Identity in Christ
When we know who we are in Christ, we start to realize all that God has already given us; that we don’t need to slave away to earn what has been given to us FREELY; that we are already rich because of the inheritance we have in Him (Lk. 15:31).
Let’s take a moment to think about this a little. Here’s a short list just to get us started.
In Christ we are:
- Heirs of God Himself & Joint-Heirs with Jesus (Rom. 8:17)
- Heirs of the Kingdom (Col. 1:12; James 2:5)
- Heirs of the earth (Matt. 5:5)
- Heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14)
- Heirs of eternal life (Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:17; Eph. 1:4; Titus 3:7)
- Heirs of God’s promises (Heb. 6:12, 17)
- Heirs of the blessed and gracious life (Eph. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:7, 9)
- Heirs of all things (John 17:10; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 21:7)
- Heirs of Abraham (Gal. 3:29)
Heirs of God Himself & Joint-Heirs with Jesus (Rom. 8:17)
Our relationship with Jesus makes us heirs of God. What a statement! We are joint-heirs with Christ of everything God has. The term “joint-heir” signifies a shared inheritance. Wow! A joint checking account means two people share the account, and both signatures are needed to cash a check or make a withdrawal. One signature will not release funds from a joint account. Jesus is our joint-heir! Even though we might be tempted to sign our inheritance away as Adam did, Jesus will never cooperate with that. Our inheritance is secure because Jesus will never put His signature on any of our bad choices. Say Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus!!
Heirs of the Kingdom (Col. 1:12; James 2:5)
God has already made every true believer able to partake of His inheritance (John 1:12). It is never a question of God enabling us. It’s always a question of us knowing what we have and believing it to the degree that we act like it.
The Lord doesn’t love the poor more than the rich. But the poor tend to love the Lord more than the rich. That’s because of the deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:19). Money can give the owner power and influence and a false sense of security that keeps them from recognizing their need for God. We all are in the same boat, whether rich or poor, and are nothing without the Lord. But those in need tend to see their need clearer.
Heirs of the Earth (Matt. 5:5)
Psalms 37:9 says, “Those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth,” so being meek is waiting on the Lord. Psalms 37:11 says, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” Learning to wait upon the Lord for His direction is key. This is more than just sitting there with our hands folded. It’s more like paying attention to His voice, His leading, His direction and then moving forward in simple obedience.
Heirs of Salvation (Heb. 1:14)
All angels are commissioned by God to minister to those who SHALL BE heirs of salvation. This means that the angels’ assignment to us doesn’t start after we are saved. They are ministering to us even before we get saved because the Lord, in His foreknowledge, knows we SHALL BECOME followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4). Thank You, Jesus!
Heirs of Eternal Life (Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:17; Eph. 1:4; Titus 3:7)
The phrase “according as” in Eph. 1:4 means “corresponding to the way in which” (American Heritage Dictionary). Paul was explaining to what degree we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph.1:3). It goes beyond our ability to conceive. We were chosen in Christ before the world began! We are holy and without blame because God sees us through Christ. We have had it predetermined that we will be God’s children (Eph. 1:5). Amazing! We have been accepted by God (Eph. 1:6). Hallelujah! We are redeemed and forgiven (Eph. 1:7). We have all of God’s wisdom and prudence (Eph. 1:8). The mysteries of God have been revealed to us (Eph. 1:9). We are truly blessed!
To be an heir with Christ, we have to first be justified by grace. No justification, no heirship. No grace, no heirship. But with faith in God’s grace, and His unconditional love, all that Jesus has is ours! Wow! Remember that grace is getting all the good things from God that we don’t deserve (Titus 3:5), and justification is certainly by grace.
Heirs of God’s Promises (Heb. 6:12, 17)
God is so good to us to confirm His Word by doing things that we can understand. We are not to tempt the Lord, but if our hearts are right and we need encouragement, He will supply it in a way that removes our doubt. That’s what He did for Abraham. The Greek word ametathetos, which was translated “immutability” in this verse, means “unchangeable” (Strong’s Concordance). The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition translated this as “more convincingly and beyond doubt.” The New International Version says, “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.”
Patience can be defined in many ways. Patience is faith that endures over time. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” We can’t just believe for a moment and then fall away to unbelief when circumstances go against us. We have to believe and then continue in faith (have patience) until the desired end comes.
Heirs of the Blessed and Gracious Life (Eph. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:7, 9)
Here is a partial list of some of the blessings that Paul mentioned in the first two chapters of this letter: We have been adopted as God’s children (Eph. 1:5), we have redemption through Jesus’ blood and the forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 1:7), we have obtained an inheritance (Eph. 1:11), have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), have been given the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20), have been made the one new man (Eph. 2:15), have been made fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God (Eph. 2:19), have become a holy temple in the Lord (Eph. 2:21) and a habitation of God (Eph. 2:22), etc.
Heirs of All Things (Jn. 17:10; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 21:7)
Jesus perfectly represented His Father to us. God the Father created the worlds through Jesus. Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by him do all things consist.” John 1:3 says, “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is the heir to all that God has and is, and we are joint heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). And Jesus is claimed that everything that God has is His. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16).
Heirs of Abraham (Gal. 3:29)
What a powerful statement! If we belong to Christ, which we do, then we are Abraham’s seed (singular), which Galatians 3:16 made very clear was Christ (Gal. 3:16). Paul was saying that God treats us as He treats Jesus, because we have become partakers with Him through faith. 1 Peter 4:1 tells us to arm ourselves with the same mind that Christ had. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” One of the keys to victorious Christian living is seeing ourselves “in Christ” with all the rights and privileges that Christ has (Rom. 6:4-11).
In addition to this, God is with us! He is Immanuel! He has made His dwelling place within us! We’re temples of the Holy Spirit! He’s Immanuel in our life all the time! Not some of the time!
He’s Immanuel in our finances! He is with us!
He’s Immanuel in our health! He is with us today!
Stop looking at the things around us or how we feel. Instead declare, “Lord, Immanuel God is with me today! I thank You! I go forth in Your character knowing that You are with me! You NEVER leave me!!!
God is with us and in us today! Our spirits have been made alive in Him! We are a brand new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17). Today we can experience on an every day basis God with us! Hallelujah!!! He is with us!! Everything He speaks and all the promises are found in His Word! We have a good Shepherd! The Lord our Righteousness! Immanuel: God with us!!!
Have you received Jesus? He said He will never leave us or forsake us! He is ever present! He will never leave us! Let this bring comfort to your life! He’s Immanuel! God with us today! And in every area of our lives!
He’s in our health because He’s Jehovah Rapha! God’s with us in our finances because He’s Jehovah Jireh! God is with us in any difficulty because He’s Jehovah Shalom our peace today! God is with us today! This is an exciting message! Remind yourself of this!!!! This revelation can set you free!