Who I Am In Christ

In one of my recent messages at church, we covered my life verse, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).  In that message I suggested eight aspects to “grow up” in our life and was challenged by a dear one to do a blog on each, so that will be the next eight weeks. 

Because the Lord Jesus Christ is our standard, there are WAY more than eight aspects of our lives where we need to grow up and be like Him.  But I thought of eight, and hey, it is a start.  I about always write or preach in areas where I need to grow in my own life, and these are some of them.

The first aspect, though, is the one where all followers of Jesus Christ need to grow.  This is spiritual maturity; this is the mountain top.  This is the truth that calms the heart as the Lord Jesus calls “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  This aspect is, knowing who I am in Christ.

Let me preface this by saying that knowing this is a tall order.  Paul prayed for the Ephesians, after telling them all manner of what it means to be in Christ, that they would know this.  He prayed that they “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18,19).  It surpasses knowledge to know it all, but everything we learn is more precious.  I can’t cover all of it, but I do know some really great things that we need to know about what it means to be in Christ.

Because we are in Christ, everything is settled with God.  “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2).  There is no fear of something that has yet to be settled with God.  We have Jesus, we are at peace with God. 

Because we are in Christ, ALL of our sins have been forgiven.  We did not deserve it, nevertheless we have it.  We did not do it, He did it.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Our debt was paid in full with His shed blood.  ALL of our sins have been forgiven, yes, even that one (you know which one I am talking about).

Because we are in Christ, we are accepted by God, I think I like this one the most.  We are accepted because of Him, and not on our own merit.  And having come to faith in Him this is always true, there is no performance standard on our part that still remains to be accomplished.  We are “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:7).  But doesn’t God want us to do good things?  Sure He does, but it is because we are already accepted in the Beloved.  “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).  I serve Him, because He loves me.

Because we are in Christ, we will live forever.  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25).  It is never an issue again; we need not fear.  “Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). 

Because we are in Christ, He hears us and answers our prayers.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).  Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it”

(John 14:13,14). 

There are literally hundreds of scriptures that tell us all that it means to be in Christ.  These are just a few of them.  Jesus is our life.  “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live.  Yet not I, but Christ lives in me.  And the life I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Next week: To Know and Obey the Scripture