You Are Accepted
We already outlined the role identity plays in our lives and possible sources for determining our identity. We can either turn to the world to find our identity or turn to God Who created us valuable. Christ offers us a new identity when we accept Him as Savior of our lives. This page examines the Scriptures which clearly state that you are accepted in Christ. It is not a matter of your own merits, works or knowledge, but based on the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. If you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ then ALL of the following is true!!
YOU ARE GOD'S CHILD
John 1:12 Ephesians 1:5 - Imagine you adopted a young child from another country. This child grew up in poverty, shame, fear and insecurity. He had no family, no one to care for him and no way to make sure he would have a meal at the end of the day. One day, he receives a letter that you and your family in America want to adopt him. What rights does that child have as an adopted child? Every right, freedom and security that a biological child would have in the family. God has done the same for us. Previously, we wandered through life fearful and insecure. We had no spiritual life whatsoever, which is vital in order to enjoy the life God intends for us. When you believe the Gospel, God adopts you into His family as His child. You become a co-heir with Christ. You are part of Christ's inheritance. What a fantastic gift to be transferred from a lonely, empty life with no identity or eternal family into the family of God--your Creator and Maker, the One Who loved you so immensely He gave His life for you, so that you could be His son/daughter for all eternity--beginning now! |
YOU ARE JUSTIFIED - PERFECTED
Romans 5:1 - Imagine your boss gives you an impossibly high standard to achieve at work; perhaps a certain quota of sales to be acquired in a 40 hour week, but to meet that quota, you need to work 80 hours. No matter how hard you try, you can not meet the quota in 40 hours. You work is "unjustifiable"; it falls short of your boss' approval and expectations. God has a standard of perfection for our lives -- 100% holiness, 100% of the time. But as fallen creatures with a sin nature, it is impossible to attain His perfection no matter how hard we try or how desperately we want to be perfect. On our own, we will never reach God's definition of perfect holiness. When Christ died on the Cross, He fulfilled God's standard of perfection in our place. In other words, Jesus justified you and approved you before God. Being perfect or justified before God is based on the work of Christ on the Cross; it is based on NO/NONE/ZILCH ability of or merit in ourselves. You no longer have to strive towards an impossible goal because Christ already reached it! |
Jesus justified you and approved you before God. |
YOU BELONG TO GOD
1 Corinthians 6:20 - We originally belonged to God because He created us; He was our Maker. But the fall into sin caused us to turn away from Him and choose to live the degrading life of bondage to sin. As a result, we "belong" to sin. Christ's death on the Cross made the way for your sins to be forgiven and for you to receive eternal life. He also paid the ransom for our lives. There was a bounty price on our heads. That bounty caused us to be eternally separated from God and eternal death. Someone had to pay the bounty. Since it was impossible to pay our own bounty, Christ paid it with His death and resurrection. Therefore, you are His, because He "purchased" you with His blood. This payment grants you great freedom because you now belong to God as His child. You are actually twice His; once at Creation and twice at redemption from your sins. Belonging to God isn't slavery; it is freedom and adoption into the family of God! |
YOU ARE A SAINT
Colossians 1:22 - Your perfection is 100% complete in Christ. Without Christ, it is impossible for us to attain perfection and holiness before God. Our nature, the substance or essence of who we are is sin, not just our actions. We are powerless to change our nature. But God has a solution. When you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you received a new nature and eternal life. Therefore, you are 100% holy, based on the work of Jesus on the Cross. Our holiness has nothing to do with our works; it has everything to do with the work of Jesus Christ. You are a saint in Christ.
Colossians 1:22 - Your perfection is 100% complete in Christ. Without Christ, it is impossible for us to attain perfection and holiness before God. Our nature, the substance or essence of who we are is sin, not just our actions. We are powerless to change our nature. But God has a solution. When you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you received a new nature and eternal life. Therefore, you are 100% holy, based on the work of Jesus on the Cross. Our holiness has nothing to do with our works; it has everything to do with the work of Jesus Christ. You are a saint in Christ.
