The Right & Privilege To be Who God Says You Are
As believers in Christ, we have been given an incredible privilege and right to be exactly who God says we are. Our identity is not found in our past mistakes, our current circumstances, or even the opinions of others. Our identity is found in Christ and what He says about us in His Word.
Now Let’s Eat Some Meat!
Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) says, "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time]." This means that we were created specifically by God and for God's purposes. We have a unique purpose and plan that God has prepared for us, and you are the only one who can fulfill your purpose.
In Colossians 3:12-14 (AMPC), Paul gives a list of attributes that should characterize every one of us believers in Christ: "Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]."
Notice the words that Paul uses to describe believers: chosen, holy, and well-beloved. These are all words that speak to our identity in Christ. We have been chosen by God, set apart as holy, and dearly loved by Him. These attributes should shape how we live our lives and how we interact with others.
In 1 Peter 2:9 (AMPC), Peter says, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. [Exod. 19:5, 6.]. Again, we see the language of being chosen and set apart as holy. We are also called a royal priesthood, which means that we have direct access to God and can approach Him boldly. As we are implored to do in Hebrews 4:16 (AMPC), Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Finally, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC), Paul says, "Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" When we put our faith in Christ, we are made new. Our old self, with all its sin and shame, is gone, and we are made new in Christ. We are no longer defined by our past mistakes or failures but by our new identity in Christ.
As believers in Christ, we have an incredible privilege and right to be exactly who God says we are. We are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God. We have a unique purpose and plan that God has prepared for us, and we are the only ones who can fulfill that purpose. Let us live our lives with the confidence and joy that comes from knowing our true identity in Christ.
My article "The Right & Privilege to Be Who God Says You Are" emphasizes the powerful truth that believers in Christ have a unique and divine identity, not dictated by worldly factors but by God’s declarations in Scripture. Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) highlights that believers are God’s handiwork, created for specific purposes preordained by Him. This scripture underlines that every believer has a unique mission that only they can fulfill, crafted by God's own design.
In Colossians 3:12-14 (AMPC), Paul describes the qualities that should characterize those who belong to Christ: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love. These virtues are not merely suggestions but reflections of the we believer’s true identity in Christ, who is chosen, holy, and dearly loved. These attributes are meant to guide how believers live and interact with others, reinforcing the unique and sanctified identity given to them by God.
Peter echoes this theme in 1 Peter 2:9 (AMPC), where he describes believers as a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people.” This passage reinforces the concept that believers are set apart and have direct access to God, a privilege that comes with both responsibility and honor. The identity of believers as a royal priesthood highlights their role in God’s kingdom, not just as followers but as representatives who are called to display His virtues and light in the world.
The article also refers to 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC), where Paul declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation. This new identity in Christ means that past sins, mistakes, and failures no longer define the believer. Instead, they are defined by the new life they have in Christ, marked by righteousness, purpose, and renewal. This transformation is a fundamental aspect of the believer's identity, underscoring the profound change that takes place when one is grafted into Christ.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes that believers have the right and privilege to fully embrace who God says they are. This identity is one of being chosen, holy, and dearly loved, with a unique purpose that only they can fulfill. By understanding and living out this identity, believers can approach life with confidence, joy, and a deep sense of divine calling, secure in the knowledge that their true identity is found in Christ alone.
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