There is a trend in Christianity, especially in Women’s Ministry, to focus on “who I am in Christ.” That is not a bad thing – in fact, the Father reminded Jesus that He was His Beloved Son just before he faced forty days in the wilderness and the temptations of the devil (Matt 3:17). But contemporary Christianity often puts the emphasis on the wrong end of that statement. Popular songs and best-selling studies (I can’t call them “Bible” studies) are heavy on “who I am” and very light on “in Christ.” Let’s be honest, self-focus sells.
The world alternately tells you that you are either entirely insignificant or the center of the universe. The culture wants you to find yourself in your appearance, popularity, stuff, or accomplishments. Pop psychology says you are whomever you tell yourself you are. If you’re like me, that’s up one day and down the next. For believers, it’s important to know the truth about ourselves from God’s perspective. The world cannot confuse us and the enemy cannot defeat us if we take God’s Word for who we are.
If you are in Christ, you are:
The salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mat 5:13-14).
His friend (John 15:15).
Justified (Rom 5:1), and reconciled to God (v. 10).
Dead to sin (Rom 6:2), and instruments of Righteousness (v. 13).
God’s children (Rom 8:15-16); set free from sin and enslaved to righteousness (v.18)
Members of Christ’s Body (Rom 12:5).
Enriched and equipped (1 Cor 1:5-7)
A new Creation (2 Cor 5:17) and Christ’s ambassadors (v. 20).
God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10).
Citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20).
Alive (Col 2:13).
Made perfect (Heb 10:2) . . .forever! (v. 14), Cleansed, no longer guilty (v.2), made holy (v. 10), forgiven (v. 18).
A spiritual house and a holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:2).
And I could go on and on and on. The point of all these verses is not who I am, but what Christ has done. The heart of the Christian faith is the transforming power of Jesus’ blood. He didn’t die to make us the best versions of our human selves. He died to make us like Himself. He died to make dead men live. He died to set you and me free from the bondage of sin and the condemnation of eternal death. Because of one more thing that we are in Christ: Lavishly loved (1 Jn 3:1).
Beloved, do you know who you are? Do you know Whose you are?
Deeper Roots 