Thoughts on Identity—Part 2

To follow up on part one of this topic of our identity in Christ, I’d like to offer you a more extensive, although by no means exhaustive, list of some of the many wonderful privileges, benefits, gifts and abilities that when appropriated by us help refine how we reflect the Lord’s Spirit to others.

These Word treasures can be used as a study tool to maximize your life and personal walk with the Lord, or as aids to help others discover and develop their full potential in Jesus. God’s promises, love, power, and might are there for us to claim and use as we grow together in lifting Him up.¹

The following is a brief recap of points from part one of this series.

Developing our full potential takes saturating ourselves with His Word. We can do this by taking time studying and memorizing and meditating on all that Jesus has made available to us. You might ask, “What’s in it for me?” Some of the benefits include a happier, more fulfilling life, and being able to more effectively accomplish whatever He has for you to do.

As you absorb His Word, and His Spirit works in your heart and life through your words and actions, you can become all that Jesus has promised you can be both in this life and the life to come.

I find it’s helpful to periodically remind myself of how I can best make use of what Jesus has given us. Here is a little list of tips in brief form that I also included in part one.

• Meditate on what the declarations and verses below might mean personally for you. Read each one out loud to yourself. Post them on your wall, changing them from time to time.
• Claim each one in a prayer of affirmation or a declaration of praise.
• Try setting them to song for you personally.
• Treat them as a personal statement from Jesus to you.
• Voice them out loud when working to overcome a struggle or an attack of the Enemy.
• See them in their full context by reading the surrounding verses or chapter.
• Look them up in different translations to discover various nuances of meaning.
• Ask the Lord how you can apply each one personally in your life in a way that is most effective for you.
• Remind yourself regularly of the vital importance of your spiritual growth and walk with the Lord and the need to invest time into developing who you are in accordance with God’s Word.

In order to facilitate your use of these verses as a reference tool, I have incorporated the short list of verses from part one into the verses grouped below.²

What I am in Christ

1. I am alive with Christ.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”—Ephesians 2:4–6

2. I am an ambassador for Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”—2 Corinthians 5:20

3. I am reconciled with God.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”—Colossians 1:19–22 NIV

4. I am at peace with God.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Romans 5:1

5. I am forgiven.

“In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”—Ephesians 1:7

6. I am holy and blameless in Jesus’ eyes.

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.”—Ephesians 1:4

7. I am Jesus’ friend.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”—John 15:15

8. I am adopted as God’s child.

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”—Romans 8:15 NIV

9. I am a unique creation of God.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”—Revelation 2:17

10. I am the bride of Christ.

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”—Romans 7:4 KJV

11. I am strengthened by God’s power to have all the endurance and joy-filled patience I need.

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.”—Colossians 1:11 HCSB

12. I am a new person.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”—2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

13. I am a child of light and not of darkness.

“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”—1 Thessalonians 5:5

14. Jesus’ righteousness dwells in me.

“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”—Philippians 3:9

15. I am free forever from condemnation.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1

16. I am chosen and dearly loved by God.

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.”—1 Thessalonians 1:4

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”—Ephesians 1:6 KJV

17. I am a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”—1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV

18. I am free from the law of sin and death.

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”—Romans 8:2

19. I am more than a conqueror.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”—Romans 8:37

20. I am an eternal being with an inheritance of eternal riches.

“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”—1 Peter 1:3–5

21. I am great because He gives me greatness.

“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.”—Psalm 18:35

22. I am called to be a saint.

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”—1 Corinthians 1:2

“To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”—Colossians 1:2

23. I am a member of a royal priesthood.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”—1 Peter 2:9

24. I am a messenger of reconciliation.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”—2 Corinthians 5:18–19

25. I am a citizen of heaven.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”—Philippians 3:20

26. I am established in Jesus.

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”—2 Corinthians 1:21–22

27. I can be a light to others, and can manifest what is good and right and true.

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).”—Ephesians 5:8–9

28. My life is built on the foundation of Jesus.

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”—Ephesians 2:20

29. I am a member of God’s household.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”—Ephesians 2:19

30. I am part of God’s kingdom.

“And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”—Revelation 1:6

31. I am God’s co-worker.

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”—2 Corinthians 6:1

32. I am victorious through my faith in Jesus.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”—1 John 5:4

33. I am a stranger in this world.

“These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.”—Hebrews 11:13 HCSB

What Christ has done to [or for] me

1. I am alive with Christ.

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.”—Colossians 2:13

2. We will sit with Christ in heavenly places to show the riches of God’s grace and kindness.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”—Ephesians 2:6–7 NIV

