Today we looked at our identity as God’s people who are ‘in Christ Jesus’ (Col 1:2, 1 Pet 5:14, 1 Cor 1:2), This identity gives us a completely different identity to our lives before we knew Christ, as Eph 2:1-10 makes plain; the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of conversion is a significant factor in our lives which is worked out through our everyday living (see Eph 4:17, Col 3:11-12). Being in Christ means we are given a new wardrobe, a set of designer robes of righteousness to replace our filthy rags!
We looked at 8 blessings and benefits of being in Christ:
1. A Fresh Start
2. Reconciliation
3. Freedom from guilt, shame and condemnation
4. Hope
5. Peace
6. Access to all Godโs blessings
7. Access to all Godโs promises
8. Inclusion in Godโs family and a new sense of belonging
๐ ๐
๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ
We have the chance to make a fresh start through our relationship with Christ. We are now new creations (2 Cor 5:17) and not only have life, but eternal life. (Rom 6:23)
๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
2 Cor 5:21 tells us we are reconciled to God through Christ, having free access to the presence of God at all times now that the curtain in the temple has been torn in two.
๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ, ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Rom 8:1 reminds us that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Through forgiveness, we have been given freedom from the guilt of sin and can now count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Jesus. (Rom 6:11) We can walk tall and live without that nagging, haunting sense of condemnation.
๐๐จ๐ฉ๐
Rom 15:13 reminds us that the God of hope can fill us with joy and peace so that we overflow with hope, not living in despair any longer. We have hope even in troubles because we know that Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33) We may have to wait patiently at present, but we have the hope that God is faithful and will fulfil His promises.
๐๐๐๐๐
Rom 5:1 tells us that we have peace with God through Christ, and this spills over into peace with other people. We find that God’s peace can be given to us even in difficult situations; it is able to guard our hearts and our minds. (Phil 4:6-7) When worry is displaced by Jesus, we can know peace.
๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐’๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ
Eph 1:3-9 reminds us that we now have access to all God’s blessings, including being chosen, adopted, forgiven, redeemed and being lavished with God’s grace. The God who loves to bless can bless us!
๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐’๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
2 Cor 1:20 reminds us that all God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in Christ Jesus and so we have access to these great and precious promises. Our part is to speak the ‘Amen’ of faith as we wait for their fulfilment.
๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐
All of us need other people (Gen 2:18), and in Christ we are made members of God’s family and brought into the body of Christ. (Rom 12:5) The church is meant to be a place of fellowship, unity and belonging – God’s answer to the human need for belonging.
As we enter into our identity in Christ, we continue to live in Him and grow in spiritual maturity.
