The Identity We Have in Christ

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Have you ever wondered why we hardly enjoy God’s peace as Jesus promised us?  He said,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (Jn.14:27).

But, here we are, overwhelmed with the feeling of insecurity in different areas of our lives. It is like the peace Jesus talked about is more in our mouths than in our hearts. While we talk about it often, our hearts are starving for it. Some of us are casting and binding the devil, yet it has not changed the situation. They pray and fast without any results.  At last, they think the best way to comfort themselves, is to give up to fate.

Yet, others think that somebody somewhere has the solution; so they are always in search of miracles. They move from one ministry or Church to the other in search of a solution. But it seems the more they search, the more peace is eluding them. In that quest for solution-finding, some have plunged themselves in more trouble waters. As the saying goes, “anyone drowning would hold anything, even if it is a knife”.

But there are other believers that seem to be unshakable by any situation. In the midst of difficult situations, they remain calm and peaceful. When we think a situation is hopeless, they are full of assurance of a better tomorrow. You never hear them lamenting; rather always being thankful to God. When we come across such people we tend to envy them; thinking they are endowed with a special anointing from God. How we wish we had such spiritual immunity that repels the feelings of insecurity.

                                   Every Christian can enjoy God’s peace

Now, is it true that they have a special anointing? When Jesus said he leaves us with his peace, did he refer to some few anointed persons? No, the ‘You’ he talked about, refers to the entire body of Christ. The only difference is, the last category of people discovered their identity in Christ and positioned themselves in it.

You and I can also do likewise and our story would change. We need to trace our root and position ourselves in it; that is our identity in Christ. For only then,  we shall enjoy the peace Jesus gave us.  What good would it do us if we call ourselves believers in Christ and still fret at every little knock of the devil? No; we ought to take our position in Christ; show Satan our level, and put him where he belongs.

So, I am going to share with you who the Bible says we are in Christ, and what great difference it can make in your life.

But before we proceed, as a reminder, I have been creating a series titled “Overcoming the strategies of Satan”. And so far, we have talked about:

What the Bible says Satan is

How Satan operates

What God did for us in Christ

                                    The significance of being in Christ

Regarding our identity in Christ, the moment we receive him we obtain a spiritual DNA (hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms) from Jesus. We become a new creation;

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,

old things have passed away; behold all things have become new”.2Cor.5:17

In other words, we have been recreated in Christ (Eph.2:10) and given the nature of God. Our old sinful nature was put away when God made us alive with Christ (Col.2:11-13).In his mercy, he has given us new birth; not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through his living and enduring word (1Pet1:3, 23). The Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Cor.3:16,6:19); we now have the divine ability (1 Jn5:4).

I guess you were told of those facts when you got borne again, and you became very excited. But do you still have that excitement now? If you are like me, the answer is no; because our feelings fluctuate. And that makes it difficult for us to exercise the divine ability we have in Christ.  Often times our feelings do weigh us down and remind us how weak we are.

I remember the time I got born again, I was very excited. But after some time the excitement disappeared, and I began to struggle with the feeling of unworthiness. All I thought was my sins have sent the Spirit of God away from me. So I tried hard to do good works to please God, but it seemed the harder I tried, the easier I failed.

Has that happened to you? Deep in your heart, you want to do good, but you see yourself doing the opposite?  If you have had or still having that experience, know that it is a struggle that every believer do have. Apostle Paul said, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom.7:15b). But at last, he said, “thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord”(Rom.7:25a).

Now, the good news is, being a new creation is not dependent on any good thing that we can or cannot do. It is about who Christ has made us become in him. It would interest you to know what the scriptures say we are in Christ. This is our identity; according to the following scriptures:

1. We are redeemed (Heb:9:12)

Having been redeemed, we these privileges:

• our sins are forgiven (Col.1:14)
• God will remember our sins no more (Heb.8:12)
• we are no longer under the curse of the law (Gal.3:13)
• we have been rescued from evil (Gal.1:14)
• we have been reconciled to God  (Rom.5:10)

 

 

2. We are the righteousness of God in Christ (2Cor.5:21)

As righteous people:

• we are bold as a lion (Prov.28:1b),
• we will never be shaken (Ps.112:6)
• God’s ears are attentive to our prayer (Ps.34:15)
• we may have many afflictions, but God delivers us from them all (Ps.34:19)

3. We are partakers of God’s promise (Eph.3:6)

These are some of his promises that we are partakers:

• God will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut.31:8)
• the presence of God is ever with us (Josh.1:9)
• his peace will guard our hearts and minds (Phil.4:6-7)
• he will bless us abundantly (2Cor.9:8)
• we will lack no good thing (Ps.34:10)
• he heals all our diseases (Ps.103:3)

4. We are God’s children(Jn1:12)

These are some of  our rights as God’s children:

• we are joint-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17)
• the Son has set us free    (Jn.8:32)
•  healing is our portion (1Pet.2:24)
• we have access to God’s provision (Phil.4:19)
• the peace of God guards our hearts and minds (Phil.4:7)

 

5. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph.2:4-6)

Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly places far above principality,

power, might, dominion, and every name that is named (Eph.1:20-21) So:

• we are far above principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named
• the greater one lives in us (1Jn4:4)
• we have overcome the world (1Jn.5:4)
• no weapon formed against us will prevail (Isa.54:17)
• every tongue that rises against us in judgement we will condemn (Isa.54:17)
• we will tread upon the lion and the cobra (Ps.91:13a)
• we will trample the great lion and the serpent(Ps.91:13b)

 

Now, consider what those scriptures revealed about our identity in Christ; do you think we have any reason to fear Satan (the devil)? Is there any reason to spend sleepless nights over issues that Jesus has resolved for us?

Think about it.

 

In the next post which is the last in this series, we shall see what it takes to position ourselves in Christ.