks at us through the cross of Calvary and the finished work of Jesus his Son. Romans: 8:28-39

WHO is he that condemns?

Not God, the risen Son of Gods seated at the right hand of the Father is ever interceding for us. We today have an advocate; who sits at the right hand of God. (Jesus). He makes intercession; (representation), on our behalf. This has put a barrier between the accuser (the devil), and us. The only ear the devil can whisper in is yours so do not listen to him, when he brings your failures and sins before you just yes your right but I plead the blood of the son of God Jesus, the accuser will not have a leg to stand on. Romans: 8:28-39

WHO shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Not God, so will trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Well the writer of Romans says NO neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We can rest easily that we are secure in the Hands of Almighty God, shrouded and hedged about by Him for a secure safe walk here, now, and forever more. Romans: 8:28-39

If today your in a place of fear, uncertainty or insecurity, be sure of this one thing God is not the author, its source and power is not and does not have any connection with God. So do not embrace it dwell with it or entertain it, send it back marked "return to the sender", it is junk mail from the devil and do not belong in your house.