3. I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”—2 Timothy 1:7

4. I am bought and paid for by Jesus.

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”—1 Corinthians 6:19b, 20

5. Jesus died for me when I was unworthy.

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:7–8

6. Jesus loves me just as the Father loves Him.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”—John 15:9

7. Nothing can ever separate me from God’s love.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 8:35–39

8. Jesus is in me.

“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”—John 14:20

9. I have understanding of the things given me by God.

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”—1 Corinthians 2:12

10. Jesus has made provision for me to be healed, by His wounds.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”—1 Peter 2:24

11. God delights in me and enjoys being one with me.

“As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”—Isaiah 62:5b

12. I have been freed from death to walk before God.

“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”—Psalm 56:13 NIV

13. Jesus intercedes for me.

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”—Romans 8:33–34

14. I am called “brother” by Jesus.

“For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.”—Hebrews 2:11

15. I can be delivered from my vices and addictions.

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”—Colossians 1:13

16. My heart and mind are protected with God’s peace.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:7

17. I am a recipient of grace and mercy.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16

What I can do in Christ

1. God’s power can work through me.

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”—Ephesians 3:7

2. I can become a partaker of His divine nature.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”—2 Peter 1:3–4

3. I can stand firm in the day of evil.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”—Ephesians 6:13

4. I am united with other believers.

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”—Philippians 1:27 NAS

5. I can approach God with boldness, freedom and confidence through Jesus.

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”—Ephesians 3:12

6. I am authorized by God to make disciples of all nations.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”—Matthew 28:18–20

7. I am able to face and overcome everything in life through Jesus.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”—Philippians 4:13

8. As one of God’s chosen I can put on compassion, mercy, kindness, humility, and patience.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”—Colossians 3:12

9. I have the power to persevere.

“Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:14

10. I can share what Jesus has done for me with others.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”—Acts 1:8

11. I can mature spiritually.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15

12. I can have a new attitude and a new lifestyle.

“Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”—Ephesians 4:21–24

13. I can forgive others.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32

14. I can give thanks for everything.

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Ephesians 5:20

15. I can in humility yield to others.

“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”—Ephesians 5:21

16. I can encourage others about the glorious future God has for us.

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”—1 Thessalonians 4:17–18

17. I can honor God through marriage.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”—Ephesians 5:22–33

18. I can effectively fight the devil.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”—Ephesians 6:16

19. I can make the devil flee when I resist him in the name of Jesus.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”—James 4:7

What I know in Christ

1. I am assured all things will work together for good.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”—Romans 8:28

2. God will perfect the work He has begun in me.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”—Philippians 1:6

3. I can discover what God’s will in my life is.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”—Romans 12:2 NIV

4. I can keep going no matter what, through God’s power in me.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.”—2 Corinthians 4:7–11 NIV

5. Jesus has sent me to the world with a mission.

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”—John 17:18

What I have in Christ

1. I can have the mind of Christ.

“‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”—1 Corinthians 2:16

2. I have a Father (God) who created all that exists.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”—Revelation 4:11

3. I am qualified through Jesus to share in the inheritance of the saints.

“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”—Colossians 1:12

4. I have eternal life, knowing God.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”—John 17:3

5. I am chosen and appointed by Jesus to bear His fruit.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”—John 15:16

6. I am never alone.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”—Hebrews 13:5

7. I can follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”—John 13:15

8. Jesus will provide for me.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19

9. I have God’s healing and forgiveness available to me.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”—James 5:14–15

10. I am protected.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”—John 10:28

11. I am freed from the curse of the law.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’”—Galatians 3:13

12. He shares His joy with me.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”—John 15:11 NIV

13. I can have courage because God’s love eliminates fear.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”—1 John 4:18a