Identity in Christ – Pt 2
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We continue to look at who we are and how we are accepted by God in Christ. We are His children, adopted, redeemed, restored and forgiven, and we are complete and whole in Him! That alone is enough but there is much more.
You are all of the above because He chose to pay the price and give His Life for you (and me and all who believe) …there is no greater value that could ever be placed on you! You have been bought with the highest of prices… the blood of the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)!
How are you responding to the reality that Christ considered you so valuable that He would give Himself in your place so you could be His…bought with His sacrifice? What are you doing with your body, mind, soul and spirit that honors Him and lets Him know that you understand that you are accepted…valued and esteemed…above everything else in all of Creation.
You and me, all who believe in Him, are priceless…there is no other price that could, or needs to, be paid for He paid it all…just for you!
If you haven’t figured it out yet, trying to do it on your own and allow the world to dictate who you are by comparisons, ratings and rankings, never works. You will always come up short. Only in Christ and the price He paid will we find fulfillment as we belong to God.
You belong to God but He will not force the relationship. Love compels us, just as it did Him, if we will understand it according to His Word and Christ’s living it out for us, and by faith through grace receive His Gift and choose to belong to The King of kings and Lord of lords!
Do you recognize how valuable you are? I pray you do and if you don’t know or fully understand it contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.
Unfortunately we are all sinners apart from Christ (Romans 3:23). That’s not a good identity and as a matter of fact it is the one thing that causes us to seek our identity in any and everything but Him. This is fleeting and destructive…but we have a new and incredible identity in Christ and this is what we continue to unpack so you can know and love who you are in Him.
If you believe in Christ you have been bought with the precious invaluable blood of Jesus (no greater price could be paid for you or value placed on you) and you have been forgiven and redeemed.
In this state and with this identity, each of us in Christ, has been justified (Romans 3:24)…(“just if I’d”) never sinned. Your sin, guilt, shame and brokenness have been removed…they no longer identify who you are because your sins have been completely wiped away! Having been justified you are now at peace with God (Romans 5:1). This is your new identity and the only way you go back to your old identity is by choosing in your own free will to return to sin.
By faith through grace you can daily walk as never having sinned because Jesus has justified you before God and you’ve received the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)!
Why would you ever choose to continue in or go back to your old identity when Christ has made you totally new and taken away your sin – justified…again, “just if I’d” never sinned. What a great identity!
You can have this new identity in Christ and allow Him to change and make you over and carry that new identity into your relationships, marriages and families because of Christ in you.
When you come (or came) to know Christ you were forgiven of all your sins and given the gift of The Holy Spirit. Because Christ’s blood and sacrifice has made you Holy and whole, The Holy Spirit now dwells in You.
This means many things but for starters we simply want to recognize that by The Spirit we have direct access to our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 2:18). The Holy Spirit goes directly before us and intercedes for us right before God Himself (Romans 8:26-27).
This is who you are and because of your identity in Christ you have a direct line to God! Know who you are in Christ and by His Spirit take full advantage of your access to Almighty God in everything!
Do you know Him? Are you availing yourself of the access you have as a child of God indwelt by The Holy Spirit directly into God’s very presence? You can. That’s incredible!
As we continue with what God’s Truth says about the identity of those who are in Christ and how we are loved and accepted by Him, His Word tells us that as children of His, made right in Christ, that we are literally united with Our Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17)!
We are in a relationship with Him, we can stand completely unashamed in His Presence and His Holy Spirit dwells within us, that very same Spirit makes us one with Him. Our spirit unites with His Spirit. If that doesn’t help you recognize how much you mean to Him and your identity in Christ, what will it take?
The same grace and faith that saves you indwells you and strengthens your spirit by His Spirit. You can choose moment by moment in His grace by your faith to love and obey Him…and know that You are His, valued and treasured so much so that He has paid the price for you and united Himself with you. PTL!
This is not only essential to who you are in The Lord but also to who you are in His Body, The Church (Ephesians 4:2-6). He calls us and saves us to be One in Him and One together in Him… that’s how each of us and all of us as His Body shows the world His Truth in humility, patience, gentleness and Love!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Do you know Christ as Savior and Lord? Do you know that you are so highly esteemed that if He is your Savior and Lord that you are one with Him? You can. Why wouldn’t you?
Love and Lordship…Action Items –
- Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- Journal what you’ve learned about your identity in Christ in this post.
- Spend time in God’s Word and prayer and ask The Holy Spirit to show you what it means to be all that Christ has made you based on the His sacrifice and His promises in His Word.
Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com to find out more about how you can know God the Father, Christ His Son and The Holy Spirit.