YOU HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD
Ephesians 2:18 - Imagine having a direct telephone line to God's office. Pretty cool, huh? Well, you do. As a believer in Christ (and thus His child), you can boldly enter the throne room of God at any time (Hebrews 4:16) No appointments or special visiting hours are necessary. His children have the right to come rushing to Him anytime for anything. This also means that no "middle man" (such as a priest or religious leader) is needed for you to talk to God. Christ was the atonement for your sins; therefore He is THE connection between you and God His Father.
Ephesians 2:18 - Imagine having a direct telephone line to God's office. Pretty cool, huh? Well, you do. As a believer in Christ (and thus His child), you can boldly enter the throne room of God at any time (Hebrews 4:16) No appointments or special visiting hours are necessary. His children have the right to come rushing to Him anytime for anything. This also means that no "middle man" (such as a priest or religious leader) is needed for you to talk to God. Christ was the atonement for your sins; therefore He is THE connection between you and God His Father.
YOU ARE COMPLETE
Colossians 2:10 - Christ's salvation makes you complete and entire, lacking nothing. Once you believe the Gospel, there is nothing more you have to do to receive eternal life or be acceptable to Him. The Cross finished it once and for all. Therefore you are complete because Christ's work on the Cross is complete. You lack nothing to live a full, spiritually abundant life in Christ.
Colossians 2:10 - Christ's salvation makes you complete and entire, lacking nothing. Once you believe the Gospel, there is nothing more you have to do to receive eternal life or be acceptable to Him. The Cross finished it once and for all. Therefore you are complete because Christ's work on the Cross is complete. You lack nothing to live a full, spiritually abundant life in Christ.
An incredible song about forgiveness. Definitely worthwhile to watch!
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YOU ARE FORGIVEN
Colossians 1:14 - Believing the Gospel is a one time decision. You will make mistakes and sin in action and thoughts, but this doesn't mean you lose your salvation. Through the Cross, you are redeemed from a life of condemnation, death and eternal suffering and forgiven of all your sins. This salvation is entire and complete, lacking nothing. |
GOD'S SPIRIT INDWELLS YOU
1 Corinthians 6:12 - When you believe the Gospel, the Holy Spirit enters your life and dwells in you. This creates a unity between yourself and God. You no longer have to fight to get close to God, because He dwells in you. This does not make you equal with Christ (you are NOT divine, nor attain divinity or "godlike" status!)
1 Corinthians 6:12 - When you believe the Gospel, the Holy Spirit enters your life and dwells in you. This creates a unity between yourself and God. You no longer have to fight to get close to God, because He dwells in you. This does not make you equal with Christ (you are NOT divine, nor attain divinity or "godlike" status!)
SUMMARY - How to apply these TRUTHS
Accepting these facts as truth will radically change your life. They are not the Truth because I say so; they are the Truth because the Bible says it! The above points are what GOD says about you. Since He never lies or misleads you, He can be completely trusted at His Word. Every time you are bombarded by thoughts of what others say your identity should be, read through this list and ask God to help you understand these Truths. If you keep asking and keep choosing to believe them as Truth, your life will begin to reflect the difference when your identity is centered on God's truth about you.
Accepting these facts as truth will radically change your life. They are not the Truth because I say so; they are the Truth because the Bible says it! The above points are what GOD says about you. Since He never lies or misleads you, He can be completely trusted at His Word. Every time you are bombarded by thoughts of what others say your identity should be, read through this list and ask God to help you understand these Truths. If you keep asking and keep choosing to believe them as Truth, your life will begin to reflect the difference when your identity is centered on God's truth about you.
The points outlined above were partially adapted from the writings and teachings of Neil T Anderson. BeStrong Ministries thanks Mr. Anderson for his immense contribution to helping Christians understand their identity in Christ.