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Identity in Christ

God Says A Lot About Your Identity

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Who Am I?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly – John 10:10

We are living in a time when so many people struggle with their identity.

Many people today are living with a perpetual sense of shame. Others are chronically addicted. Many find themselves focused on their weaknesses and their failures.

Others are burdened by unhealthy relationship patterns. Many people are dominated by fear and depression. People struggle with negative attitudes and beliefs. Some people struggle to achieve goals, fear failure, and find themselves paralyzed by perfectionism and procrastination.

If that sounds like you, I want you to know that there is hope!

I have spent three decades dealing with people and their problems…

Hour after hour each week, I sit and listen to people and their problems.

So many people are struggling to find freedom from emotional, relational, and spiritual burdens.

What is the answer? The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ. His message of hope for all who believe is found in the Good news of the Gospel. The gospel is a declaration and an announcement of God’s truth.

Over the years, by God’s grace, I have seen so many people and relationships change as people grow to know and understand more and more of the gospel of God’s grace.

But, I have to admit, that I struggled for many years of my life as well

I have struggled in the past with

  • shame, which kept me locked in my past;
  • anxiety and depression, which kept me from moving forward in my future; and
  • an obsessive need for approval from others, that kept me from the type of loving relationships that God desires for all of us to have.

I would read the Scriptures and they were hopeful for others, but often not for me.

There was this gap in my life between what I professed to believe and what I truly believed and how I truly behaved. I would study the Scriptures and memorize many of them, but did not see how they could apply to my identity issues and the struggles with which I was dealing.

Have you ever felt that way?

Perhaps you’ve struggled with some of the same beliefs that I did, that these truths are great for other people, but they could not be true for me.

It is sad to say, but I believed that God would love, accept, and forgive others, but not me.

I would teach the gospel truths to others people, with strong conviction and passion, but I lacked the belief that it was true for me as well.

God patiently and persistently pointed me to His solutions for my life struggles

Slowly but surely, God opened my eyes to the beauty of gospel grace.

  • I learned of humanity’s sinfulness and, therefore, the foolishness to put all my hope in other people and their relationships.
  • God taught me of the beauty of gospel forgiveness and that God can relieve me of the burden of my guilt and condemnation.
  • I learned of His unfailing love, which is always available for those that are in Christ.
  • I learned that peace, hope, and joy are available to those who Christ purchased with His precious blood.

As I began to meditate on Christ, I saw the wonder of His grace, the matchlessness of His love, and the transforming power of the gospel.

During my times with God, He would teach me through His Word, over and over, new truths of who I am to Him

During my times of devotion, I would spend time learning all that Christ had done for me and who I was in Christ. I made it my mission in my counseling and discipleship to help Christians learn those truths as well.

I decided to compiles those things that I had learned and shared with others and put this devotional series together.

Over these series of devotionals, I want to share with you what God says about you, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ

Will you do me a favor…

I want you to do me a favor and I want you to really work through these devotionals. I want you to dedicate yourself and saturate yourself in the Word of God.

Let these truths so saturate your mind and your heart, that they transform your life.

I often say to my clients that, “Whoever has your ear, has your mind. And whoever has your mind, has your heart. And whoever controls your heart, controls your life.”

The heart, biblically, has a cognitive component, an affective component, and a volitional component.

Your heart displays what you think and believe, how you feel and what you are passionate about, and how you decide to live.

There is a never-ending battle for control of your heart…

Theologian, John Chrysostom said that we have three mortal enemies that we must deal with in this life: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Each of these enemies seek to distract us, deceive us, discourage us, and ultimately destroy who we really are.

It’s time to break old habits!

Let the wonderful Word of God saturate your mind in such a way that it causes you to think differently about who you are and whose you are.

So what does that sound like to you?

Are you tired, frustrated, confused? Do you desire to take your spiritual life to a deeper level and enjoy the freedom as one who is a child of God?

Do you find yourself trying to fit into the world’s framework of what is your true identity? What are some of the lies you have believed about yourself?

Through these studies, I pray that the Holy Spirit would counsel you.

It is my hope that these devotionals will be very pastoral and practical ways.

Let the Word of God transform you. Let the truth of your position in Christ stabilize you.

Experience the joy of discovery

I’m excited about doing this study with you in this community of believers.

There’s such a huge benefit in joining a community of believers that are looking to go deeper in their relationship with God and seeking to support and encourage others by what they are learning.

If these devotionals are helpful to you, I would encourage you to share them with others.

Before we go, may I pray for our time together?

Prayer

unrecognizable happy people jumping in sunset

Father, thank you so much for planning our salvation. Lord Jesus, thank you for providing for our salvation. Holy Spirit, thank you so much for being the pledge of our salvation.

Please protect us from the lies and deceptions of our day regarding our identity.

Help us to grow through these studies to know more of who we are in You and what You desire for us to do, to love You and others and to serve You and others.

By Your grace and for Your glory. Amen

Bringing it home – application

  • Would you consider journaling as we work through each one of these studies?
  • Also, would you consider trying to memorize the verse of the day that will teach us another truth about who we are in Christ?

Related Resources (for further study)

  • Consider reading and studying John 8:31-47.
  • Podcast devotional from Ephesians 1 on the “Nine Spiritual Blessings” for those in Christ – follow this link.
  • Podcast devotional from 1 Peter 2, entitled “Remember Who You Are” – Our Identity and Purpose – follow this link
  • Recommended resource – Who Am I? Identity in Christ by Jerry Bridges. Please follow this link for more information

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